Vík í Mýrdal → Jökulsárlón

South Coast drive past Skaftafell to the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach. · approx. 191 km191 km119 mi· Updated Oct 28, 14:00 UTC

Take care

South Coast drive past Skaftafell to the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach. Conditions are demanding on this route; the weather readings show strong crosswind (about 18 m/s across the road). Always check road.is and vedur.is, and call 1777 if in doubt.

Along the route

191 km

Tap or hover the bar for each section.

From Vík í Mýrdal to Jökulsárlón: km 0-110 open, km 110-115 no road report, km 115-191 open.

Clear
No road report

Strong crosswind across the road

Our assessment based on official data from road.is and vedur.is.

Our assessment based on current conditions. Always verify with road.is and vedur.is.

Strong crosswind across the road. About 18 m/s65 km/h40 mph blowing across Hringvegur: Fagurhólsmýri-Kvísker - keep a firm grip, especially in a campervan or high-sided vehicle.

Best time to leave

Forecast weather along the route for each departure hour. This is a weather forecast, not a road-condition forecast.

Calmest windows: leave 19:00 today to 01:00 tomorrow or 10:00-14:00 tomorrow.

Leaving 15:00-16:00 meets gusts up to 23 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Campervans: this wind is above the ~15 m/s guideline for campervans.

Today

Leave 15:00 today: Windy. Gusts up to 23 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, wind up to 16 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Campervans: this wind is above the ~15 m/s guideline for campervans.
Leave 16:00 today: Windy. Gusts up to 23 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, wind up to 16 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Campervans: this wind is above the ~15 m/s guideline for campervans.
Leave 17:00 today: Unsettled. Gusts up to 22 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, wind up to 12 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Leave 18:00 today: Unsettled. Gusts up to 17 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur, wind up to 12 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Leave 19:00 today: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 16 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Leave 20:00 today: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 8 m/s near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Leave 21:00 today: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 9 m/s near Skaftafell.
Leave 22:00 today: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 8 m/s near Skaftafell.
Leave 23:00 today: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 7 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal.

Tomorrow

Leave 00:00 tomorrow: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 10 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal.
Leave 01:00 tomorrow: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 13 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal, wind up to 10 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal.
Leave 02:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 16 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal, wind up to 11 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal.
Leave 03:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 18 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal, wind up to 13 m/s near Vík í Mýrdal.
Leave 04:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 18 m/s about 25 km from Breiðamerkursandur, wind up to 13 m/s about 25 km from Breiðamerkursandur.
Leave 05:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 20 m/s about 15 km from Fjaðrárgljúfur, wind up to 13 m/s about 25 km from Breiðamerkursandur.
Leave 06:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 21 m/s near Skaftafell, wind up to 14 m/s about 15 km from Svartifoss.
Leave 07:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 22 m/s about 15 km from Fjaðrárgljúfur, wind up to 13 m/s about 15 km from Svartifoss.
Leave 08:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 21 m/s about 15 km from Fjaðrárgljúfur, wind up to 12 m/s about 15 km from Svartifoss.
Leave 09:00 tomorrow: Unsettled. Gusts up to 20 m/s about 15 km from Fjaðrárgljúfur, wind up to 11 m/s about 15 km from Svartifoss.
Leave 10:00 tomorrow: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 16 m/s about 15 km from Fjaðrárgljúfur, wind up to 10 m/s about 15 km from Svartifoss.
Leave 11:00 tomorrow: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 14 m/s near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Leave 12:00 tomorrow: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 12 m/s about 25 km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
Leave 13:00 tomorrow: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 10 m/s about 25 km from Vík í Mýrdal.
Leave 14:00 tomorrow: Calmer, in the calmest window. Gusts up to 7 m/s about 25 km from Vík í Mýrdal.

The big number is the strongest gust (m/skm/hmph) forecast on the way. Outlined hours are the calmest window.

