FINALIZED - 10 (full) Days in June - Ring Road (wrinkles smoothed)

A few thoughts. I would make the volcano a possible thing to do, if it is erupting and safe to go. Otherwise you will just see black lava like in many other areas.

I would keep Westmann and yes the Eldhaimar Museum is a must. The rib boat safari tour is really good! You actually learn a lot about the birds in the area as well as each of the islands. We did this on our most recent trip and a pod of Orca's came right up by the boat so that was a highlight for sure. The puffin lookout on the south end is really nice. Go very early in the morning or late in the evening. We had the place to ourselves at 6:30-7am or so. The kids would enjoy all of this. Plus there is the Beluga sanctuary, which we missed as it was closed, but we kept hearing how good it was.

We liked Dettifoss from the east side. Far fewer people, but a rough road so slow going.

Are you planning to do anything at the glacier lagoon? The zodiac boat tour there is excellent, and I wouldn't miss it.

Hengifoss is a nice hike and it is easy. It's uphill, but not bad and doesn't take long at all, but is really pretty. There is an ice cream truck in the parking lot next door, so stop there afterwards.

Bruarfoss in the Golden Circle is beautiful. There is a new parking lot now so you can park and just walk over to see it. We did the hike on fall before that new lot, and I will say I am glad that was the case as the hike was so pretty with the other 2 big waterfalls along the way.

I'd comment that driving distances in Iceland are large, and speed limits lower than in the US. You may be planning more than is possible to achieve. Iceland does not have enough hotel rooms on the Ring Road, so you should reserve and pay as soon as possible. You may have to cancel segments due to rooms being unavailable.

You need to factor in how long it takes to "do" a place with a hike. It can take fifteen minutes to find a parking space and register to pay for it, then you can "see" a waterfall in 15 minutes, but if you want to walk up the trail to see it close up, add 1/2 to 1 hour. A few non-South Coast waterfalls are an hour on foot from the parking lot. A few parking lots don't have bathrooms.

I'd say the same about Thingvellir. It was one of the highlights of our visit, but it is large and spread out. It's physically impossible to "do it" with less than an hour, and it really deserves three hours. It is also quite a long drive from anywhere, just to get there.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/western-iceland-by-car-summer-2023

I have not been to Iceland so am not able to offer advice. I did want to say I am impressed by how you made it easy for those who are able to offer advice by describing your situation, including number in your family and children's age, providing your itinerary, your general interests, and your specific locations. If everyone who posted a question was that efficient it would save a lot of time for those who wish to be helpful but have to ask more questions of the OP.

Thank You!

Traveler Girl

Only a comment on your arrival and departure days. It looks like your plan is to only see Reykjavik city on arrival day? The city is a solid 45 minute bus ride/drive from the airport so you lose some time going/coming back. And I wouldn't be in motion the day you need to catch a flight, no chance for error there (specifically worrisome for your June 19 plans). If you're not going to spend any time in the city perhaps skip it on arrival. Get a flight to Akureyi on June 9 midday, spend the night there getting over jetlag. There is a flight at noon you should be able to make if your arrival flight is on time. Stop in Reykjavik on drive back if you intend to see the city and stay near the airport on the 18th.

I ask in ignorance, do you have to change to the separate domestic airport to fly to Akureyi?

EDIT:

I didn't study your itinerary as I should have, but I've only been to Iceland once. Your distance-jumps from 15th-16th and 16th-17th seem (based on my own driving, but not THOSE specific trips) to be impossible to do. Have you done online map calculations and added 15% for weather, error, and bathroom stops?

I do not consider myself an Iceland expert, but I want to suggest that you consider the three tiresome highlights that we drove, South Coast, two days for Golden Circle and Thingvellir, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We did hit remote places in our cruise all the way around, and I want to suggest that "more remote" is not-always "better". Lava scree and snow is lava scree and snow. A time-consuming snorkel (in a rock lagoon) that requires wet-suits or dry-suits is less attractive to me than the many Caribbean snorkels I've been on.

I guess I'm suggesting that you fly to Akureyi or Seydisfjordur (which is plenty remote enough), and drive only west and southwest from there. Maybe that will leave time for the Westman Islands, but the ferry and waiting time make it questionable to me, as I say in my (previous link) Trip Report. I'm not saying that the East is overrated, because I didn't drive that part of the Ring. I'm saying that you are mistaken in perhaps believing that "omitting stops" means you can still drive the entire mighty Ring Road and say you did it!

Our cruise was:
Reykjavik.
Seydisfjordur overnight.
Akeureyri.
Isafjordur.
Grundarfjordur.
Reykjavik.

Yes, you need to go to the regional airport in Reykjavik.

Thanks Tim and MikLiz for correcting my error re: airports, apologies OP.

Some replies for you fine folks!

thanks @travelergirl, I tried very hard with my original post to evoke lots of replies that are helpful/actionable! I've not been the best poster in the past. blush!

@mikliz97 confirmed my Westman Islands bias! ;)

@Tim - your trip report is one I read that made me realize that I should get a flight to Akureyi so that more time could be spent where we have interests! I appreciate your comments about timing and have the same concerns. The distance jumps are a sacrifice to allow several nights in a place that's priority. It does come with more driving times in areas where there are less interest stops. Luckily my kids like roadtrips (they listen to podcasts/music and watch the scenery). So it IS a calculated proposal, but maybe not well calculated. ;) All the places we have listed to see are contenders, not guarantees...we'll need to prioritize, that's understood.

