Self-Guided Tour of Iceland's Ring Road - Iceland Purple Travel Guide
Iceland’s Ring Road provides access to lots of spectacular attractions outside the Reykjavik area and the Golden Circle. We provide you a detailed itinerary with the best things to see and we show lots of photos so you know what you can expect.
Iceland’s Route 1 is also known as Ring Road, or in Icelandic: Þjóðvegur 1. It is 821 miles (1,322km) long and circles around the island connecting Iceland’s biggest cities and many attractions outside the Reykjavik area and the Golden Circle
The road is fully paved and 2 lanes wide (=one lane in each direction) for almost its entire length. The speed limit is typically 90 km/h (55 mph) and there are several tunnels with a length of up to 4.6 miles (7.4km). The Ring Road is open year-round, but some areas may get periodically closed after heavy snow fall.
Some of these areas are very rural and gas stations can be far in-between and may close early. So, make sure that you always start your day with a full tank of gas and read our advice about driving and gassing up in Iceland.
The Ring Road can be experienced in as little as 6 or 7 days, but our recommendation is to take it slower so that you can actually enjoy the sights you are seeing.
The itinerary below is an 11 day self-driving itinerary for Iceland’s Ring Road, which includes Iceland’s Diamond Circle.
Click here to go to Day 1 of your Iceland Ring Road tour.
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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel
Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.
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