Travel alerts & warnings
Iceland driving guide.
Driving in Iceland offers volcanic landscapes, waterfalls and wide-open coastal roads, but wind, gravel and sudden weather changes demand care. Distances between services can be long, and winter closures or seasonal highland roads can significantly alter your route.
- Advisory
- Normal precautions
- Drives on
- Right
- Best season
- June to August for…
- Permit honored
- Yes
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Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Iceland is generally a safe destination for travelers.
- Exercise normal precautionin Iceland.
- Iceland regularly experiences quickly changing weather, dangerous natural features, active volcanoes, and earthquakes. Review our information on weather and natural disasters in Iceland.
- Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings.
- Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing.
- Review our travel guidance for Iceland to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
Driving there
Your permit in Iceland
- Iceland honors the International Driving Permit. The permit is a translation of your license into ten languages — it is not a license on its own.
- Carry your valid U.S. driver's license with the permit at all times. The permit is valid for one year and only while your U.S. license is valid.
- Rental companies and local police can be stricter than national law. Confirm the requirement with your rental company before you travel.
Advisory information is published by the U.S. Department of State and reproduced here for convenience. It can change at any time — always check the official advisory before you travel. USIDA does not issue travel advisories.
Before you drive
Top travel tips for Iceland
Road rules and roundabouts
Keep headlights on at all times and wear seat belts in every seat. Handheld phone use while driving is prohibited. In two-lane roundabouts, traffic in the inner lane has priority over traffic in the outer lane when exiting. Off-road driving is illegal.
Speed limits and changing conditions
Unless signs say otherwise, limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on rural gravel roads and 90 km/h on paved rural roads. Slow down for single-lane bridges, loose gravel and sheep. Check umferdin.is for closures and road conditions before each day's drive.
Tunnel tolls and parking
The Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel near Akureyri charges a toll, payable through the operator's online system rather than a toll booth. Check the payment deadline before using it; rental companies may add administration charges for unpaid tolls. Many popular attractions also charge separately for parking.
Fuel and unattended pumps
Refuel before remote stretches, especially in the Westfjords and eastern Iceland. Many stations use unattended card-operated pumps; carry a physical payment card with a PIN and allow for temporary authorization holds. Check whether your rental takes petrol or diesel before filling.
Rental restrictions and police checks
Carry your original driving licence, International Driving Permit, passport and rental agreement for police or rental checks; the permit does not replace your licence. F-roads require a suitable 4WD vehicle and rental-company permission, and are usually accessible only seasonally. River-crossing damage is commonly excluded from insurance, so verify your coverage.
Worth the drive
Places to see in Iceland
Þingvellir National Park
Southwest Iceland · About 45–60 minutes from Reykjavík, one way in good conditions.
Walk between tectonic plates and explore the historic site of Iceland's early parliament.
Gullfoss
South Iceland, Golden Circle · About 1 hour 45 minutes–2 hours from Reykjavík, one way in good conditions.
See a powerful two-tier waterfall plunging into a rugged canyon, with Geysir nearby.
Skógafoss
South Coast · About 2 hours 15 minutes from Reykjavík, one way in good conditions.
Visit a broad, dramatic waterfall beside the Ring Road and climb the steps to its upper viewpoint.
Snæfellsjökull National Park
West Iceland, Snæfellsnes Peninsula · About 2 hours 45 minutes–3 hours from Reykjavík to the southern park area, one way in good conditions.
Explore lava fields, rocky beaches and coastal viewpoints beneath a glacier-capped volcano.
Goðafoss
North Iceland · About 35 minutes from Akureyri via the tolled Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel, one way in good conditions.
Enjoy accessible viewpoints of a horseshoe-shaped waterfall just off the Ring Road.
Lake Mývatn
North Iceland · About 1 hour 15 minutes from Akureyri to Reykjahlíð via the tolled tunnel, one way in good conditions.
Discover volcanic craters, lava formations and nearby geothermal landscapes.
Heading to Iceland?
Apply online in about ten minutes. We print and mail your permit, and you can track it the whole way.