When do Iceland's F-roads open?

Typical opening windows for 14 major highland routes, from Vegagerðin's 2021–2025 opening record, plus live status for this year on all 42 F-roads.

Most F-roads open between late May and mid-July and close again in September, but the exact date is set by Vegagerðin each year after a physical inspection - it depends on snowpack and river levels, not the calendar. Kjölur (F35)Kjölur (F35) is usually the first to open; the remote interior crossings like Sprengisandur (F26)Sprengisandur (F26) tend to open last. The table below shows the typical window for each road - always check the live status link before you drive, since a “typical” date is not a guarantee.

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Typically first to open

F35 Kjölur

~1–6 Jun

Typically last to open

F821 Eyjafjarðarleið

~7 Jul

Typical opening dates, earliest to latest

From Vegagerðin's 2021–2025record. “Live status” reflects this year's actual conditions right now.

Sort by:

Road	Typical opening	Range	Near	Live status
F35Kjölur	~1–6 Jun	30 May – 14 Jun	Geysir - 8 min (10 km) drive from Gullfoss	Open
F550Kaldidalur	~13 Jun	3 Jun – 23 Jun	Hraunfossar - 19 min (24 km) drive from Kleppjárnsreykir	Open
F208Fjallabak nyrðri (Landmannalaugar, north)	~2–25 Jun	23 May – 6 Jul	Landmannalaugar - 3h 26m (33 km) drive from Eldgjá	Open
F225Landmannaleið	~16 Jun	9 Jun – 24 Jun	Hveradalir - 4h 22m (100 km) drive from Stokkseyri	Open
F206Lakavegur (Laki craters)	~20 Jun	12 Jun – 1 Jul	Fjaðrárgljúfur - 21 min (13 km) drive from Kirkjubæjarklaustur	Open
F210Fjallabak syðri	~29 Jun – 7 Jul	23 Jun – 15 Jul	Eyrarbakki - 1h 3m (47 km) drive from Fjaðrárgljúfur	Partly closed
F26Sprengisandur	~6 Jul	21 Jun – 13 Jul	-	Open
F88Öskjuleið (Askja)	~30 Jun	14 Jun – 2 Jul	Herðubreið - 2h 18m (24 km) drive from Akranes	Open
F910Austurleið (Askja east / Kverkfjöll)	~15 Jul	30 Jun – 26 Jul	Askja - 30 min (2 km) drive from Herðubreið	Open
F821Eyjafjarðarleið	~7 Jul	23 Jun – 15 Jul	-	Open

F35Kjölur

Typical opening: ~1–6 Jun
Range: 30 May – 14 Jun
Near: Geysir - 8 min (10 km) drive from Gullfoss
Live status: Open

F550Kaldidalur

Typical opening: ~13 Jun
Range: 3 Jun – 23 Jun
Near: Hraunfossar - 19 min (24 km) drive from Kleppjárnsreykir
Live status: Open

F208Fjallabak nyrðri (Landmannalaugar, north)

Typical opening: ~2–25 Jun
Range: 23 May – 6 Jul
Near: Landmannalaugar - 3h 26m (33 km) drive from Eldgjá
Live status: Open

F225Landmannaleið

Typical opening: ~16 Jun
Range: 9 Jun – 24 Jun
Near: Hveradalir - 4h 22m (100 km) drive from Stokkseyri
Live status: Open

F206Lakavegur (Laki craters)

Typical opening: ~20 Jun
Range: 12 Jun – 1 Jul
Near: Fjaðrárgljúfur - 21 min (13 km) drive from Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Live status: Open

F210Fjallabak syðri

Typical opening: ~29 Jun – 7 Jul
Range: 23 Jun – 15 Jul
Near: Eyrarbakki - 1h 3m (47 km) drive from Fjaðrárgljúfur
Live status: Partly closed

