Should I drive the Ring Road clockwise or counterclockwise?

Counterclockwise (Reykjavik → North → East → South Coast) has a slight edge for independent travelers: quieter North Iceland while most visitors head south, and the iconic South Coast in golden afternoon light as you return west. Clockwise is better for groups new to Iceland who want infrastructure and services front-loaded.

Iceland Ring Road: Clockwise vs Counterclockwise Guide

The actual difference between directions

The Ring Road is a loop. Every waterfall, glacier, and volcanic landscape is accessible from both directions — the question is sequence, logistics, and light. There is no wrong answer, but each direction has characteristics that suit different travelers.

Clockwise: Reykjavik → South Coast → East → North → back to Reykjavik

Why people choose clockwise

Infrastructure front-loaded. The South Coast has the densest petrol stations, widest accommodation choice, and most reliable mobile coverage. If you are new to Iceland and want to feel oriented before reaching remote areas, hitting Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Vík first builds confidence.

Highest-density highlights early. The South Coast has more Instagram-iconic sights per 100 km than anywhere else in Iceland. Getting these done while your energy is highest has appeal.

Westfjords detour timing. If you are adding the Westfjords as a detour, clockwise means arriving from the east (via the Látrabjarg peninsula) or from the north — logistically simpler than the counterclockwise approach through Borgarfjörður.

Clockwise disadvantages

Morning light on Jökulsárlón. Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon gets its best light in the evening with the sun over the glaciers. Clockwise travelers arriving from Vík typically reach Jökulsárlón in mid-morning — adequate but not peak.

South Coast traffic. Going clockwise means hitting the South Coast with the same direction as the majority of Ring Road traffic. You are in convoy with other renters, sharing the same layby at Seljalandsfoss at the same time.

North feels like an anticlimax. Some clockwise travelers report that Akureyri and Mývatn — genuinely excellent — feel muted after the visual saturation of the South Coast.

Counterclockwise: Reykjavik → North Iceland → East → South Coast → back to Reykjavik

Why counterclockwise works better for most independent travelers

North Iceland while it’s quiet. Most Ring Road traffic flows clockwise. On a counterclockwise route, you arrive at Goðafoss, Mývatn, Dettifoss, and Húsavík before the clockwise crowd. In high summer, this can mean the difference between an empty car park and a 40-minute queue.

Jökulsárlón in golden hour. Arriving from the Eastfjords in counterclockwise direction, you typically reach Jökulsárlón in the late afternoon, when the low sun illuminates the iceberg faces and reflects off Diamond Beach. This is when the lagoon looks its best.

South Coast with afternoon and evening light. The waterfalls and black sand beaches on the South Coast face south — afternoon light hits them directly. Counterclockwise travelers arrive here in the second half of the trip with light in their favour.

Building to the climax. Many travelers find the South Coast to be the most spectacular section. Saving it for last means ending the Ring Road on its highest note.

Counterclockwise disadvantages

Less developed infrastructure for the first 2–3 days. North Iceland has fewer rental agencies, fewer backup options if the car fails, and slightly longer distances between petrol stations than the South Coast. This is manageable but worth noting.

Snæfellsnes Peninsula timing. If you are adding Snæfellsnes as a detour from Borgarfjörður (west of Reykjavik), counterclockwise means doing this at the start — fine, but you are diving into a complex detour before acclimatising.

Direction and photography

If photography is a primary reason for your trip, counterclockwise gives marginally better light on the two most-photographed sites:

Jökulsárlón/Diamond Beach: Best in evening light, which counterclockwise delivers.

Skógafoss: Faces east-southeast. Best photographed in the morning (frontlit), which counterclockwise delivers if you arrive from Vík in the morning.

Seljalandsfoss: Faces roughly north. Light is usable throughout the day in summer midnight-sun conditions, so direction matters less here.

Kirkjufell (Snæfellsnes detour): Faces west, best in evening. Accessible from either direction on a detour.

Practical considerations by direction

Campsite availability

Campsite booking is advisable in July–August regardless of direction. South Coast campsites (Skógar, Vík) tend to fill earliest. Going counterclockwise, you reach these sites in the second half of the trip — book further ahead for these than for North Iceland sites.

Guided tours

Guided Ring Road tours typically run clockwise. If you are considering a guided tour for part of the route and self-driving the rest, clockwise aligns you with more options for joining and departing mid-tour.

Airport transfers

Most flights arrive and depart from Keflavik, southwest of Reykjavik. Both Ring Road directions start and end in Reykjavik, so airport logistics are identical.

Recommended starting days by direction

Regardless of direction:

Day 1: Drive no further than Vík (clockwise) or Borgarnes/Snæfellsnes turnoff (counterclockwise) from Reykjavik. Orientation day — avoid trying to cross the full South Coast on your first driving day.

For counterclockwise: Starting Sunday or Monday means you hit the quieter East and North Iceland mid-week, and reach the South Coast on Friday–Saturday when light often improves.

