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Reykjavik to Jokulsarlon by Road

The Ring Road drive east, stop by stop

The route at a glance

Jokulsarlon is reached by the ring road, Route 1, which crosses the lagoon. Parking is provided for visitors. Along Route 1 the lagoon is 75 km west of Höfn, the end of the route from Reykjavik.

A translucent chunk of ice with a rippled surface sits on dark volcanic sand, with turquoise waves and more ice pieces blurred in the background.
A sculpted piece of clear ice rests on black sand while waves roll in behind it. Photo: Eric Kilby, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • About 180 kmVík í Mýrdal from Reykjavík, by road
  • Roughly 190 kmKirkjubæjarklaustur from Reykjavík
  • 75 kmLagoon west of Höfn along Route 1

Distance and driving time

Figures for the drive from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón on Route 1 run between 370 and 380 km one way. The lower figure comes with about 5 hours in good conditions, the higher with 5–6 hours without long stops.

A same-day round trip from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón involves more than 10 hours of driving.

Stops between the capital and the lagoon

Vík í Mýrdal is about 180 km southeast of Reykjavík by road, and Vík is roughly the halfway point between Reykjavík and Jökulsárlón. Kirkjubæjarklaustur lies roughly 190 km east of Reykjavík. Skaftafell is roughly 45 minutes' drive before Jökulsárlón when coming from Reykjavík.

Waypoints on the drive east
PlaceStated detail
Vík í MýrdalAbout 180 km southeast of Reykjavík by road; roughly the halfway point to Jökulsárlón
KirkjubæjarklausturRoughly 190 km east of Reykjavík; an estimated three to four hours' drive from Reykjavík and about one hour from Vík
SkaftafellRoughly 45 minutes' drive before Jökulsárlón when coming from Reykjavík

Kirkjubæjarklaustur and its services

The drive from Reykjavík to Kirkjubæjarklaustur takes an estimated three to four hours, and about one hour from Vík.

Kirkjubæjarklaustur has a fuel station, a bank, a post office and a supermarket. It is the only proper service centre on the almost 300 km stretch of Ring Road between Vík and Höfn.

Fuel along the way

Fuel stations thin out east of Vík. Drivers heading east fill up at Vík and top up again at Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Daylight and trip length

Winter daylight is short, and the realistic Reykjavík–Jökulsárlón round trip in that season takes two driving days rather than one. Midwinter daylight on the route is only four to five hours, lengthening to nine or more by spring.

Overnight stops on the way

Overnight stops on a two-day trip from Reykjavík include Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur or a place near Jökulsárlón.

Winter storms and road closures

In winter storms Route 1 east of Vík can close, which would block access to Jökulsárlón. Real-time road conditions for the drive can be checked online.

Vehicle and road rules

A 4x4 is not strictly required for the Reykjavík–Jökulsárlón drive, though it gives more grip when snow and crosswind pick up.

  • Headlights must be on at all times when driving.
  • Off-roading is strictly forbidden.
  • Drivers should not stop on road shoulders to take photos and should use a pull-out or designated parking area.

Flying part of the way

Travellers short on time can fly from Reykjavík to Höfn and rent a car there to shorten the drive. Höfn is the end of the Route 1 stretch from Reykjavik, and the lagoon is 75 km west of it along that road.

The land along the final stretch

The coastal plain Breiðamerkursandur was formed by glacial outburst floods (jökulhlaups) from subglacial eruptions and by river action.

Tours at the lagoon

Tours and activities at Jokulsarlon

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Questions about the drive

Which road leads from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón?

Jokulsarlon is reached by the ring road, Route 1, which crosses the lagoon. Parking is provided for visitors.

How far is the lagoon from Höfn?

Along Route 1, the lagoon is 75 km west of Höfn, which is the end of the route from Reykjavik.

Can the trip be done in one day?

A same-day round trip from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón involves more than 10 hours of driving. In winter, the realistic round trip takes two driving days rather than one.

Where is the halfway point?

Vík is roughly the halfway point between Reykjavík and Jökulsárlón. Vík í Mýrdal is about 180 km southeast of Reykjavík by road.

What services does Kirkjubæjarklaustur have?

Kirkjubæjarklaustur has a fuel station, a bank, a post office and a supermarket. It is the only proper service centre on the almost 300 km stretch of Ring Road between Vík and Höfn.

Is a 4x4 required?

A 4x4 is not strictly required for the Reykjavík–Jökulsárlón drive, though it gives more grip when snow and crosswind pick up.

How much daylight is there on the route in winter?

Midwinter daylight on the route is only four to five hours, lengthening to nine or more by spring.

Can Route 1 close in winter?

In winter storms Route 1 east of Vík can close, which would block access to Jökulsárlón.

Related guides

Sources