F26Sprengisandur

Typical opening: ~6 Jul
Range: 21 Jun – 13 Jul
Near: -
Live status: Open

F88Öskjuleið (Askja)

Typical opening: ~30 Jun
Range: 14 Jun – 2 Jul
Near: Herðubreið - 2h 18m (24 km) drive from Akranes
Live status: Open

F910Austurleið (Askja east / Kverkfjöll)

Typical opening: ~15 Jul
Range: 30 Jun – 26 Jul
Near: Askja - 30 min (2 km) drive from Herðubreið
Live status: Open

F821Eyjafjarðarleið

Typical opening: ~7 Jul
Range: 23 Jun – 15 Jul
Near: -
Live status: Open

Observed openings, 2026 season

The first day our 15-minute readings saw each road drivable this year - recorded data, not an estimate.

Road	First seen drivable	As
F228Veiðivatnaleið	22 June	Open - 4×4 only
F229Jökulheimaleið	22 June	Open - 4×4 only
F249Þórsmörk	22 June	Open - 4×4 only
F347Kerlingarfjallavegur	22 June	Open - 4×4 only
F578Arnarvatnsheiði	22 June	Open - 4×4 only
F649Ófeigsfjarðarvegur	22 June	Open - 4×4 only
F734Mælifellsdalsvegur	22 June	Open - 4×4 only
F335Hagavatnsvegur	23 June	Open - 4×4 only
F338Skjaldbreiðarvegur	23 June	Open - 4×4 only
F88Öskjuleið (Askja)	26 June	Open - 4×4 only
F206Lakavegur (Laki craters)	26 June	Open - 4×4 only
F207Lakagígavegur	26 June	Open - 4×4 only
F903Hvannalindavegur	26 June	Open - 4×4 only
F905Arnardalsleið	26 June	Open - 4×4 only
F902Kverkfjallaleið	26 June	Open - 4×4 only
F66Kollafjarðarheiði	26 June	Open - 4×4 only
F946Loðmundarfjörður	29 June	Open - 4×4 only
F899Flateyjardalsvegur	29 June	Open - 4×4 only
F575Eysteinsdalsleið	30 June	Open - 4×4 only
F225Landmannaleið	30 June	Open - 4×4 only
F839Leirdalsheiðarvegur	1 July	Open - 4×4 only
F35Kjölur	2 July	Open - 4×4 only
F550Kaldidalur	2 July	Open - 4×4 only
F735Þjófadalavegur	2 July	Open
F26Sprengisandur	3 July	Open - 4×4 only
F821Eyjafjarðarleið	3 July	Open - 4×4 only
F881Dragaleið	3 July	Open - 4×4 only
F752Skagafjarðarleið	3 July	Open - 4×4 only
F894Öskjuvatnsvegur	7 July	Open - 4×4 only
F208Fjallabak nyrðri (Landmannalaugar, north)	8 July	Open - 4×4 only
F232Öldufellsleið	8 July	Open - 4×4 only
F233Álftavatnskrókur	8 July	Open - 4×4 only
F235Langisjór	8 July	Open - 4×4 only
F261Emstruleið	8 July	Open - 4×4 only
F210Fjallabak syðri	13 July	Open - 4×4 only
F910Austurleið (Askja east / Kverkfjöll)	20 July	Open - 4×4 only
F909Snæfellsleið	24 July	Open - 4×4 only
F923Hrafnkelsdalsleið	24 July	Open - 4×4 only

F228Veiðivatnaleið

First seen drivable: 22 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F229Jökulheimaleið

First seen drivable: 22 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F249Þórsmörk

First seen drivable: 22 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F347Kerlingarfjallavegur

First seen drivable: 22 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F578Arnarvatnsheiði

First seen drivable: 22 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F649Ófeigsfjarðarvegur

First seen drivable: 22 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F734Mælifellsdalsvegur

First seen drivable: 22 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F335Hagavatnsvegur

First seen drivable: 23 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F338Skjaldbreiðarvegur

