376 km from Reykjavík · ~5h 0m· Updated
Our assessment based on current conditions. Always verify with road.is and vedur.is.
Live images from the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (Vegagerðin). Click to enlarge.
Route 1 the whole way - 376 km and about five hours' driving from Reykjavík, so most people overnight en route (Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur). The lagoon sits right beside the Ring Road bridge; free parking on both sides, with Diamond Beach across the road on the seaward side. Fully accessible year-round - winter is peak season for the ice, not an obstacle.
Live conditions for the full circuit, not just the road into Jökulsárlón.
Black sand beach where icebergs from Jökulsárlón wash ashore. Glittering ice crystals on volcanic sand - looks like diamonds.
Town in the Southern Region. Hub for the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Nature reserve in Vatnajökull National Park. Glacier hiking, Svartifoss waterfall, and access to the ice cap.
Waterfall framed by black basalt columns in Skaftafell. Inspiration for Reykjavík's Hallgrímskirkja architecture. 1.5km hike from visitor center.
Fishing town in Southeast Iceland. Famous for langoustine. Gateway to Vatnajökull and the eastern fjords.
Dramatic mountain with a distinctive pointy silhouette on the Stokksnes peninsula. Black sand dunes, Viking village film set. Photographer favorite.