The epic 828-mile road trip that circles an entire island nation
- Our Hidden Earth
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
Take a drive around an entire island and discover amazing sights around every corner. This really is one road trip you’ll never forget.
It’s known as one of the most beautiful drives on Earth, covering over 800 miles of coast with stunning views all the way around the island.
The Ring Road, also called Route 1, is Iceland’s main road. It loops around the whole country, linking small seaside towns and leading to big tourist spots like the Golden Circle, Seljalandsfoss waterfall, and the Eastfjords.
This famous road is 1,322 km (828 miles) long and connects most towns and villages. People love it for its mix of landscapes—mountains, deep fjords, and some of the country’s most well-known sights.
Circling all of Iceland, the Ring Road is often called one of the world’s best road trips. It’s an adventure that takes you all the way around a country’s edge.
VisitIceland.com suggests: “Renting a car is the easiest and most flexible way to explore the Ring Road at your own speed.
“Public buses run all year, but they’re harder to rely on outside summer. You could also join a guided tour, which usually lasts a week and comes with stories, tips, and plenty of laughs along the way.”
On maps, the Ring Road is marked as Route 1, and it’s important to check weather and road conditions often, especially in the colder months.
VisitIceland.com says: “You can leave Reykjavík and go either east or north. There’s no right or wrong direction!”
Many say the southern route from Reykjavík to Egilsstaðir is the most beautiful, with waterfalls, glacier lakes, and other amazing sights right by the road.
But that doesn’t mean you should skip the rest of the country—side trips to places like the Eastfjords or Snæfellsnes Peninsula show off more awesome views and secret spots.
The south of Iceland is the flattest area, where the road follows the coastline. This stretch is known for its waterfalls and glacier views, like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey cliffs, Vatnajökull National Park, and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
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