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Original poster

Advice driving in Iceland

30 replies

Youcanlaugh · 14/09/2022 08:10

We’re booked to go to Reykjavik for 4 nights in October half term with our teens (first time!) and can see that it’s about a 45 minute drive from the airport to Reykjavik. Does anyone know what the driving conditions are like at this time of year? More specifically, the roads from the airport to Reykjavik itself?

We won’t use the car that much and will book tours but it wasn’t much more money than a taxi and would be handy to have for the supermarket etc (plus we are on the outskirts of Reykjavik so handy to get into town).

I’m just worried if it is safe enough to drive to and from the airport if the weather turns bad (husbands a confident driver).

OP posts:

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EduCated · 14/09/2022 08:34

I drove there in March, so roughly similar conditions. The drive from the airport to Reykjavik is the country’s only motorway so will be kept clear! Speed limits are low and roads are quiet by our standards.

If road conditions are decent whilst you’re there, driving the Golden Circle is easy and enjoyable.

emmathedilemma · 14/09/2022 13:26

There's a bus service from the airport too. I would imagine they're a lot better than us Brits at dealing with snow and ice! I would pack an ice scraper as in my experience, hire cars never come with one.

Chewbecca · 14/09/2022 13:27

We drove in August so not comparable but just wanted to say driving was a doddle, the simplest, emptiest roads you have seen! Was a good way to get about, to the hot springs etc.

Original poster

Youcanlaugh · 14/09/2022 14:05

Sounds like the car would be a good option then! Thanks for the tips!

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abovedecknotbelow · 14/09/2022 14:40

Didn't drive there but take a giant pot of cash with you!

Original poster

Youcanlaugh · 14/09/2022 14:54

abovedecknotbelow · 14/09/2022 14:40

Didn't drive there but take a giant pot of cash with you!

I have heard you need it!! 😬

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Weirdlynormal · 14/09/2022 20:46

What ever you do, do not speed. My husband was doing 20km over (downhill on a dual carriageway) and our fine was over £700!

… lesson learned

Puffinshop · 17/09/2022 11:09

It's not a motorway, there are no motorways in Iceland. Most of it is a dual carriageway. There are lots of roads like it around the capital area. It will be absolutely fine in October. That road is almost always fine.

October is generally still quite autumnal. It's very unlikely to be snowy and icy. Keep up to date with weather warnings for potential storms and follow the advice on vedur.is. I wouldn't have much concern driving anywhere that time of year but storms are a possibility.

Remember when you are driving in urban areas in Iceland - inside lane always has priority on the roundabouts. They are not the same as the UK. Please be aware of this rule as it is dangerous to use UK rules.

Original poster

Youcanlaugh · 23/09/2022 14:13

Thanks so much for the tips!

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Bubblegumpoppop · 23/09/2022 14:17

Driving will be fine we drove around the golden circle in November while it was snowing heavily. I'm so jealous it's beautiful enjoy 🎉

Tiptopmountain · 23/09/2022 14:23

We’re here now! Driving is all fine, preferable to home as roads nice and quiet. Even the gravel roads haven’t been too bad. I would recommend using the car rather than booking tours, we’ve had a nice relaxing time driving from place to place and taking our time (even with a two year old!). Also enjoying the sights when the big bus tours disappear off and it’s nice and quiet!

graywall · 23/09/2022 14:24

I drove around Reykjavik in October 2019 - roads were excellent and the driving was really straightforward. The only unexpected issue was how windy it was, really unnervingly so at times, even in a big jeep-type car. The advice from the car hire people was to not let go of the door when opening it which was absolutely necessary!

Original poster

Youcanlaugh · 24/09/2022 14:19

Tiptopmountain · 23/09/2022 14:23

Oo, you’re making me wonder whether to cancel our tour now and drive ourselves…. Do you have any tips on the best way to tackle the golden circle? Where to go, in what order and if there are any times that are quieter? The tour I was looking at was looking at covers Thingvellir, the Geysir and Gullfoss waterfall…

We’re still trying to decide whether to do one of the lagoons and we have 3 whole days so may do that another day… with 2 teen ds a very shy 12yo dd, I’m not sure whether the naked showering would scar them for life!! 😬

I’ve booked a northern lights small group tour on our first evening as I’d rather leave the driving late at night to the professionals (plus they will know where to go more than us!).

