When do Iceland's F-roads open?
Typical opening windows for 12 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) is usually the first to open; the remote interior crossings like 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.
Typical opening dates, earliest to latest
From Vegagerðin's 2021–2025record. “Live status” reflects this year's actual conditions right now.
| Road | Typical opening | Range | Live status |
|---|---|---|---|
| F35Kjölur | ~1–6 Jun | 30 May – 14 Jun | Open · 4×4 only |
| F550Kaldidalur | ~13 Jun | 3 Jun – 23 Jun | Open · 4×4 only |
| F208Fjallabak nyrðri (Landmannalaugar, north) | ~2–25 Jun | 23 May – 6 Jul | Closed |
| F225Landmannaleið | ~16 Jun | 9 Jun – 24 Jun | Closed |
| F206Lakavegur (Laki craters) | ~20 Jun | 12 Jun – 1 Jul | Open · 4×4 only |
| F210Fjallabak syðri | ~29 Jun – 7 Jul | 23 Jun – 15 Jul | Closed |
| F26Sprengisandur | ~6 Jul | 21 Jun – 13 Jul | Closed |
| F88Öskjuleið (Askja) | ~30 Jun | 14 Jun – 2 Jul | Open · 4×4 only |
| F910Austurleið (Askja east / Kverkfjöll) | ~15 Jul | 30 Jun – 26 Jul | Closed |
| F821Eyjafjarðarleið | ~7 Jul | 23 Jun – 15 Jul | Closed |
Other major routes (estimated window)
No dated multi-year record yet — estimated from prior-year patterns.
All other F-roads (30)
Smaller highland routes with no dated opening record — live status only.
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.