376 km from Reykjavík · ~5h 0m· Updated 9 min ago
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.
Black sand beach where icebergs from Jökulsárlón wash ashore. Glittering ice crystals on volcanic sand - looks like diamonds.
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.
Glacier-covered mountain range on the northern edge of Vatnajökull. Ice caves and hot springs. Remote. 4x4 required.
Requires 4x4