Iceland’s Ring Road (Route 1) is one of the world’s great road trips: a 1,332 km loop around the entire island that strings together waterfalls, black-sand beaches, a glacier lagoon, fishing villages, geothermal valleys and empty fjords. Seven days is the comfortable minimum to drive it without rushing; 10 lets you breathe. Here’s a day-by-day plan, plus where to stay, what it costs and how to avoid the classic mistakes.
Ring Road itinerary at a glance
Direction: most drivers go clockwise or anti-clockwise from Reykjavík — either works; this plan goes anti-clockwise (south first) to hit the famous sights while you’re fresh. Car: a 2WD is fine for the paved Ring Road itself in summer; you only need a 4×4 for the interior F-roads. Season: June–August for the full loop and midnight sun; winter driving is for confident drivers only.
Day-by-day
Day 1 — Reykjavík & the South Coast
Collect the car and head east. First stops are the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss (walk behind it) and Skógafoss, then the black-sand beach and basalt columns at Reynisfjara near Vík. Overnight around Vík.
Day 2 — Glacier country & Jökulsárlón
Cross the vast Skeidarársandur plain to Skaftafell (short glacier hikes) and on to the show-stopping Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and the ice-strewn Diamond Beach. Overnight near Höfn, the langoustine capital.
Day 3 — The East Fjords
A quieter, scenic day winding through the East Fjords past tiny fishing hamlets like Seyðisfjörður (worth the detour for its rainbow street and church). Overnight around Egilsstaðir.
Day 4 — Mývatn & the north’s power
Enter the geothermal Mývatn area: bubbling mud pots at Hverir, the Dimmuborgir lava field, and a soak in the Mývatn Nature Baths (the north’s calmer Blue Lagoon). En route, stop at Europe’s most powerful waterfall, Dettifoss. Overnight Mývatn.
Day 5 — Goðafoss & Akureyri
The ‘waterfall of the gods’, Goðafoss, then Iceland’s charming northern capital Akureyri for a real town, good restaurants and whale-watching from nearby Húsavík. Overnight Akureyri.
Day 6 — West to Borgarnes
A long but beautiful drive west. If time allows, detour the Snæfellsnes Peninsula — often called ‘Iceland in miniature’ for its volcano, black beaches and the iconic Kirkjufell mountain. Overnight Borgarnes or Snæfellsnes.
Day 7 — Golden Circle & return
Loop back via the Golden Circle: Þingvellir National Park (where two tectonic plates meet), the erupting Geysir, and Gullfoss waterfall, before returning the car in Reykjavík. Save the Blue Lagoon for near the airport on departure.
Where to stay & budget
Guesthouses and farm-stays ring the route; book months ahead for summer as beds are limited outside Reykjavík. Realistic daily budget for two: $250–400/day mid-range (car + fuel + guesthouse + groceries), more if you eat out often — Iceland is expensive, so self-catering from supermarkets (Bónus, Krónan) saves a lot.
Mistakes to avoid
Don’t try the loop in under 6 days — you’ll spend the trip driving. Don’t confuse the paved Ring Road with the interior F-roads (those need a 4×4 and are summer-only). Refuel whenever you’re below half a tank in the east and north, where stations are sparse. And always check road.is and vedur.is for conditions — Icelandic weather turns fast.
Only have a week and want the highlights without the full loop? See our 7-day Iceland itinerary, which focuses on the south and Golden Circle.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.