Is a Highlands road trip realistic for your trip?

A Highlands road trip is realistic only when the season, vehicle, road status, driver confidence, and backup plan all work together.

The Highlands are not a normal scenic detour from the Ring Road. The routes are remote, services are sparse, and many access roads are F-roads with rough surfaces, steep sections, narrow tracks, or river crossings. The decision is not just whether the scenery is worth it; it is whether your specific trip can absorb the uncertainty.

For most travelers, the best Highlands plan is either one focused destination with a Highland-approved vehicle or a guided/highland-bus option that removes the hardest driving. A full interior crossing or deep Askja-style route belongs to experienced highland drivers with time, fuel, and a willingness to turn back.

Worth adding?

When this fits your plan

Best for

  • summer self-drive travelers with a Highland-approved 4x4
  • repeat visitors who want a route beyond the Ring Road and South Coast
  • travelers comparing Landmannalaugar, Kerlingarfjöll, Askja, and Þórsmörk
  • planners who are willing to change the route after road and weather checks

Think twice if

  • winter trips unless using specialist guided transport
  • travelers with a standard 2WD rental or unapproved campervan

Pair it with

HighlandsSouth IcelandNorth IcelandLandmannalaugar

Choose the easiest route that still gives you the Highlands

Start with the least difficult route that gives you the landscape you came for, then add difficulty only if your vehicle, time, and confidence justify it.

Highlands route choices by planning difficulty.
Route shapeBest forPlanning caution
Landmannalaugar focusTravelers who want a southern Highlands taste with hiking, rhyolite mountains, and one clear destinationAccess still depends on F-road status and river-crossing judgment near arrival; smaller SUVs can often avoid the final crossings by parking before them.
Kjölur, Kerlingarfjöll, and HveravellirA north-south interior taste with geothermal landscapes and easier route logic than deeper F-roadsStill remote, gravel-heavy, weather-exposed, and not a shortcut to treat casually.
Askja or north HighlandsExperienced drivers building a remote north or east Highlands routeLong distances, rough tracks, river risk, and limited services make this a poor first Highlands self-drive.
Sprengisandur crossingVery experienced highland drivers with a suitable vehicle and a flexible multi-day planRemote, exposed, and not a scenic shortcut for normal visitors.
ÞórsmörkTravelers who want the valley and hikes more than the self-drive challengeThe river crossings are serious; guided super jeep or Highland bus transport is often the better planning move.

If this is your first Iceland road trip, do not use the Highlands to prove how adventurous the itinerary is. Use them when they solve a clear trip goal: a Landmannalaugar hiking day, a Kerlingarfjöll geothermal stop, a guided Þórsmörk visit, or a carefully planned interior corridor.

Landmannalaugar is often the first Highlands route to compare because the destination is clear and the access choices are visible.

How much driving pressure do F-roads create?

F-road pressure comes from slow progress, rough surfaces, river crossings, sparse services, and the possibility that conditions change after you start driving.

Drive-pressure checks

Road status
Check Umferdin before leaving and again before committing to the highland section.
Weather
Check the Icelandic Met Office for wind, precipitation, visibility, and warnings.
Vehicle
Confirm the rental is approved for the exact roads, not just marketed as 4x4.
River crossings
Treat crossings as optional. If unsure, turn around or wait for better information.
Recovery margin
Carry enough time, fuel, food, layers, and phone/navigation backup for a slower day.

SafeTravel is explicit that Highland driving is different from ordinary driving. Conditions can change quickly, not all 4WD vehicles suit all F-roads, and river damage risk stays with the driver. That should shape the route: fewer fixed stops, no late-day river decisions, and no plan that requires the road to behave exactly as hoped.

F-road pressure starts with the vehicle, road surface, and how much slower remote driving becomes.

Where to base before and after a Highlands drive

The best base is usually on the edge of the Highlands, because it reduces the penalty if the road is slow or the weather changes.