Calmer: wind under 10 m/s all the way, no snow or freezing precipitation
Unsettled: wind 10-15 m/s, or snow or precipitation at 0 °C or below
Windy: wind 15-20 m/s, or gusts of 25 m/s or more
Very windy: wind 20 m/s or more, or 15+ with gusts of 30+
Not rated: part of the route has no forecast for those hours

Forecast weather along the route from Open-Meteo, not road conditions. Check live road status before you leave. Live closures and road reports only describe right now. Timings assume 2h 38m to 3h 15m of driving without long stops; times are Iceland time (UTC+0). Worked out Oct 28, 14:04 UTC from a forecast fetched within the hour before that.

Route

191 km191 km118 mi2h 38m

Roads:1

Weather at Jökulsárlón

Temperature9°C9°C48°F

Wind14.6 m/s52.6 km/h32.7 mph (gusts 18 m/s65 km/h40 mph)

Forecast next 8h

14:007°C7°C45°F11 m/s40 km/h25 mph

15:008°C8°C46°F11 m/s39 km/h24 mph

16:007°C7°C45°F9 m/s34 km/h21 mph

17:006°C6°C43°F2 m/s7 km/h4 mph

18:006°C6°C44°F4 m/s14 km/h9 mph

19:005°C5°C42°F4 m/s16 km/h10 mph

20:005°C5°C42°F3 m/s12 km/h8 mph

21:005°C5°C42°F5 m/s18 km/h11 mph

Fuel stops on the way

Vík í Mýrdal
N1 · on route
B95 289.4
Diesel 336.1
Vík í Mýrdal
ÓB · on route
B95 284.4
Diesel 337.8
Vík í Mýrdal
Orkan · on route
B95 284.3
Diesel 336.0
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
N1 · on route
B95 289.4
Diesel 340.5
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
ÓB · on route
B95 284.4
Diesel 337.8
Freysnes
Orkan · on route
B95 284.3
Diesel 337.7

All fuel prices →

Plan this route

Open in interactive planner →Jökulsárlón destination page →Live traffic: South Coast (Ring Road) →

Notable stops along the way

Reynisfjara

Famous black sand beach near Vík. Powerful sneaker waves, basalt sea stacks (Reynisdrangar), and basalt column cave. Extreme caution required.

3 km3 km2 mi off route

Dyrhólaey

120m promontory with a massive stone arch. Puffin colony in summer. Panoramic views of the South Coast.

6 km6 km4 mi off route

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Dramatic 100m deep canyon carved by a glacial river. Lush green walls, winding river below. Featured in Justin Bieber's music video.

3 km3 km2 mi off route

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Historic village on the South Coast. Once a Catholic convent. Gateway to Fjaðrárgljúfur and Laki craters.

2 km2 km2 mi off route

Skaftafell

Nature reserve in Vatnajökull National Park. Glacier hiking, Svartifoss waterfall, and access to the ice cap.

2 km2 km1 mi off route

Svartifoss

Waterfall framed by black basalt columns in Skaftafell. Inspiration for Reykjavík's Hallgrímskirkja architecture. 1.5km hike from visitor center.

2 km2 km1 mi off route

Road conditions along the route

Vík

Oct 28, 05:18 UTC

Clear conditions

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, 07:30-21:30 weekdays, 07:30-21:00 weekends (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur um Mýrdalssand

Oct 28, 05:17 UTC

Clear conditions

Known sand-drift area (Mýrdalssandur). Wind now 9 m/s32 km/h20 mph, gusts 12 m/s43 km/h27 mph at Mýrdalssandur station (14:00).

Vegagerðin's survey of Ring Road sand areas records damaged paint and even broken windows from wind-blown sand (source).

