With the intent to drive the ring road, and airport distance to Reykjavik, renting a car from the airport seemed to make sense.
I brought my GPS from home, pre-loaded with world maps, and “places” saved in advance to make setting a travel route simple. I also brought a dashcam mount for my phone.
I had read, and certainly experienced, that most roads in Iceland are, for want of a better description, built as levy’s. 2 lanes only, elevated from the landscape, with quite a steep drop-off from the pavement and virtually no shoulder to pull off the road. So for driving safety, the dashcam mount gave me the ability to take these photos and video with little distraction to driving, especially as there is rarely somewhere to pull over and take a picture.
The landscape is amazing, long lava fields with new growth and moss, vs fluvial valleys bordered by significant escapements.
I took a week to drive the ring road, including the west fjords, and there was very little to disappoint. Only surprise is that some long sections of these main connecting roads, are unpaved and can be in poor condition. Pot holes everywhere.
The other remarkable feature, is climbing long twisty roads to massive elevations, and rarely finding a guard rail (safety barrier) on the roadsides. If you are not paying attention, the consequence could be dire (see the photo’s below)
With that in mind, I drove the ring road anti-clockwise, which put the car mostly on the outer edge of these steep drop offs. I’m a confident driver, BUT, it is enough to be quite daunting at times.
So if you have the choice, and are a bit timid at driving such roads, I would suggest approaching the ring road drive clockwise instead from Reykjavik. This would put you on the mountain side of these daunting roads. Probably a better view also as you would be able to enjoy the scenery more.
The other experience as noted, is the roads in Iceland are fundamentally “levy’s” with little to no chance of pulling over as the shoulder is anywhere between a small 30 degree drop off, to a 60 degree fall of significant elevation. They accommodate some small areas at times to pull over for a sightseeing attraction, but the lack of this normal ability to get off the road, sees many drivers are simply stopped on the road, with their hazard lights on, to get out and take a photo !
Dodging them and hundreds of sheep who enjoy grazing roadside, and the drive can be a challenge. You certainly want to be paying attention.
The maximum speed is supposed to be 90 klm, and that seems ample for the road conditions, and ability to stop quickly for random sheep. Some locals appeared to drive much faster, but being unfamailier with their tolerance for speeding, it’s easier to stay on that speed and just enjoy the spectacular scenery.
There are a number of well publisied attractions to visit, but the other giveaway is, when you see a few camper vans and cars parked just off the road, it is usually something worth stopping off to see.
If you enjoy driving, and the ability set your own pace, Iceland is one for the bucket list.
I travelled through September, and have no doubt the experience cold be quite different in Summer or Winter.
I saw a number of motorcycles on my first couple of days around Reykjavik, but next to none on the ring road; and aside from the long gravel stretches, a motorcycle would lap up the twisty mountain roads.
Here are some examples
WILT – What I am listening to ?
Don’t try to read too much into these WILT’s, it’s often just that earworm from my music library