Base choices that change the Highlands plan.
Base areaBest useWatch for
Hella, Hvolsvöllur, or SelfossSouthern Highlands approaches, Landmannalaugar planning, and South Coast pairingsDo not assume a Reykjavík return is easy after a slow F-road day.
Highland edge lodging or hutsSlower hiking-focused trips where the Highlands are the main purposeAvailability, facilities, access rules, and reservations need early verification.
North Iceland or Akureyri sideKjölur, Hveravellir, Kerlingarfjöll, or northbound route logicAvoid stacking this after a tiring Ring Road transfer.
ReykjavíkGuided day tours or Highland bus plans where someone else handles the hard accessWeak base for a long self-drive Highlands day unless the route is deliberately simple.

If the Highlands are only one part of a larger trip, protect the night after the route. A flexible edge base is more useful than a cheaper room that forces you to drive rough roads, then make a long paved transfer in the dark or wind.

Interior stops such as Hveravellir make base choice a facilities, access, and route-sequence decision.

What changes by season and weather?

Season decides whether the route is even a self-drive candidate, while same-day weather decides whether an open road is still a good idea.

Season tradeoffs for Highlands road trips.
TimingWhat worksPlanning move
Early summerSome edge routes may begin opening, but deeper roads can remain closed or fragile.Keep the Highlands optional and choose a lower-risk route if opening dates are uncertain.
Mid-summerThe strongest window for normal Highlands self-drive planning.Still check road status, river conditions, wind, and rental permissions before departure.
Late summer into early autumnOften workable, but weather, daylight, and early closures become more important.Avoid routes that depend on perfect conditions or late-day crossings.
Winter and springNormal self-drive Highlands planning should be off the table.Use specialist guided transport or choose a different region.

Do not hard-code Highlands dates into the itinerary. The official road status is the deciding source, and the weather forecast can still change the plan after roads open.

When to choose a guided tour, Highland bus, or skip it

Choose a guided or bus-based Highlands plan when the destination matters but the driving risk is not worth owning yourself.

  • Use guided transport for Þórsmörk if river crossings are the main barrier.
  • Use a Highland bus or guided Landmannalaugar day if you want the hikes and hot spring without managing F-road decisions.
  • Choose Kerlingarfjöll or a Kjölur-based plan if you want an interior feel with simpler route logic than Askja or Sprengisandur.
  • Skip the Highlands on short first trips when South Iceland, Snaefellsnes, or the Golden Circle already fill the route well.
  • Move the Highlands to a future trip if every day is fixed and there is no backup window.

This is not a downgrade. A guided route can be the better plan when it protects the rest of the trip from vehicle risk, river anxiety, and weather-driven uncertainty.

For places like Þórsmörk, the better plan may be transport that handles the hardest access for you.

Before you book the vehicle or lodging

Commit only after the route, vehicle, base, and backup plan all pass the same practical checks.

  • Confirm the exact roads you plan to drive and whether each is open or historically realistic for your travel window.
  • Ask the rental company whether your specific vehicle is permitted on those roads.
  • Check whether river crossings are part of the route and whether there is a safer parking, bridge, bus, or guided option.
  • Place lodging so you are not forced into a long transfer after rough road driving.
  • Carry a backup route outside the Highlands for bad weather or closed roads.
  • Use official sources on the day, not old screenshots, forum reports, or a fixed itinerary PDF.

Highlands road trip FAQ

These are the decisions most likely to change whether the Highlands belong in your itinerary.

Can I drive the Icelandic Highlands in a normal rental car?

No, a normal 2WD rental is not appropriate for Highlands F-road planning. Use a Highland-approved 4x4 and confirm the exact roads with the rental company.

When are Highland roads open?

Highland roads are generally a summer self-drive topic, but exact openings vary by road and conditions. Check Umferdin before planning and again before driving.

Which Highlands route is easiest for a first-timer?

A focused Landmannalaugar plan or the Kjölur/Kerlingarfjöll corridor is usually more realistic than Askja, Sprengisandur, or Þórsmörk self-drive. The exact choice still depends on road status, vehicle approval, and driver confidence.

Should I cross rivers myself in the Highlands?

Only cross if the vehicle, route, depth, current, and your experience all make it clearly safe. If you are unsure, do not cross; turn around, wait for better information, or use guided transport.

Can I add the Highlands to a short South Coast trip?

Usually not unless the Highlands are the main purpose of the trip. A short South Coast itinerary is often better without the extra F-road risk and backup-day requirement.

Official references to check before driving

Use these sources for the current details this page cannot safely freeze into permanent copy.

Road, weather, safety, and protected-area references