How accessible are the dirt-road parts of Iceland's ring road?
During my upcoming vacation to Iceland, I am planning to do a complete trip around the Hringvegur. Because the Eastern part of Iceland doesn't have very many landmarks, I am planning to drive from Mývatn to Höfn (a 360 km stretch) in one stretch. I am hoping for this to take around four hours, but considering the fact that there are some dirt roads, I get the feeling I may be underestimating this trip.
Can anybody tell me how many kilometers of dirt roads there are in these parts of the Hringvegur? Is it possible to get through these parts of the country in 4-6 hours? If this takes very much longer than that, I may have to revise my planning a bit.
Best Answer
I drove around the Hringvegur (the other direction, anticlockwise) in early April 2009. Weather is quite variable and you should be prepared for storms at any time of year. I don't actually know how much of it was gravel, because some of it looked like this:
(More pictures from that trip here.) I think there were gravel stretches, but even at that time of year the road was in good condition and I think up to about 80 km/h was reasonable. Based on my notes, I would allow at least 6 hours from Mývatn to Höfn (we stopped in Egilsstaðir for the night). If you want to leave the main road to see anything at all, you will need to allow more time.
Pictures about "How accessible are the dirt-road parts of Iceland's ring road?"
Is the Iceland Ring Road paved?
Highway no. 1, commonly known as the Ring Road or Route 1, is the most traveled road around Iceland. All 1322 kilometers of the Ring Road are paved and open throughout the year, although bad weather conditions during winter can cause temporary and local closures.Can you walk the Ring Road in Iceland?
Road walking is never ideal, but even if the road sections were replaced by trails, the route would mostly sport a very bleak and remote landscape. Often, views don't change for days. Then there are the weather conditions to content with: it's always cold and wet and often foggy, obstructing the views.How much gas does it take to drive the Ring Road?
Fuel in Iceland is pricey (around $7.50-8.00 per gallon), and travelers can expect to pay around $300 (USD) in total to drive the entire route.Is the Ring Road in Iceland worth it?
Is the Ring Road in Iceland worth it? Definitely! Driving the Ring Road of Iceland is a great road trip idea. As it circles the island, you will be able to reach the different parts of Iceland (except the highlands and Westfjords).First Comes Sex... I Single's Guide to Iceland Part 1/3
More answers regarding how accessible are the dirt-road parts of Iceland's ring road?
Answer 2
I'm pretty sure the entire number 1 is properly surfaced now. 5 - 6 hours sounds reasonable in good weather, bad weather/snow will slow you down a lot. Although I wouldn't rule out wanting to stop somewhere to admire the view.
I've not driven that stretch of the number 1, but I've driven Keflavik to about 50km west of Hofn more times than I care to count.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Bibhash (knapsnack.life) Banerjee, RODNAE Productions, Harrison Haines, Kelly