Seven days clockwise around Iceland's Ring Road: south coast waterfalls and black sand beaches, Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the East Fjords, Lake Mývatn's volcanic landscape, and Godafoss before returning to Reykjavik.
Iceland's Ring Road, or Route 1, is the only self-drive route that takes you all the way around the island in one continuous loop. In seven days, this Iceland Ring Road road trip itinerary covers the iconic south coast, the remote East Fjords, the volcanic landscapes around Lake Mývatn, and the historic north before returning to Reykjavik.
Route 1 circles Iceland for 1,328 km (825 miles), starting and ending in Reykjavik. Driven clockwise, it tackles the popular south coast first (well-signed, plenty of services), then moves through the increasingly remote east, north, and back south along the Snæfellsnes approach. All sections on this itinerary are paved, and a standard 2WD car handles the route in summer without issue.
The Ring Road suits travellers who want to experience Iceland's full range in one trip: waterfalls, black sand beaches, icebergs, volcanic lakes, fjords, and northern coastal towns. You need to be comfortable with moderate daily drives (two to five hours) and a degree of self-sufficiency; fuel stations can be over 100 km apart in some remote sections.
Seven days covers the ring with one or two nights at the major stops. Ten days is more comfortable if you want to explore without rushing, but seven works well with early starts and focused stop choices. The south coast gets the most time on this itinerary, with two nights in Vík to cover the waterfalls, beaches, and plane wreck.
Most travellers fly into Keflavík Airport (50 km south-west of Reykjavik) and make the capital their first overnight. Use the day to walk the Old Harbour, visit Hallgrímskirkja, and stock up at a supermarket before the driving starts. Pick up the hire car the following morning to avoid paying for parking in the city centre on arrival night.
The drive from Reykjavik to Vík (187 km, around 2.5 hours direct) becomes a full day once you stop at the South Coast highlights. Seljalandsfoss allows you to walk behind the waterfall curtain; bring waterproof gear and expect to get wet. Skógafoss, 30 km east, is broader and equally dramatic, with a viewpoint staircase alongside it. The Sólheimasandur plane wreck is a four-kilometre flat walk across black sand to a 1973 US Navy crash site.
Stay two nights in Vík to leave the second full day free for Reynisfjara black sand beach (basalt columns, sea caves, Atlantic surf), Dyrhólaey sea arch (a reliable puffin spot in summer), and an unhurried evening in the village.
Drive east from Vík towards Höfn (271 km, around 3 hours direct). The unmissable stop on this leg is Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, 80 km west of Höfn, where icebergs calved from Breiðamerkurjökull drift towards the sea. Book a zodiac or amphibious boat tour in advance; they sell out in summer. Cross the Ring Road to Diamond Beach to see the same ice washed onto black sand. Skaftafell, in Vatnajökull National Park, is also on this stretch; the Svartifoss walk (90 minutes return) passes basalt columns before opening to glacier views.
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Höfn itself is the end of the day and the south coast run. The town is small but has good accommodation and the best langoustine restaurants in Iceland.
The 265 km drive from Höfn to Egilsstaðir is one of the most scenic legs of the Ring Road, and also the slowest. Route 1 winds into every inlet along the East Fjords coast; the average speed drops to around 50 km/h through the fjords even on a clear day. Plan four hours for the journey and enjoy the fishing villages and mirror-flat reflections at each turn. This is one of the least-visited sections of the Ring Road, which is part of its appeal.
Egilsstaðir is the east's main service hub, with accommodation, a supermarket, and a fuel station before the more remote north.
The drive from Egilsstaðir to Lake Mývatn (around 200 km, 3 hours) brings a complete shift in landscape. The lake sits in Iceland's most geologically active zone: volcanic craters, lava rock formations at Dimmuborgir, boiling mud pools, and steam fumaroles surround a shallow lake that is also one of Iceland's top birdwatching spots in summer.
Dettifoss, Europe's most powerful waterfall by volume, is an hour's drive north of Mývatn and worth the round trip; the 44-metre drop into a basalt canyon is genuinely awe-inspiring. The Mývatn Nature Baths offer a geothermal soak with far fewer crowds than the Blue Lagoon, and the volcanic setting is harder to match.
Drive west from Mývatn to Akureyri (about 100 km), stopping at Godafoss en route. Godafoss, the Waterfall of the Gods, has a curved 12-metre drop into a wide basalt canyon and is linked to Iceland's formal adoption of Christianity in 1000 AD when the chieftain Þorgeir threw his pagan idols into the falls. Akureyri, Iceland's second city, has a pleasant botanical garden and good coffee.
The final leg is the 380 km return south to Reykjavik on Route 1 (around five hours). Fill up in Akureyri before setting out; it is the last large town on the circuit. The drive south via the Hvalfjörður tunnel brings you back into the capital, closing the loop.
May to September is the best window for driving the Ring Road. June and July offer the midnight sun, which means driving and photographing at any hour without losing the light. August is the warmest month. September brings the first hints of autumn colour and shorter queues at the main sights. October onwards introduces the possibility of northern lights, but also snow, ice, and the need for a 4WD with winter tyres.
A standard 2WD car handles Route 1 in summer. Speed limits are 90 km/h on paved rural roads, 80 km/h on gravel, and 50 km/h through towns. All river crossings on the main ring are bridged. Check road conditions each morning at road.is. Register your travel plan with the 112 Iceland app before heading into remote sections east of Höfn or around Mývatn.
Fuel stations can be 100 to 200 km apart in remote sections. Fill up at every opportunity in Reykjavik, Vík, Höfn, Egilsstaðir, the Mývatn area, and Akureyri. Card-only pumps work reliably, but carry a known PIN rather than relying on contactless in rural areas.
Reynisfjara beach has the most dangerous sneaker waves in Iceland. Stay at least 30 metres back from the waterline; do not turn your back on the ocean. The waves arrive without warning and are responsible for multiple fatalities each year.
The route below shows every stop, driving leg, and overnight for the full clockwise ring.
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The full route — stops, maps, and driving times — is on Routebook by Kington.
A 7-day clockwise loop of Iceland's famous Ring Road from Reykjavik, covering south coast waterfalls, the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, the winding East Fjords, Lake Mývatn's volcanic landscape, and Godafoss before returning to the capital.
Routebookby Routebook
