Driving in Iceland

Ah Iceland. Land of unspoiled natural beauty. From its bleak and barren landscapes to its lush green fields, to its countless waterfalls, Iceland is the perfect escape for the adventurer who has a penchant for outdoor exploration. The wide variety of landscapes allows for many different types of activities: be it hiking, mountain climbing, ice cave spelunking, glacier walking, scuba diving, camping, or horseback trekking.

What makes Iceland so great is also the cause of a major drawback. Iceland, having a very low population density, only has small towns that dot the countryside every once in awhile. This is good in that it allows there to be a massive portion of the country that is perfect for outdoor adventures. It also means there aren’t many options to get around the entire island.

The few options boil down to this: rent a car, join a tour group, or hitchhike. I’ve heard that hitchhiking in Iceland is extremely common and the safest place in the world to do it. We have no experience with it but it’s a cost effective option to be aware of and a great way to meet locals or other travelers. Tour groups provide the advantage of arranging all transportation for you. Unfortunately, you are constrained to their itinerary, you will typically visit tourist-infested areas, and it is generally on the pricier end. That leaves car rental.

Renting a car gives you the freedom to set your own itinerary, pace and lets you see more in general, as well as more remote regions! For example, in the northeast fjords there are some ...ah... interesting tunnels you can drive through to get to some secluded towns.

There is so much to see when driving through Iceland. The landscape changes so frequently and so dramatically. It’s absolutely beautiful and worth exploring independently.

Moreover, driving is almost worry-free. The highways are in excellent condition. Plus, they are actually geothermally heated, so that there is never snow buildup or ice to worry about. Most are flanked by yellow markers so you can’t veer off the road in fog. And, they are relatively free of traffic.

Notice how I said almost worry-free? There are definitely some things to know before heading out on the road. Just for you, I’ve compiled a list.

1. Gas up at every opportunity. Like I said before, towns are few and far between. Gas stations even more so. Hours of operation can be a bit unusual in most rural towns as well. To avoid being stranded on the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere drawing crop circles in the black sand to pass the time make sure you always have enough gas when heading into unpopulated areas. (BEWARE THE SIGNS! There are yellow signs showing a town barred with a red line when you are headed toward nothingness.)
2. Have lots of cash on hand to pay for gas. Paying for gas in Iceland is not as easy as it sounds. For whatever reason, gas pumps like to (metaphorically) chew up your credit card and spit it out. Cash is the way to pay to avoid having your credit card blocked.
3. Do not drive on F roads unless you rented a monster truck. Seriously, don’t do it. You’ll get stuck trying to cross a river or tear out the undercarriage of your car! Then, you’ll be cursing the F road with a choice word that, coincidentally, also starts with F. If you do want to drive on these roads, make sure you rent a large off-road vehicle.
4. Do purchase sand and ash protection. Iceland is a volcanically active place; the volcanoes’ spit up can cause damage to cars. Rental companies offer additional insurance as sand and ash protection that will typically cover all damages incurred by all that volcanic activity.
5. Same goes for gravel protection. Often you’ll find yourself driving on a gravel road to reach a hike or a lookout. It’s better to be safe than sorry! We had a riding lawnmower launch a rock at us in the middle of Reykjavik and dent the car, of all things.
6. An ill wind blows... Near Jokulsarlon particularly. Winds can be ridiculously strong. So much so that they can rip a car door off its hinges, so hang on tight when exiting your rental.
7. There are cameras everywhere! Traffic cameras, that is. You won't see many police cars on the highway, but speeding may get you an Icelandic envelope in the mail a few months after the trip containing a nice speeding ticket. Surprise!

Despite the above list, driving is hands down the best way to visit Iceland. Nothing beats the freedom to explore this gorgeous country as you choose.

Gen