Snow clearing: 7 days a week (days vary along this section), hours vary along this section (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur: Skaftárunguvegur - Skálm

Oct 28, 05:17 UTC

Clear conditions

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, 07:30-21:30 weekdays, 07:30-20:00 weekends (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur um Eldhraun

Oct 28, 05:17 UTC

Clear conditions

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, 07:30-21:30 weekdays, 07:30-20:00 weekends (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur um Síðu

Oct 28, 05:17 UTC

Clear conditions

Known sand-drift area (Lómagnúpur). Wind now 6 m/s22 km/h13 mph, gusts 13 m/s47 km/h29 mph at Við Lómagnúp station (14:00).

Vegagerðin's survey of Ring Road sand areas records damaged paint and even broken windows from wind-blown sand (source).

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, hours vary along this section (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur um Skeiðarársand

Oct 28, 05:18 UTC

Clear conditions

Known sand-drift area (Skeiðarársandur). Wind now 2 m/s7 km/h4 mph, gusts 7 m/s25 km/h16 mph at Skaftafellsá station (14:00).

Vegagerðin's survey of Ring Road sand areas records damaged paint and even broken windows from wind-blown sand (source).

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, 08:30-21:30 weekdays, 08:30-19:00 weekends (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur: Fagurhólsmýri - Freysnes

Oct 28, 05:18 UTC

Clear conditions

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, 08:30-21:30 weekdays, 08:30-19:00 weekends (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur: Fagurhólsmýri-Kvísker

Oct 28, 05:18 UTC

Clear conditions

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, 08:30-21:30 weekdays, 10:00-19:00 weekends (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Hringvegur um Breiðamerkursand: Jökulsá - Kvíá

Oct 28, 05:18 UTC

Clear conditions

Snow clearing: 7 days a week, 08:30-21:30 weekdays, 10:00-19:00 weekends (winter schedule)

Vegagerðin may postpone clearing in bad weather. How snow clearing works

Driving an EV?

4 fast chargers (50 kW+) listed along this route. Longest stretch without one: 70 km.

Chargers, the longest gap and cold-weather range

Longest stretch without a listed fast charger: 70 km, Vík í Mýrdal to Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

DC chargers along the way

km 0
Vík í Mýrdal
- N1 · 80 kW
km 70-72
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
- Tesla · 250 kW
- N1 · 100 kW
- Ísorka · DC, power not listed
km 142
Skaftafell
- ON (Orka náttúrunnar) · 100 kW

Cold-weather range

Expect roughly 20-40% less range in freezing weather, and more in severe cold. Heating, winter tyres and cold batteries all cost range.

Your car's rated (WLTP) range

Coldest reading on this route: 5°C5°C42°F (current readings along the route and the 8-hour forecast at the destination). Between -5 and +10 °C, plan on roughly 70-90% of the rated range. This is a wide band drawn from studies of many cars, not a prediction for yours.

Where these figures come from

Recurrent, winter range study (Nov 2025): 30,000+ cars kept 78% of range on average at 0 °C (best model 88%, worst 69%), about 70% at -7 °C.
NAF, winter planning advice: Plan for 25% shorter range in winter.
NAF El Prix winter 2026: At -7 to -32 °C, cars averaged 38% below their WLTP range (best 29%, worst 46%).
AAA, cold-weather range test (2019): At -7 °C with the heater on, average range fell 41% in a lab test of five cars.

Charger data from OpenStreetMap (snapshot 2026-10-02), may be out of date; check the operator's app for availability. Listed means a DC socket within about 3 km of the route; 50 kW+ counts as fast only when OpenStreetMap lists the power. Strong headwinds and heavy loads reduce range further. All fast chargers in Iceland · © OpenStreetMap contributors

About this route

South Coast drive past Skaftafell to the glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach. Driving conditions on this route are updated every 15 minutes from the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (Vegagerðin). Weather data comes from the Icelandic Met Office (Vedur.is) and Open-Meteo. In winter (roughly November–April), expect ice, snow, and far shorter daylight hours than shown here in summer - the live conditions above already reflect today's actual state, but budget extra time and check again close to departure.