South Coast (Ring Road)
The Ring Road (Route 1) from Hella and Hvolsvöllur east through Vík, Mýrdalssandur, and toward Skaftafell - Iceland's busiest tourist corridor outside the capital.
Live counts by station
| Station | Last 15 min | Today |
|---|---|---|
| HellaSamanlögð umferð óháð stefnu | 102 | 2,743 |
| Við MarkarfljótUmferð á hringvegi | 81 | 2,103 34% busier than usual |
| Hvammur undir EyjafjöllumSamanlögð umferð óháð stefnu | 80 | 1,701 |
| Steinar undir EyjafjöllumSamanlögð umferð óháð stefnu | 129 | 1,623 |
| EldhraunSamanlögð umferð óháð stefnu | 59 | 1,051 |
| MýrdalssandurSamanlögð umferð óháð stefnu | 56 | 1,001 |
| GígjukvíslSamanlögð umferð óháð stefnu | 65 | 882 |
| PéturseyTil austurs | 72 | 710 |
| EldhraunTil austurs | 41 | 684 |
| NúpahraunTil norðausturs | 32 | 619 41% busier than usual |
| PéturseyTil vesturs | 37 | 526 |
| Við MarkarfljótVegur til Landeyjahafnar | 59 | 386 |
| EldhraunTil vesturs | 12 | 370 |
| NúpahraunTil suðvesturs | 21 | 286 |
Updated 07/09/2026, 12:50:00.
Destinations on this route
Seljalandsfoss
Iconic waterfall you can walk behind. 60m drop from a sea cliff. Part of the South Coast route. Gljúfrabúi waterfall hidden nearby.
Skógafoss
One of Iceland's largest waterfalls. 25m wide, 60m drop. Rainbow visible in spray on sunny days. Climb staircase for panoramic view.
Sólheimajökull
Glacier tongue descending from Mýrdalsjökull. Popular for guided glacier hikes. Visible from Route 1 parking lot.
Reynisfjara
Famous black sand beach near Vík. Powerful sneaker waves, basalt sea stacks (Reynisdrangar), and basalt column cave. Extreme caution required.
Dyrhólaey
120m promontory with a massive stone arch. Puffin colony in summer. Panoramic views of the South Coast.
Vík í Mýrdal
Southernmost village in Iceland. Famous black sand beach, Reynisdrangar sea stacks, and close to Dyrhólaey arch.
Frequently asked
Is South Coast (Ring Road) busy right now?
It depends heavily on season and time of day - this is Iceland's busiest tourist corridor outside the capital, busiest at midday during peak season (June–August) and much quieter outside those months. See the live counts below for the current figure at each station.
When is South Coast (Ring Road) busiest?
Midday during peak tourist season (June–August), when day-trip and rental-car traffic overlaps with regular local traffic - and busier still on Verslunarmannahelgi, the long weekend around the first Monday of August, when Icelanders join the summer traffic heading to camping trips and outdoor festivals along this route.
Where does this data come from?
Live counts from Vegagerðin's (the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration) road counter stations in this area, updated every few minutes. Colours reflect vehicle volume, not congestion or delay.