What are the most spectacular roads in Iceland?

Located in the northern part of Europe, Iceland is a country that provides an unparalleled road trip experience, with mountain roads and coastal drives, mixed with 4x4 trips. Some of the roads, due to their dangerousness, are for 4x4 vehicles only. Others are just for special vehicles, having to cross rivers.

Tucked away in the North Atlantic Ocean, the country covers 103,000 square kilometers. It’s famous for its dramatic landscapes with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs, lava fields, and roads. When traveling to the country, be sure to drive Road 622, a hazardous drive below sea level when the tide is high; it’s one of the most challenging drives on Earth, with the road carved into and under cliffs. Driving this road is possible if you have a Jeep, 4x4 experience, time, and strong nerves.

Another must-do is driving the Askja Road, one of Earth’s most scenic trips. It’s a winding dirt track running towards the Askja volcano, a stratovolcano situated in a remote part of the central highlands. The road has some challenging sections with several fords and river crossings. Keep in mind, it’s a very dangerous drive. If you prefer paved roads, the Diamond Circle is an epic adventure for you. Running through the most incredible spots in the northeastern part of Iceland, it is an epic and unforgettable adventure.

Bolafjall is a mountain peak at an elevation of 615 meters (2,017 feet) above sea level, located in Bolungarvíkurkaupstaður, Iceland. The summit offers spectacular views, and on a clear day, some people claim you can see all the way to Greenland.

Located on the high plateau of North Iceland, F752 (Skagafjarðarleið) is a very challenging journey with breathtaking landscapes, traversing a strikingly barren stretch of land.

F946 (Loðmundarfjarðarvegur) is a very scenic drive located in the East Fjords of Iceland. The drive offers breathtaking mountain landscapes and is only suitable for 4x4 vehicles. It’s one of the famous F Roads in the country.

F839 (Leirdalsheiðarvegur) is a demanding drive located on the north coast of Iceland. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance, as there are a few small fords to cross along the way. Be sure to check the water levels of rivers that need to be crossed on the road.

Iceland is a volcanic island located in the middle of the northern Atlantic Ocean, near the Arctic Circle. It is a country of sharp contrasts.

F233 (Álftavatnskrókur) is a dangerous drive located in the southern part of Iceland. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance: along the way, there’s a serious river crossing. It’s one of the famous F Roads of the country.

Located on the eastern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, in the Western Region of Iceland, the defiant F575 (Eysteinsdalsleið) is a very difficult drive through some of Iceland's most epic landscapes. The road is suited for 4x4 vehicles only. GSM signal coverage is unreliable. It’s one of the famous F Roads of the country. 

F347 (Kerlingarfjallavegur) is a demanding road located in the central part of Iceland. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance: along the way, there are two unbridged streams to cross. It’s one of the famous F Roads in the country.

Road 870 (Norðausturvegur) is a stunning journey through the Northeastern Region of Iceland, running along Iceland’s Arctic Coast Way.

F905 (Arnardalsleið) is a challenging drive located in the Eastern Region of Iceland. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance: along the way, you’ll have to cross a few streams. It’s one of the famous F Roads in the country.

Located in the Eastern Region of Iceland, the F909 (Snæfellsleið) is one of the most extreme roads in the country. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance: along the way, several rivers need to be crossed. It’s one of the famous F Roads in the country.

F902 (Kverkfjallaleið) is a very demanding drive located in the southeastern part of Iceland, with breathtaking landscapes and rugged, potentially difficult river crossings. It’s one of the famous F Roads in the country.

F899 (Flateyjardalsvegur) is a challenging route located on the north coast of Iceland. It is only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with high ground clearance, as there are several small river crossings along the way.

F228 (Veiðivatnaleið) is a very exciting drive located in southern Iceland. The drive offers breathtaking landscapes, but it's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance and experienced drivers. The track requires crossing two fords, which are often fairly easy to pass but can be quite deep, potentially wrecking or sweeping away a city car. It’s one of the famous F Roads of the country.