@Tim - I'm also a little interested in your orchid post that I may private message you about! I'd love to see some local orchids!

@CL - your comments help me in considering skipping Reykjavik all together, which I had initial gut instinct to do, but because the flight to Akureyi is from the domestic airport, we have to go through Retykjavik anyway, I figured we could do the walking tour and get over jetlag. I did read (not sure if it will work or still true) that there are some connecting flights from KEF to Akureyi, so maybe getting to Akureyi same day as Iceland is doable, makes the June 12-15th portion less tiring (I assume) since it's all in a smaller geographic area.

The Whale Museum in Husavik is very interesting.

I've been working through the flight to Akureyi today and it's starting to not make as much sense in reality.

I'm looking at the flights available and in addition to having to transfer airports, there's time buffers I'll need to consider for flight delays incoming. The timing of the flights is not facilitating the time savings I had hoped.

On the 9th, the soonest, probably, I could plan for a flight is 3:30pm, the next would be 6:30pm. The flight cost for the 4 of us is between $505 and $670 (no changes allowed). This makes a rough travel day and a lot of sitting around.

On the 10th, the earliest flight is 7:10am but is $715. If we leave later (the next one is 11:05am for $556), it seems like we'll be burning daylight waiting for planes.

Perhaps the thing to do IS to rent the car from KEF on the 9th when we arrive, see Thingvillir, stay in the Golden Circle, Reykholt or Borganese and get started driving early on the 10th. We could be in Saudarkrokur area early afternoon on the 10th.

I'm starting to have analysis paralysis with all the options!

Yes, there's a lot to see and do in Iceland. We've been three times and still haven't seen or done it all!

Regarding your first day. Jet lag is very real because you won't be in the air long enough to get a good long sleep. So, beyond getting the rental car and driving to Reykjavik, you shouldn't plan to do much else that day beyond walking around the city.

Do your Golden Circle stuff the next day and head toward Akureyri, chosing someplace to stop along the way. You have a lot of stuff you want to see in the north, which you can't do all in one day (we spent one night in Akureyri and two at Lake Myvatn). We then drove to Egilsstaðir with a stop at Stuðlagil Canyon and visited Seydisfjordur while we were there. Eglisstaðir to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is another long drive.

The problem with Iceland is that there is soooo much to see along the way on any of these drives. We made a lot of unplanned stops at waterfalls, glaciers, beaches, etc. etc.

Definitely get the car upon arrival and just head to Reykjavik and take that first day easy. It makes such a difference doing this.

FINALIZED ITINERARY (any final thoughts welcome; I realize our last two days are ambitious and includes tradeoffs)
**We're going to change our rental to 4x4 for the two offroad sites

6/9 - Sleep in Golden Circle (Héraðsskólinn Historic Guesthouse)
Jet Lag Day - if feeling ok, see Thingvellir National Park; maybe Strokkur, unwind at Fontana, early to bed

6/10 - Sleep in Hvammstangi
See/Do: Hellisheidi Power Station (geothermal exhibition), Settlement Center; do farm/creamery on way to Hvammstangi

6/11 - Sleep in Siglufjörður (Siglunes Hotel)
See/Do: (preferred) Hvitserkur, (and continue full 180 around peninsula) and Glaumbaer Museum
(other option is to skip going north around the peninsula and just see Glaumbaer)

6/12 - 6/14 - Sleep 3 nights in Myvtan
See/Do: The Herring Era Museum (before leaving Siglufjordur), Námafjall, Dimmuborgir Lava Field, Krafla, Húsavík Whale Watching, Húsavík other sites, Dettifoss (East Side)

6/15 - Sleep at Wilderness Center (Egilstaðir)
See/Do: Stuðlagil Canyon (on way to Wilderness Center), Horse Ride (from Wilderness Center)

6/16 - Sleep near Vatnajökull National Park (two places pending response)
See/Do: various options, depends on where we stay and when we leave Wilderness Center

6/17 - Sleep in Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar)
See/Do (may need to pick just a few): Diamond Beach, Fjallsárlón, Skaftafellsjökull gönguleið, Reynisdrangar Cliffs

6/18 - Sleep at KEF (Aurora Hotel)
-See Do: Eldheimar (if not the day before, depends on what we do / when we arrive at Westman Islands the day before), Caves of Hella, Fagradalsfjall (if activity, if not, LOTS of other things to do in the area)

6/19 - Sleep in Barcelona!

Just a few thoughts. I would change that first night and instead of staying in the Golden Circle, start heading north of Reykjavik which will save you time the next day. You can make that day leisurely by seeing Reykjavik, heading up to Hvammsvik hot Springs (my favorite commercial one in all of our trips!), Akranes is a cute little town, and then stay somewhere in/around Borgarnes. Then you can do the Golden Circle things on your last day.

The road to the west side of Detifoss is paved the whole way between Rte 1 and Rte 85 and much easier to drive than on the east side.

You all have been patient, generous and overall fabulous! thank you!

Did you find a car rental company in Akureyi? I've just started looking...

I was going to rent in the North and then changed my mind. But yes, I was looking at Europcar. They will allow rental from Akureyi and return in Reykjavik.

Thanks for the information