From our blog

How To Drive in Iceland During Winter

Safe travels

Factor in winter weather

The thought of driving in Iceland’s winter weather can be daunting for international visitors, but it shouldn’t put you off renting a car. Actually, the temperatures don’t fall as low as you might think. Winter averages tend to be around the 0°C (32°F) mark. However the weather can deteriorate rapidly and it’s wise to allow plenty of time for winter journeys in case you don’t cover as many miles as you expected. Likewise windy conditions can create icy roads – it’s worth considering winter tyres if they’re an option. You may also find it comforting to rent a 4x4 for the extra grip that all-wheel drive provides. Be realistic about your driving experience - local drivers might not be at all concerned about road conditions because they’re used to them, but there’s no shame in admitting you don’t share their confidence.

Keep abreast of current conditions

It’s worth making sure you have WiFi at your accommodation and mobile phone coverage with data for the periods you are on the road. The Vegagerdin website will be an invaluable tool to keep an eye on road conditions. It maintains a real-time map of the whole country showing current weather conditions and handy webcams so you can get a feel for what a particular stretch of road is like. Be aware of seasonal hazards such as reindeer straying onto the road as you might find in the east of Iceland. Chat to locals too and seek their advice before setting out. It may be prudent to delay a journey for a while and if the weather makes a road impassable for a time you might not have a choice in the matter.

Keep abreast of current conditions

It’s worth making sure you have WiFi at your accommodation and mobile phone coverage with data for the periods you are on the road. The Vegagerdin website will be an invaluable tool to keep an eye on road conditions. It maintains a real-time map of the whole country showing current weather conditions and handy webcams so you can get a feel for what a particular stretch of road is like. Be aware of seasonal hazards such as reindeer straying onto the road as you might find in the east of Iceland. Chat to locals too and seek their advice before setting out. It may be prudent to delay a journey for a while and if the weather makes a road impassable for a time you might not have a choice in the matter.

Vegagerdin

Be prepared

Embracing such unforeseen delays is part and parcel of experiencing Iceland in winter so make the most of your change of plans. But at the same time, be prepared. Keep some supplies of snacks and drinks in the car with you, just in case, and make sure you’ve thought about accommodation options should you end up needing to cut a day’s drive short due to unforeseen circumstances. It’s wise to keep the fuel tank topped up, your phone fully charged and make sure you have access to emergency funds should you need to pay for a room for the night on top of the one you already booked.

Don’t be too ambitious with your itinerary

Winter brings shorter days, so this needs to be a consideration when you’re planning how much ground you can cover. Out in the countryside, the lack of light pollution makes it pitch black which is great for spotting the Northern Lights but a bit trickier to cope with snow or ice than if you were driving in daylight. Another thing to consider is the type of road you’d need to drive on. While most of the ring road is well-maintained asphalt, some attractions such as Fjadrárgljúfur Canyon involve a short detour on a more challenging gravel surface. But South Iceland’s most popular waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, are right on the ring road so you’re unlikely to need to worry about winter driving conditions if you plan to see them.

It’s OK to stick to the capital region

Some travellers wrongly believe that if they don’t loop the ring road they’re somehow selling themselves short. The good news is that many of Iceland’s most impressive sights can be ticked off without straying far from Reykjavik. The Snaefellsnes peninsula, home to Kirkjufell mountain and waterfall, is only a couple of hours away, and the Golden Circle attractions of Thingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir are even closer. The Blue Lagoon and the other must-sees of the Reykjanes peninsula – like the newly erupting volcano – are also easily reached. And of course the capital itself has plenty of sights to enjoy, including the iconic Sun Voyager statue and majestic Hallgrimskirkja church. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to see and do everything – you’ll still have a great trip even if you don’t wish to drive very far!