Sample stage plans by direction

Clockwise 7-day stage plan

Day	Start	End	Key stops
1	Reykjavik	Vík	Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara
2	Vík	Höfn	Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach
3	Höfn	Egilsstaðir	East Fjords coastal drive, Seyðisfjörður detour
4	Egilsstaðir	Mývatn	East Fjords northern route, Dettifoss
5	Mývatn	Akureyri	Krafla caldera, Goðafoss
6	Akureyri	Borgarnes	Snæfellsnes detour or direct via Route 1
7	Borgarnes	Reykjavik	Golden Circle option, Þingvellir

Counterclockwise 7-day stage plan

Day	Start	End	Key stops
1	Reykjavik	Borgarnes/Snæfellsnes	Borgarfjörður, Snæfellsnes start
2	Snæfellsnes	Akureyri	Complete Snæfellsnes, Borgarnes, north drive
3	Akureyri	Mývatn	Goðafoss, Mývatn arrival
4	Mývatn	Egilsstaðir	Dettifoss, Ásbyrgi, East approach
5	Egilsstaðir	Höfn	East Fjords, Seyðisfjörður, coast south
6	Höfn	Vík	Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach (afternoon light)
7	Vík	Reykjavik	Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss (evening)

These are tight 7-day versions — see our 7-day Ring Road itinerary for the full counterclockwise plan with detailed stops.

Traffic by time of day

Understanding peak traffic timing on the Ring Road helps both directions:

Morning rush at popular sites: Tour buses from Reykjavik depart around 08:30–09:30 and arrive at Geysir/Gullfoss (Golden Circle) around 10:00–10:30. Clockwise Ring Road travelers departing early can reach the South Coast waterfalls before the same buses swing back through on combined tours.

Afternoon crowd patterns at Jökulsárlón: The glacier lagoon is most crowded 12:00–16:00 in summer. Counterclockwise drivers arriving from the east typically arrive in late afternoon (16:00–19:00) — somewhat better timing.

Evening photography advantage: Both directions can be planned to arrive at specific sites during golden hour. The key is knowing when your priority site has optimal light (see Photography section in the counterclockwise analysis above) and working backwards from that to establish your daily start time.

Special considerations for solo travelers

Solo travelers on the Ring Road face specific logistical questions about direction:

Safety register before every driving day: Safetravel.is travel plan registration is more important for solo travelers. Register daily, not just once at trip start. Include today’s destination and estimated arrival time.

Meeting other travelers: Counterclockwise travelers may find fewer fellow visitors at early stops (North Iceland first). Clockwise puts you in the same direction as the majority of Ring Road traffic, making it marginally easier to meet people at campsites who are on the same route.

Single-vehicle scenarios: If something goes wrong with your vehicle in a remote section, being on the counterclockwise route means you are in quieter North Iceland in the first half. Traffic on the South Coast in the second half means more passing vehicles if you need help.

Photography solo: Solo travel and solo photography work well together on either direction. The counterclockwise South Coast in golden afternoon/evening light is the slight edge for solo photographers who can stay as long as they like without worrying about travel companions.

The Snæfellsnes and Westfjords detour question

Both major peninsula detours from the Ring Road work logistically from either direction — but their natural connection to the Ring Road differs:

Snæfellsnes from the Ring Road: Snæfellsnes branches from Route 54 near Borgarnes, about 70 km north of Reykjavik on the Ring Road. It sits naturally at the start of a counterclockwise Ring Road trip (go up to Snæfellsnes, then continue north and east on Route 1) or as the last stop before returning to Reykjavik on a clockwise route.

Westfjords from the Ring Road: The Westfjords connect to the Ring Road near Borgarfjörður in West Iceland. On a counterclockwise route, you’ve just come from Reykjavik and can branch up to the Westfjords before continuing north — a logical sequence. On a clockwise route, you arrive at the Westfjords after circling the entire island, likely tired, and may have less energy for the Westfjords’ demanding roads.

Verdict on detours: The Westfjords fit more naturally into a counterclockwise itinerary for most travelers. Snæfellsnes works equally well from either direction.

The light quality argument in detail

The photography case for counterclockwise comes down to the position of the sun relative to the key South Coast sites:

Skógafoss (faces east-southeast): Optimal light in the morning when the sun illuminates the falls frontally. On a counterclockwise route, you arrive at Skógafoss on the last Ring Road day, coming from Vík — if you start early, this means 08:00–10:00 arrival with morning light. On a clockwise route, arriving from Reykjavik on Day 1, you reach Skógafoss around 09:00–11:00 depending on departure time — also potentially good timing.

Seljalandsfoss (faces north): The walk-behind waterfall is lit by ambient light year-round. Directional preference is minimal.

