My One Long Drive in Iceland: How Much Time to Add to a Google Maps Estimate?

That will be a 8 hour drive, no stops at all. Unfortunately Google maps is really optimistic in Iceland. The roads are 2 lanes, so if traffic is heavy that will take you a while. Plus the speed limits are low, and there are traffic cameras all over, so do NOT speed at all as the tickets are quite hefty. Weekend trips have more traffic as the locals are out exploring as well.

The drive from KEF to VIK is not arduous, but I think what you may be inferring is because it is not recommended to do that the day of arrival. People do, and think they are fine after overnight flights, but that is extremely unwise/unsafe. However if you have had a good nights sleep the night of arrival, then the next day that drive is fine. It is only about 4 hours. Now if weather is bad though, there is a pass along here that can be pretty dicey, so that is another factor with driving.

Honestly, I would not try to make your drive in one day. You will be missing SO much even with making a couple stops. Even one night in-between would be missing so much.

Thanks so much for your insights, mikliz, especially for the extra driving tips. I always appreciate your Iceland forum posts.

I know I’ll spend most of my time wishing for more time in Iceland, no matter what we do.

What you said about the KEF-Vik leg makes sense; I hadn’t thought about that. We’re starting off with several nights in Reykjavik first, so I hope we’ll be well rested by the time we get behind the wheel.

Oh gosh, if you have a few nights in Reykjavik to start with, can you cut back on those and add them to the rest of the trip?

I visited Iceland in 2018 for my friends' destination wedding on the Snaefellsnes peninsula; both of them had visited Iceland several times before and loved it, so they decided it was a fitting place to start their lives as husbands. They each advised me to add extra time to my drives because I would be so bowled over by the scenery that I would stop to take photos--and they were right! Take your time and enjoy the views.

I am wildly excited for this trip, and already disappointed by the things we’ll have to skip.

Extra time in Reykjavik—which actually sounds very interesting and worthwhile to me—will (I hope) allow for a couple half-day trips like a Reykjanes volcano field hike and an Icelandic horse ride.

Do you suppose I’ll get to see lupines in early June? I think I need to be prepared for “no.”

Envying your chums, NYC Librarian. What a splendid place to be married.

ScandiFan--Honestly, unless a volcano is erupting I would not bother with heading to Reykjakes for a hike to see the former eruptions. It is basically the same thing you will see all over the country. We were fortunate and were there in 2021 and 2023 when they were actively erupting, and it was mind blowing, but unless it is doing anything it is not exciting, IMO. Also, for a horse ride you can do that along the route. There are places on Snaefellsness and along the south coast and in the Golden Circle. We have ridden a couple of times in Iceland, with the latest one being near Selfoss. So you could work it all together and not need the extra days in the city and allocate them to the route and enjoy the excursions. Lupines will be starting to bloom in June, peaking about the end of the month and into July. Vik is one place that people flock to for this, up by the church, but you will see them elsewhere as well. Now you are getting an idea of why we keep returning, there is just so much to see and never enough time:)

Many thanks for your suggestions. I’ll have to reconsider my plans.

Think it all over and let me know if I can help any further. Iceland is just so different than most other places.

Do you suppose I’ll get to see lupines in early June? I think I need
to be prepared for “no.”

No guarantees, but we saw plenty of lupines on our trip last summer, arriving June 11th. And I even saw some from the airplane window when we first landed on May 27th (stopover on our way to Copenhagen).

Sorry, kind of late replying here, but I would say take whatever time google maps gives you and double it. We spent a week in Iceland in May some years back, and found that we couldn't go more than about 2 miles at a time without one or the other of us shouting "wait, stop, photo!" We also found that when we stopped at "designated" stopping points (waterfalls, beaches, viewpoints) there were always walking/hiking trails that lead away from the crowds and kept enticing us to go just a little bit further. Every night had us racing into a restaurant at 8:45, praying they'd still feed us dinner (most stop serving by 9), and then heading back out into the daylight for one more walk before bed.

kerry--That is all so true, lol! People really underestimate Iceland:)

Double lol, kerry! This is my absolute fear.

I thought with just 8 days in Iceland, I’d made a brave choice in limiting our itinerary as it is, which is always our preference on trips (to see a smaller area, but see it well). I mean, we had thought of getting to the Westfjords, but figured Snaelfessness was the better choice given the time constraints.

I really appreciate everyone who has responded here; I’m rethinking a few things; I’m holding out hope for seeing a lupine or two.

Yes, the Westfjords would be too much to try and cram in. Plus they are better in July and August as more hiking etc opens up.

Even before our 2nd trip we had booked our 3rd. Then before our 3rd trip we had booked our 4th, etc. So you see how addictive it can be:) We head back in a few weeks and I am again wishing we had more time.

Have you considered stopping at the Westman Islands (it's sort of a halfway point) and visiting Heimaey? The puffins will be there in June so that's what we are planning. My daughter and I will be coming from Snaefellsnes and driving to Landeyjahöfn to get the ferry to Heimaey. We are spending one night there and then heading on to Vik for another two nights. https://visitwestmanislands.com/bird-watching-vestmannaeyjar-iceland/

Mikliz has told me some wonderful things about seeing the puffins there, so I'm really looking forward to it. For what it's worth, we are spending seven nights there in early July, and our itinerary is:
- One night in Reykjavik
- One night in Snaefellsnes
- One night on Heimaey
- Two nights in Vik
- One night in Fludir
- The last night near the airport

Another thought to add to your thinking. We have been to Iceland 3 times, once just to the airport on our way to England, once for 24 hours when we drove to Vik (it was fine!) and stayed overnight there on the way back from England, and once for 8 nights when we drove all the way around the island making one-night stays. We would love to go back!

Consider the idea that you could devote all of your time to everything besides Reykjavik, saving this for-sure interesting city for another trip. Because it is a transportation hub, you might in the future stop there on your way to or from Europe, maybe more than once. But the rest of Iceland takes time and renting a car and driving. We go to Italy about once a year and we treat Milan (and sometimes even Rome) this way --- just figuring on an overnight at most, then taking off for other areas.