Are you thinking about taking a road trip through Iceland? Because if there’s one country in the world you should take a road trip, it’s Iceland! Before you embark on your adventure, there are some things you need to know. Read on to learn about the top 5 tips for an epic road trip in Iceland.
1. Be Realistic About Your Itinerary
When most people start planning a road trip through Iceland, they quickly realize that everywhere in the country is pretty much worth going to.
However, unless you have all the time in the world, you will have to pick and choose your destinations. Therefore, it’s important to keep the following in mind:
- Do not plan your road trips with the listed driving times in mind. Those driving times are for those who drive straight through, and you will want to stop for photo ops!
- Whether can change at the drop of a hat in Iceland, so be prepared to add in some extra time for waiting out the weather
- If you travel outside of the summer months, days are quite short, so you’ll have less driving time each day
If you’re nervous about setting your own itinerary, you can always have a company like Iceland Tours help you out.
2. Choose the Right Month to Visit
Iceland has something a little bit different to offer each month of the year, so you’ll want to decide what you really want to see before you choose a time to book.
If you’re really looking to avoid crowds, then stay away from June to August, as these are the busiest times to visit.
November to March is when the country experiences the most ice and snow, so make sure you’re comfortable driving in that.
The Northern Lights, which are high on many people’s bucket list, are visible from September to March.
3. Book Accommodation in Advance During Summer Months
Many people still think of Iceland as an off-the-beaten-path destination. However, with word out about how stunning it is, Iceland is becoming more and more popular for tourists each year. This is especially true in the summer, when weather and road conditions are at their best.
There are still huge stretches of land in Iceland without any towns. Therefore, if you plan to visit during the summer months, you’ll want to book your accommodation in advance, as places fill up quickly.
In the winter, it’s also not a bad idea to look into accommodation in advance, as many places shut down during this time.
4. Pack Layers
Even if you plan to visit Iceland during the summer months, you still need to be prepared for all sorts of weather.
Weather in Iceland simply cannot make up its mind – it can go from sunny and calm, to windy and rainy, to a downright blizzard, all in the matter of a day!
Therefore, you need to come prepared for all weather conditions when visiting Iceland.
5. Alternate Drivers
We really can’t stress enough how positively stunning Iceland is. Even though it will be incredibly hard to keep your eyes on the road, you still need to! Roads can become one lane bridges, sheep can pop out of nowhere (yes, really), and skidding on ice is no joke.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to either stop every few kilometers so the driver can enjoy the views or to switch drivers and make sure whoever is in the passenger seat is snapping photos like crazy.
With these tips in mind, you will have an awesome road trip through Iceland!