Jökulsárlón (faces southwest toward the glacier): The glacier calves from the northwest. Afternoon sun hits the glacier faces directly and reflects off icebergs. Evening light (17:00–22:00 in summer) creates the most dramatic iceberg illumination. On a counterclockwise route, you arrive at Jökulsárlón from the Eastfjords in the afternoon/evening — optimal timing.

The counterclockwise light advantage is most pronounced in September–October when sun angles are lower and golden-hour light is more intense.

Booking accommodation by direction

The accommodation booking challenge differs slightly by direction:

Clockwise: High-demand South Coast bookings are needed for the first 2–3 nights. Book Vík accommodation 4–6 weeks ahead in July–August. East Iceland accommodation can usually be booked later (1–2 weeks ahead), so you have flexibility as the trip progresses.

Counterclockwise: North Iceland accommodation (Akureyri, Mývatn) needed first — generally easier to book than South Coast. The South Coast accommodation needed at the end of the trip can be booked as you go if you monitor availability. However, if South Coast stops fill while you’re in the North, you’re potentially locked out of the best options.

Practical approach for either direction: Book the first 2 nights, any “pinch point” accommodations (Jökulsárlón area, Mývatn), and the last night firmly in advance. Leave middle nights flexible with 5–7 days of lead time.

Weather patterns by Ring Road region

Understanding which Ring Road sections are most weather-affected helps in planning either direction:

South Coast (Vík–Kirkjubæjarklaustur): Most susceptible to sand storms and wind closure. The Mýrdalssandur plain between Vík and Jökulsárlón is Iceland’s most frequently closed Ring Road segment.

Eastfjords mountain passes: Prone to snowfall and ice in October–April. The Breiðdalsheiði and Fjarðarheiði passes can be orange or red while the coast is green.

North Iceland: Lower precipitation than the South, but Ring Road crosses elevated terrain between Akureyri and Egilsstaðir. Cold-air pooling in valleys creates black ice.

Practical implication for direction: If your trip is in September–October and you’re concerned about Eastfjords pass closures, clockwise means facing those passes on days 3–4 when you can check road.is at the start of the trip. Counterclockwise means passing them at the end of your itinerary when you have more experience reading conditions.

Frequently asked questions about Ring Road direction

Does tour bus traffic flow mostly clockwise?

Yes, the majority of guided Ring Road tours run clockwise — roughly 60–70% by operator accounts. This means North Iceland on a counterclockwise self-drive is noticeably quieter in the first days.

Can I change direction mid-route?

Yes — it’s a loop. If the weather forces a change or you want to extend time at one region, simply turn around and reverse direction. There are no directional restrictions on Route 1.

Does direction affect the 7-day Ring Road itinerary?

See our 7-day Ring Road itinerary which runs counterclockwise. The 10-day and 14-day versions also run counterclockwise for the same light-quality reasons.

Is the road easier to drive one direction than the other?

No meaningful difference in road difficulty by direction on Route 1. The only directional road rule is on single-lane bridges — priority to whoever arrives first or is closer to the bridge, regardless of which direction traffic is flowing.

What if I want to do the Ring Road in 5 days — does direction matter more?

With only 5 days, driving time dominates. Clockwise is marginally better for a 5-day compressed trip because the South Coast (Day 1–2) is the most infrastructure-dense section — petrol, accommodation, and services are easier to access when you’re still getting oriented. Counterclockwise sends you into the quieter North on your first day when navigation uncertainty is highest. With limited days, front-loading the easier section reduces stress.

Which direction do most self-driving travelers choose?

Based on observations at popular Ring Road sites and rental company feedback, approximately 55–60% of self-driving visitors go clockwise. This means counterclockwise routes encounter less same-direction traffic at key stops — a real practical benefit at Mývatn and the Diamond Circle. The minority going counterclockwise aren’t getting it wrong; they’re often more experienced Iceland visitors who’ve done their research.

Does direction change the fuel cost?

No. The Ring Road loop is 1,322 km regardless of direction. Fuel cost is identical. The only minor fuel variable is the slope gradient of specific road sections, which is negligible over 1,322 km total.

How do I tell if I’m going clockwise or counterclockwise from the road signs?

Route 1 kilometre markers count upward going clockwise from Reykjavik. If the marker numbers are increasing as you drive, you are going clockwise. If they are decreasing, you are going counterclockwise. Km 0 is effectively at the Reykjavik start point; km 1,322 brings you back to the same point after the full loop.

Are there any roads that are one-direction only on the Ring Road?

No. Route 1 is bidirectional throughout. The only directional roads in Iceland are some one-way streets in Reykjavik city centre and the one-direction tunnel systems (like parts of the Siglufjörður tunnel). These don’t affect Ring Road direction choice.

Should solo travelers go clockwise or counterclockwise?

Counterclockwise, for the same reasons as all independent travelers — quieter North Iceland, better light on the South Coast. Solo travelers particularly benefit from arriving at popular sites (Jökulsárlón, Skógafoss) outside peak hours.