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Original poster

Youcanlaugh · 24/09/2022 14:19

Thanks @Bubblegumpoppop and @graywall for your feedback and advice!

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TizerorFizz · 24/09/2022 14:33

@Youcanlaugh
Last mid September we had very high winds snd had to park for 3 hours as a blizzard came through! And I mean winds where you could not open the car door! So it’s changeable. We were on the Snaefellness peninsular when the blizzard came in. So not very far from Reykjavik.

The Golden Circle is easy driving. Weather permitting. Top Tip: get a 4 wheel drive car. We had a Honda 4x4 which is a bit of a soft roader. I’m glad we did.

I would also definitely ditch trips for the car. It’s very easy to follow a map and get a book like Lonely Planet to plan your route. It’s quite a long way in a day so maybe break it into two
trips. Food can be expensive but you can stock up for the day. We found cafes fairly empty! You could also go to Vik and even up to Snaefellness . We went on dirt tracks. High roads close in bad weather.

If they are running, super jeep tours are amazing!

TizerorFizz · 24/09/2022 14:34

I meant ditch coach trips for the car!

OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide · 24/09/2022 14:40

Drove there at new year when it was 4 feet of snow and ice. Not an issue at all.

Original poster

Youcanlaugh · 24/09/2022 18:05

Okay, so based on this advice, I have cancelled the golden circle tour and used the extra cash to splurge on a nicer 4x4 car to do our own self-driving tour… very excited!

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Chewbecca · 25/09/2022 09:50

We did Myvtan hot springs & there were a small number of individual showers as well as the communal ones. DS was early / mid teens and would have struggled with communal too.

WriteTheNumbersTogether · 26/09/2022 10:29

Not being a misery guts (honest!) but I will sound a small note of caution.

Icelandic weather can be extremely bad and extremely changeable, at any time of the year. Yesterday nearly half of the Rte1/Ring Road was closed and over 120 people needed rescuing from their cars on one stretch. Not where you'll be but bad weather can be anywhere, seen warnings in the past that have shut down Reykjavik and the road to the airport.

So the most important thing to do if you are driving is check these 2 websites (both can be switched into English) before you go anywhere, because of the changeability forecasts start being reliable about 48 hours out and can still change dramatically after that

road.is
vedur.is

2nd most important thing is follow the advice! Icelanders are known for understatement so if a road is closed or they advise you not to travel it's not from an over abundance of caution, it's going to be really bad.

Having said all that you will a) almost certainly be fine and b) you will fall in love with the whole place!!

From someone who had driven (well navigated!) about15,000 km in Iceland

WriteTheNumbersTogether · 26/09/2022 11:35

I forgot safetravel.is - same sort of info as the other 2 but in a more tourist friendly way and has some general advice about driving in Iceland. You can also sign up for alerts on there.

TizerorFizz · 26/09/2022 13:55

@WriteTheNumbersTogether
I think you are absolutely correct. Also driving on snow cleared roads really isn’t the same as massively high winds and blizzards for driving conditions. Interesting that bad weather appeared exactly 1 year on from when we holed up in a car park to wait for the storm to go through. We had a decent enough car but not a single vehicle was on the roads. When we ventured out we drove through pristine snow. I think taking the right clothes is also important. The weather is changeable!

Puffinshop · 26/09/2022 14:37

On vedur.is you can see if there are any warnings for the part of the country you are in. There are yellow, orange and red warnings. They are generally forecast with plenty of notice so there's no need to worry as long as you pay attention.

There are plenty of storms every autumn/winter but you can very well miss them all with a bit of luck.

TheLadyGrayson · 26/09/2022 15:44

I went in December a few years ago and had an absolute dream bucket list-ticking trip, but I remember everything I read at the time advising not to self drive and I’m so glad we didn’t as the conditions were extreme. Slippery snow and ice everywhere and white out blizzards!

We booked onto small group (8 people total) guided tours, these were a bit more expensive but had a much more flexible itinerary than the large coach tours. We got to see much more than we would have, had we been driving ourselves, as we have zero experience of driving in those conditions and would have been petrified!

But the weather conditions and daylight hours in October are probably easier to manage! Hope you have an amazing time and see the aurora 😁

WriteTheNumbersTogether · 26/09/2022 15:48

And to see what can happen if you don't heed the warnings - this is the state of some of the cars that were rescued from the closed road yesterday.

www.facebook.com/groups/256488918194559/permalink/1477081852801920/

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