What you need to know before planning a Ring Road road trip in Iceland
Iceland is known as the Land of Fire and Ice, largely untouched by human intervention with stunning landscapes. However, it is also extremely rough and unpredictable. I have read a few blog articles before going to Iceland but who am i kidding, none has adequately prepared me for what I was about to experience and it is not because the blog articles were not well-written. It was because that roughness can only be experienced in person. That said, it is crucial you read about Iceland before gathering your travel gear and hitting the road to minimize bad surprises.
1. Do the Ring Road during summer
The best time of the year to travel and drive around Iceland is during the summer months. We went in July and the average temperature was about 10 degrees celcius. Not the coldest but far from what I’d call “warm” so you still need big jackets. Despite relatively warmer weather, the weather is ROUGH with strong winds all the time on the Ring Road.
In summer, you get to experience the midnight sun and enjoy the stunning views to the fullest. It’s so freeing when you never have to worry about hurrying to see the sites before it gets dark because it simply doesn’t!
If you want to see the Northern Lights, September is still good and you might be able to do even October but I really would not recommend the coldest months from November - March. If you continue reading, you will see I keep repeating that the roads and weather are harsh even in July so I would not want to drive around the Ring Road in the peak winter months.
2. Do the Ring Road road trip only if you’ve good driving skills
Sorry if I put it so bluntly but driving on the Ring Road is not for the faint-hearted nor the subpar/ reckless drivers (FYR I’m NOT the driver for this road trip). When you drive across the country on the Ring Road, you will undoubtedly go along roads that are narrow with winding paths, icy or slippery conditions, and sharp turns, especially in the rural areas. Driving is to the right in Iceland. Seriously, if none in your travel group is a confident driver, it is best to stick to flying or going with tour groups/tour buses around the capital city and major towns.
3. Iceland is windy even in the summer. Be careful of your car door!
Even during the best of seasons, the Ring Road remain windy. You might have encountered blog posts that tell you that car doors can get flung away by the wind. I honestly thought those blogs were exaggerating and that it couldn’t be the same case in summer but I was so wrong! Even in the summer, the winds were strong enough to break a fully opened car door (at least it felt that strong). Do not open the car doors to the fullest because you don’t want to lose it. When you pick up your car from the car rental company, they will likely warn you about this already and ask if you want to take an insurance for this. 100% take it and don’t forget I went in summer in July. I can’t imagine how windy it would have been in other months.
4. Do the Ring Road anti-clockwise, not the other way round!!
This is for safety reason. As mentioned, roads can be slippery and narrow, and sometimes we have to drive through steep cliffs. If you drive anti-clockwise like we did, you will be driving upwards on those steep parts. We saw cars going the opposite direction downhill on a particular slippery and steep cliff and that car was literally crawling because they were so scared they would just roll down the cliff. I literally held my breath and prayed that nothing bad happened to them.
5. Reserve a few more days for the Ring Road if possible
While it is logistically possible to cover the Ring Road around the whole country in 6-7 days, we recommend slow travel for Iceland as contingencies could happen on the road and you want to reserve time for that. If no emergency happened, great for you! You can use the extra time to spend more time marveling at the scenery, do an extra hotspring bath, etc. You will only regret not spending enough time there.
6. Check in advance to see if sites are closed
Parts of the Ring Road or specific sites you want to visit may be closed due to flooding, erosion or any other reasons, so be sure to check whether sites are temporarily closed in advance.
7. Read this checklist here and from other blogs on what to note and what to pack
Because when you are on the Ring Road, you will barely find grocery stores or convenience stores for supplies so make sure you pack your own essentials before going. Usually with traveling especially in cities, I would say not to stress too much because you can buy everything you need there. But this really do not apply to a road trip in Iceland. You will encounter restaurants on the way but we ate a number of instant noodle, camping food meals because in the guesthouses, only boiling water is available.
8. How the Ring Road is like
The Ring Road is well-paved and smooth to drive on for the most part. There are basically no pedestrian paths and you will often drive alongside large stretches of mossy lava fields. These mossy lava fields are fragile and you cannot walk on them. You will encounter plenty of waterfalls along the Ring Road. Usually, you can find a corner to park your car and explore the waterfalls.
Again, the Ring Road is a highway but you should not drive too fast. There are no police station, emergency services, toilets, on the Ring Road but there are occasional petrol stations. After the Golden Circle, we really lost the tourist crowds and were pretty much on our own most of the time on the Ring Road with just a few other cars passing by.
Doing a road trip on the Ring Road is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience and I would not trade this experience for anything else. Having done it, I would say it is probably the best way to explore Iceland because you will get the incredible scenery to yourselves as you drive into the country away from the capital and from the touristy Golden Circle/ Blue Lagoon area. However, it is crucial to be prepared, cautious, and always put safety first. Taking the necessary precautions will allow you to maximize your time and enjoy the beautiful country to the fullest.
Comments