F-Road Iceland Travel Planner
🇮🇸

F-Road Iceland Travel Planner

🧭 Trip Overview

Trip Dates: TBD

Start/End Location: Various

Vehicle: Toyota 4Runner rental – 4WD, high clearance

Travel Style: Mostly huts, occasional campsites, off-grid

Goals: Explore Highlands, photograph landscapes, cross rivers safely, unplug

Risk Level: Medium – dependent on river crossings & weather

🛣️ F-Road Directory (WIP)

Road name
Region
Difficulty
River crossings
River crossing type
Notes
Google maps link
Status
Vehicle recommendation
road.is

South Highlands

🔴 Difficult

3

Medium

Scenic, river crossings, rhyolite hills and black sand plains

⚠️ Risky
High clearance preferred

Central Highlands

🟢 Easy

0

None

Hveravellir hot springs, Kerlingarfjöll rhyolite mountains

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

West Highlands

🟢 Easy

0

None

Langjökull glacier views, volcanic desert

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

South Highlands

🟢 Easy

0

None

Access to Landmannalaugar, rhyolite mountains, lava fields

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

South Highlands

🟠 Moderate

3

Medium

Mt. Hekla views, access to Landmannalaugar

✅ Open
High clearance preferred

Central Highlands

🟠 Moderate

2

Shallow

Langisjór lake, Sveinstindur mountain, lunar landscapes

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

South Highlands

🟠 Moderate

4

Medium

Fagrifoss waterfall, Laki craters

⚠️ Risky
High clearance preferred

South Highlands

🟠 Moderate

4

Medium

Laki crater loop, panoramic volcanic views

⚠️ Risky
High clearance preferred

South Highlands

🟢 Easy

0

None

Eldgjá volcanic canyon, Ófærufoss waterfall

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Central Highlands

🟠 Moderate

2

Shallow

Veiðivötn crater lakes, colorful volcanic scenery

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Snæfellsnes

🟢 Easy

0

None

Snæfellsjökull glacier slopes, coastal views

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Snæfellsnes

🟢 Easy

0

None

Eysteinsdalur valley, glacier viewpoints

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Central Highlands

🟢 Easy

0

None

Kerlingarfjöll geothermal area, Gýgjarfoss waterfall

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

North Highlands

🟠 Moderate

1

Shallow

Eyjafjörður valley, Laugafell hot spring

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

North Highlands

🟠 Moderate

2

Shallow

Highland moors, Hofsjökull glacier views

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

North Highlands

🟠 Moderate

2

Shallow

Remote valley, fjord and ocean views

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Westfjords

🟠 Moderate

2

Shallow

Mountain pass, fjord views

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Eastfjords

🟠 Moderate

0

None

Heathland pass, rugged mountain views

✅ Open
Super Jeep recommended

Northeast Highlands

🟠 Moderate

1

Shallow

Route to Askja, black sands, lava fields

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Northeast Highlands

🔴 Difficult

2

Shallow

Askja caldera, volcanic desert, Víti crater

⚠️ Risky
Standard 4x4

Southeast

🔴 Difficult

0

None

Hairpin climb to Skálafellsjökull glacier

⚠️ Risky
Super Jeep recommended

West

🟠 Moderate

3

Medium

Haukadalur valley, Viking-age sites

✅ Open
High clearance preferred

Northeast Highlands

🟠 Moderate

0

None

Final route to Askja/Víti crater, lunar landscape

✅ Open
Super Jeep recommended

Central Highlands

🔴 Difficult

5

Deep

Longest, most remote F-road; connects north/south; vast desolate landscapes

⚠️ Risky
Super Jeep recommended

South Highlands

🔴 Difficult

3

Deep

Access to Þórsmörk; lush valleys surrounded by glaciers; multiple deep crossings incl. Krossá

⚠️ Risky
Super Jeep recommended

South Highlands

🟠 Moderate

2

Shallow

Black sand plains, cone-shaped green volcano Mælifell, iconic photo location

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

Northeast Highlands

🔴 Difficult

2

Medium

Route to Askja; lunar-like volcanic desert; Víti crater and geothermal area

⚠️ Risky
High clearance preferred

Northeast Highlands

🔴 Difficult

1

Medium

Lava fields, mountain views, alternate access to Askja

⚠️ Risky
High clearance preferred

Northeast Highlands

🔴 Difficult

2

Medium

Remote access to Kverkfjöll at the edge of Vatnajökull glacier; extremely isolated