Road 745 (Skagavegur) is a very scenic coastal road located in the Northwestern Region of Iceland. The road provides stunning views of the unique rock formations along the coast.

Situated in the Southern Region of Iceland, the F207 (Lakagígavegur) is a very challenging drive with breathtaking landscapes and rugged rivers. Only for 4x4 vehicles with significant fording capacity. No service or network. It’s one of the famous F Roads of the country.

F734 (Vesturheiðarvegur) is a very demanding drive with breathtaking landscapes and rugged with rivers located in the Northwestern Region of Iceland. With a few deep rivers crossings, someone said this a road ‘for those with balls of steel’.

If you are planning to drive in Iceland and having some adventure on the road, the F Roads are the starting point to some of the most stunning places in the highlands of the country. Road quality can vary considerably and many involve crossing rivers (fording).

Located within the Friðland að Fjallabaki park, F224 (Landmannalaugavegur) is a short mountain road located in the south of Iceland. It leads to a mountain hut in the valley of Landmannalaugar. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance and experienced drivers.

Located in the Northeastern Region of Iceland, F881 (Dragaleið) is a very remote journey with breathtaking landscapes.

F335 (Hagavatnsvegur) is a mountain road located in the Southern Region of Iceland. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance: along the way there are unbridged rivers to cross.

Svínaskarð Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 485m (1,591ft) above the sea level, located in southwestern Iceland. It’s said to be one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

Situated in the Northwestern Region of Iceland the F735 (Þjófadalavegur) is a difficult journey with breathtaking landscapes and rugged with a river. Only for 4x4 vehicles with significant fording capacity. No service or network.

Road 953 (Mjóafjardarvegur) is a very scenic gravel track located in the Eastfjords of Iceland. The journey offers magnificent views out to sea. The road is extraordinary in itself.

Situated on the small peninsula of Seljanes in the Westfords, in northwestern Iceland, the F649 (Ófeigsfjarðarvegur) is a very demanding drive with breathtaking landscapes and rugged with rivers. Only for 4x4 vehicles with significant fording capacity. No service or network.

Located in the Southern Region of Iceland the F223 (Eldgjárvegur) is a challenging drive with breathtaking landscapes. Only for 4x4 vehicles with significant fording capacity. No service or network.

F894 (Öskjuvatnsvegur) is a very demanding journey located in the Northeastern Region of Iceland. It's only suitable for 4x4 vehicles with very high ground clearance.

Situated in the Southern Region of Iceland the F229 (Jökulheimaleið) is a difficult journey with breathtaking landscapes and rugged with rivers. Only for 4x4 vehicles with significant fording capacity. No service or network.

Road 955 (Vattarnesvegur) is a very scenic journey located around the Vattarnes peninsula, in the Eastern Region of Iceland.

Húsavík Mountain is a mountain peak at an elevation of 378m (1,240ft) above the sea level, located on the north coast of Iceland on the shores of Skjálfandi bay. It offers a panoramic view of the surroundings. The average gradient is 10.4%.

Located in East Iceland, Dalatangi was the first lighthouse in the country. The drive offers a magnificent view out to sea.

Lake Frostastaðavatn is a highland lake at an elevation of 573m (1,879ft) above the sea level, located in the south of Iceland.

Located in Viðfjörður, a fjord stretching south from the Norðfjörður bay in the Eastern Region of Iceland the F959 (Viðfjarðarvegur) is a very challenging drive. Strange incidents were reported to happen on the area.

Vatnsskarð is a mountain pass at an elevation of 200m (656ft) above the sea level located in Southern Peninsula Reykjanesskagi, in southwest Iceland.

Road 590 (Klofningsvegur) is a very scenic bumpy route located in the mountainous Klofningsvegur Peninsula, in Western Region, on the western coast of Iceland.

Ennisháls Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 280m (918ft) above the sea level, located in the western part of Iceland.

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