Driving the bumpy Road 864 to Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland

Road 864 (Hólsfjallavegur) is a bumpy, unsealed, and dusty road located in the Northeastern Region of Iceland. Once you’re on the road, everything inside the car will be covered in dust kicked up from the road.

Road 864

How long is Road 864?

Nestled within the Vatnajökull National Park in the north of Iceland, the road is 56.4 km (35.04 miles) long, running north-south from Road 85, south of Thvera, to the Ring Road. It runs parallel to the paved Road 862.

Is Road 864 open in Iceland?

Road 864 is closed during winter due to snow or wet conditions (muddy road) and does not open until early summer (end of May), depending on snowfall.

Is Road 864 in Iceland paved?

Running through a lunar landscape, the road is entirely unpaved. It’s a rough corrugated gravel road, incredibly dusty, and filled with potholes. It’s navigable by passenger vehicles in good conditions, but a 4x4 vehicle is recommended.

How long does it take to drive Road 864?

Driving the road without stopping will take most people between 1 and 2 hours. However, driving speed depends on road conditions each time. The road leads to the eastern side of Dettifoss waterfall, the second most powerful waterfall in Europe measured by volume of water, with 500 cubic meters of water per second plunging over the edge.

 

 

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