We have a rental car reserved, however I keep reading that we won’t want to drive if the weather is bad. I’m not entirely sure what constitutes “bad weather” in Iceland. What should I be watching for in the forecast? We are only there for 24 hours, just planning to drive from the airport to Reykjavik and back via the Blue Lagoon. So no Ring Road or probably even much of the Golden Circle.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7303 posts
If that is all you're planning, why are you bothering with a rental car? You also don't mention when this trip is, but what you need to look out for in Iceland is in general wind. It can get very windy. As in "always open the car door using both hands and never let go of the door until it's closed"-windy.
Posted by
OP
24 posts
The trip is next week. The rental is because there are 4 of us plus luggage including a guitar so it is more economical to rent a car and then we can leave the guitar locked in the car while we are at the blue lagoon.
Just looking for some idea of what bad weather means. At home is it’s pretty clear to me when it’s not safe to drive (hurricane, flash flooding, blizzard), but not sure where to draw the line in Iceland.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
2988 posts
Follow the road and weather apps and check them a few times during the day. The last few days have had yellow and orange warnings. You do not want to be driving in either of these.
Posted by
Big Island of Hawaii
773 posts
Check road conditions hourly on road.is, vedur.is, and safetravel.is. High winds are usually what makes driving in Iceland hazardous.
If you are only in Iceland for 24 hours, why not just stay at the hotel at the Blue Lagoon or one of the hotels near the airport? Airport to Reykjavik is 45 minutes, then nearly an hour back to Blue Lagoon. And you need to be back at the airport three hours before your flight. Doesn't seem like enough time to do anything in Reykjavik.