Iceland Ring Road trip planner
The Ring Road (Route 1) circles Iceland at ~1,330 km. How many days you need depends on your interests and pace. Build your custom plan below.
Your Ring Road plan
This is a suggested framework. Browse our detailed itineraries for day-by-day plans with specific hotels and activities.
Ring Road essentials
- Route 1 total distance: approximately 1,330 km (826 miles) — the full circuit.
- Minimum time: 7 days (fast pace, key highlights only). Most people do 10–14 days for a comfortable circuit.
- Clockwise vs counterclockwise: Both work. Clockwise (south coast first) is more popular; counterclockwise means hitting the dramatic south coast last. See our guide to direction.
- F-roads: These highland tracks require a 4x4 (mandatory by law). Open approximately June–September. Driving a 2WD on F-roads voids your rental insurance and incurs fines.
- Petrol stations: Can be 100–200 km apart in remote areas. Fill up whenever the gauge drops below half in the east and north.
- Road conditions: Always check road.is before setting out. Winter driving requires winter tyres (mandatory Nov–Apr).