First seen drivable: 23 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F88Öskjuleið (Askja)

First seen drivable: 26 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F206Lakavegur (Laki craters)

First seen drivable: 26 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F207Lakagígavegur

First seen drivable: 26 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F903Hvannalindavegur

First seen drivable: 26 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F905Arnardalsleið

First seen drivable: 26 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F902Kverkfjallaleið

First seen drivable: 26 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F66Kollafjarðarheiði

First seen drivable: 26 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F946Loðmundarfjörður

First seen drivable: 29 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F899Flateyjardalsvegur

First seen drivable: 29 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F575Eysteinsdalsleið

First seen drivable: 30 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F225Landmannaleið

First seen drivable: 30 June
As: Open - 4×4 only

F839Leirdalsheiðarvegur

First seen drivable: 1 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F35Kjölur

First seen drivable: 2 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F550Kaldidalur

First seen drivable: 2 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F735Þjófadalavegur

First seen drivable: 2 July
As: Open

F26Sprengisandur

First seen drivable: 3 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F821Eyjafjarðarleið

First seen drivable: 3 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F881Dragaleið

First seen drivable: 3 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F752Skagafjarðarleið

First seen drivable: 3 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F894Öskjuvatnsvegur

First seen drivable: 7 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F208Fjallabak nyrðri (Landmannalaugar, north)

First seen drivable: 8 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F232Öldufellsleið

First seen drivable: 8 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F233Álftavatnskrókur

First seen drivable: 8 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F235Langisjór

First seen drivable: 8 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F261Emstruleið

First seen drivable: 8 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F210Fjallabak syðri

First seen drivable: 13 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F910Austurleið (Askja east / Kverkfjöll)

First seen drivable: 20 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F909Snæfellsleið

First seen drivable: 24 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

F923Hrafnkelsdalsleið

First seen drivable: 24 July
As: Open - 4×4 only

Full status-change history: download CSV · JSON. Free to reuse with attribution to icelandroads.com and Vegagerðin (CC BY 4.0).

Other major routes (estimated window)

No dated multi-year record yet - estimated from prior-year patterns.

F249Þórsmörk

mid – late June

Near Þórsmörk - 2h 0m (9 km) drive from Skogar

Open

F578Arnarvatnsheiði

late June – early July

Open

F338Skjaldbreiðarvegur

mid – late June

Near Geysir - 8 min (10 km) drive from Gullfoss

Open

F839Leirdalsheiðarvegur

early – mid July

Open

Frequently asked

When do F-roads open in Iceland?

Most Iceland F-roads (highland mountain roads) open between late May and mid-July, and close again in September or earlier if conditions deteriorate. The earliest routes, like Kjölur (F35) and Kaldidalur (F550), typically open by early-to-mid June; the most remote interior crossings, like Sprengisandur (F26) and Askja (F88, F910), often don't open until early-to-mid July. Vegagerðin (the Icelandic Road Administration) sets the exact date each year after a physical inspection of snowpack and river conditions - it varies year to year and cannot be predicted precisely in advance.

Which F-road opens first each year?

Kjölur (F35) is typically the first highland crossing to open, often in late May to early June, since it has no large unbridged river crossings. Kaldidalur (F550) usually follows shortly after.

When do F-roads close for the winter?

Most F-roads close in September, though the exact date depends on the year's weather - an early snowfall can close a route weeks ahead of the typical window, and Vegagerðin publishes closures with little advance notice.

About this data

Opening-date estimates are drawn from Vegagerðin's 2021–2025 opening record (source) - guides, not guarantees. Each year's actual opening date is set after a physical inspection and shifts with snowpack and spring weather. Always check the live status on each road's page, or the full live F-road list, before you drive.

When do Iceland's F-roads open?

Typical opening dates, earliest to latest

Observed openings, 2026 season

Other major routes (estimated window)

All other F-roads (28)

Frequently asked