Realistic Driving Times
Apr 5th, 2008, 08:37 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Realistic Driving Times
We're celebrating our 10th anniversary with 7 days/6 nights in Iceland. Great posts here have got us geared up for things that, sigh, are at 4 points of the compass (Golden Circle, Thors-mork, Vatnajokull, Dettifoss and Myvatan.) Here's my question: In driving the Ring Road, how many miles/kms can you realistically make in a day? Appreciate this might not be your ideal plan for visiting Iceland, but it's ours and I would really, really appreciate some guidance on realistic driving times out there on main road. Thanks. R
Apr 9th, 2008, 10:40 AM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The biggest factor will be what time of year you are travelling.
We drove the complete ring (and then some) in October 2007. We did it in a 2 week trip and (other than 1 or 2 days) didn't feel that we were just stuck in the car.
In many places, the roads were quite good and we were able to do in the 100kpm range. In other places (even on the ring road), the roads are gravel and travel is much slower. Off of the ring road, you'll find anything from well paved roads to goat tracks. Travel time on these can vary widely.
If you are traveling in tourist season, expect to spend some time stuck behind buses and other travelers... though tourist season doesn't rival that of other more touristy destinations.
With some careful planning, you can probably make your itinerary work, although you'll spend a lot of time on the road. One of the nice things we found about Iceland were there were a fair number of interesting stops along the roads (there is a common 'point of interest' sign that you'll see a lot). Try to find time to take some of these diversions.
Enjoy the trip... it's a great destination. BTW, when you get to Myvatn, go to the Nature Baths on evening. Much less touristy than the Blue Lagoon and just a neat location (it was snowing and 30 degrees when we went, there were about 5 people in the whole place... it looks out over craters and the lake).
We drove the complete ring (and then some) in October 2007. We did it in a 2 week trip and (other than 1 or 2 days) didn't feel that we were just stuck in the car.
In many places, the roads were quite good and we were able to do in the 100kpm range. In other places (even on the ring road), the roads are gravel and travel is much slower. Off of the ring road, you'll find anything from well paved roads to goat tracks. Travel time on these can vary widely.
If you are traveling in tourist season, expect to spend some time stuck behind buses and other travelers... though tourist season doesn't rival that of other more touristy destinations.
With some careful planning, you can probably make your itinerary work, although you'll spend a lot of time on the road. One of the nice things we found about Iceland were there were a fair number of interesting stops along the roads (there is a common 'point of interest' sign that you'll see a lot). Try to find time to take some of these diversions.
Enjoy the trip... it's a great destination. BTW, when you get to Myvatn, go to the Nature Baths on evening. Much less touristy than the Blue Lagoon and just a neat location (it was snowing and 30 degrees when we went, there were about 5 people in the whole place... it looks out over craters and the lake).
Apr 15th, 2008, 11:08 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the informative response. Actually, we have booked a tour (driving) to Thorsmork and a tour (flying/driving) to Vatnajokull out of Reykjavík and then will drive ourselves north to explore the NE (Myvatan, Dettifoss, etc.) for 3 days. That should make things a little easier on us, I hope. Thanks again for the info.
Apr 15th, 2008, 02:23 PM
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Enjoy the trip... I'm sure you'll have a great time.
FYI, the road on the western side of Jökulsárgljúfur park (Dettifoss, canyon, etc.) was in really bad shape when we were there... badly rutted and snow covered in spots. We actually had to help dig out a big SUV that was stuck (we were driving a little Citroen!). The park is definitely worth most of a day.
Myvatn is a great area... between the lava fields, craters, pseudocraters, birds, and the nature baths, you'll have a great time.
FYI, the road on the western side of Jökulsárgljúfur park (Dettifoss, canyon, etc.) was in really bad shape when we were there... badly rutted and snow covered in spots. We actually had to help dig out a big SUV that was stuck (we were driving a little Citroen!). The park is definitely worth most of a day.
Myvatn is a great area... between the lava fields, craters, pseudocraters, birds, and the nature baths, you'll have a great time.