⚠️ Risky
High clearance preferred

Northeast Highlands

🔴 Difficult

2

Medium

Connects Askja and Kverkfjöll through lava deserts; rough surface and variable weather

⚠️ Risky
High clearance preferred

Northeast Highlands

🟠 Moderate

0

None

Final spur road to Víti and Öskjuvatn crater lake from Dreki Hut; short but rugged

✅ Open
Standard 4x4

🗺️ Routes

The following are a set of routes with specific focuses. They take into account things like difficulty, timing, proximity to other F-roads and attractions.

Option 1: 🏞️ Landmannalaugar Loop: Rhyolite mountains, river crossings, geothermal hiking

Date
Route name
Start location
End location
F-roads used
Attractions
Lodging
Notes
F-roads used
F-roads used

July 1, 2025

Reykjavik

Landmannalaugar

Drive via F208 South, black sand plains, photo stops, hot spring soak

Check river depth on road.is before entering F208 South

July 2, 2025

Landmannalaugar

Landmannalaugar

Full day hike: Bláhnjúkur, Laugahraun lava field, photography

Landmannalaugar Hut / Campsite

Pack lunch, hiking boots, layers

July 3, 2025

Landmannalaugar

Hella

Hike Bláhnjúkur, soak in hot spring, return drive

Hella Guesthouse

Alternate exit route if F208 South floods

Option 2: 🌋 Askja & Lunar Highlands: Craters, lava deserts, and remote huts

Date
Route name
Start location
End location
F-Roads used
Attractions
Lodging
Notes
July 1, 2025

Myvatn

Askja (Dreki Hut)

Drive through lava fields via F88, Herðubreið view, reach Askja

Dreki Hut

River crossing: Lindaá – check flow rate on road.is

July 2, 2025

Askja

Askja

Explore Víti Crater, Öskjuvatn lake, walk lava fields

Dreki Hut

Bring swimwear for Víti (cold!), no services nearby

July 3, 2025

Askja

Myvatn

Return via F910, scenic highland pass

Myvatn Guesthouse

Avoid in rain — rough terrain and washouts possible

Option 3: 🌿 Lakagígar & Langisjór: Green volcanic cones and black sand wilderness

Date
Route name
Start location
End location
F-Roads used
Attractions
Lodging
Notes
July 1, 2025

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Laki (Campsite)

Drive to Laki craters, stop at Fagrifoss waterfall

Laki Campsite

Multiple river crossings — check clearance

July 2, 2025

Laki

Langisjór Lake

Loop Laki craters, then drive to Langisjór for sunset photos

Wild camp near lake or remote hut

Langisjór is remote — carry backup fuel and food

July 3, 2025

Langisjór

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Drive back out, scenic black sand photos, optional hike

Kirkjubæjarklaustur Guesthouse

Plan for long day — roads can be slow

Option 4: 🧊 Edge of Ice: Iceland’s Glacier Highlands Route

Date
Name
Start location
End location
F-Roads used
Attractions
Lodging
Notes
July 1, 2025

Skaftafell

F985 Glacier Overlook

Climb steep road to Skálafellsjökull overlook, panoramic views of southeast Vatnajökull

Return to Skaftafell or Höfn

No river crossings; requires good visibility and solid 4x4 traction

July 2, 2025

Kirkjubæjarklaustur

Langisjór

Drive to Langisjór; hike Sveinstindur for views of Tungnaárjökull arm of Vatnajökull

Wild camp or hut near Langisjór

2–3 river crossings on F208 South; bring extra supplies

July 3, 2025

Langisjór

Kverkfjöll Hut

Remote drive along the base of Vatnajökull glacier to Kverkfjöll area

Kverkfjöll Mountain Hut

Extreme remoteness — confirm hut access, no services en route

July 4, 2025

Kverkfjöll

Egilsstaðir

Drive north out of highlands, panoramic views of northern Vatnajökull, optional Laugarfell stop

Egilsstaðir Guesthouse

Steady descent from glacier edge; allow extra time