# Road trips in Iceland > 7 road trips and 25 hand-picked places in Iceland, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. Source: https://camping-spirit.com/roadtrips/iceland/ 7 road trips and 25 hand-picked places in Iceland, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. ## Road trips through Iceland - [Iceland’s south coast](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/iceland-south/): Tectonic rifts, waterfalls you can walk behind and a lagoon full of icebergs. - [North Iceland: the Diamond Circle](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/iceland-north/): Goðafoss, the volcanic lake of Mývatn, Dettifoss and whale watching from Húsavík. - [Snæfellsnes: Iceland in miniature](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b5-snaefellsnes/): A glacier-topped volcano, a black church, basalt columns and the most photographed mountain in Iceland, all within a few hours of Reykjavík. - [Iceland’s Westfjords: puffins, fjords and Dynjandi](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b5-westfjords/): The ferry across Breiðafjörður into Iceland’s most remote region: Europe’s westernmost cliffs, a waterfall like a bridal veil and quiet fishing towns. - [Iceland’s Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b15-golden-circle/): Iceland’s classic day loop from Reykjavík: the rift valley at Þingvellir, erupting Strokkur, Gullfoss, Skálholt and the Kerið crater. - [Iceland’s south coast: Skógafoss to the glacier lagoons](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b15-iceland-glaciers/): The full south coast on route 1: Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara near Vík, then Fjaðrárgljúfur, Skaftafell and Fjallsárlón to Höfn. - [Iceland’s East Fjords: Vestrahorn to Stuðlagil](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b15-east-fjords/): From Höfn under the peaks of Vestrahorn to Djúpivogur, over the Öxi pass to Hengifoss and the basalt canyon of Stuðlagil, ending in Seyðisfjörður. ## Places worth the detour in Iceland - [Seljalandsfoss](https://camping-spirit.com/places/seljalandsfoss/): A 60 m waterfall with a path behind the curtain of water. Bring a waterproof jacket. - [Jökulsárlón](https://camping-spirit.com/places/jokulsarlon/): A glacier lagoon full of icebergs that drift out to a black-sand beach. - [Goðafoss](https://camping-spirit.com/places/godafoss/): The waterfall of the gods, a wide horseshoe on the Ring Road between Akureyri and Mývatn. - [Dettifoss](https://camping-spirit.com/places/dettifoss/): Europe’s most powerful waterfall, grey with glacial silt, thundering into a canyon. - [Búðir Church](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b5-budir-church/): A small black wooden church alone in a lava field by the sea, with Snæfellsjökull behind. One of the most photographed buildings in Iceland. - [Djúpalónssandur](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b5-djupalonssandur/): A black pebble beach with rusted pieces of a trawler wrecked in 1948 and four lifting stones once used to test fishermen’s strength. Stay well back from the waves. - [Kirkjufell](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b5-kirkjufell/): A steep cone-shaped mountain by the sea, usually photographed from the small Kirkjufellsfoss falls across the road. Park at the signed car park, not on the verge. - [Látrabjarg](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b5-latrabjarg/): Bird cliffs up to 440 m high at the westernmost point of Europe. From mid-May to mid-August puffins nest right at the edge; keep a safe distance from the crumbling rim. - [Dynjandi](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b5-dynjandi/): The largest waterfall in the Westfjords, fanning out over a 100 m rock face above a string of smaller falls. A 15-minute path climbs to its foot. - [Geysir and Strokkur](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-geysir/): A geothermal field where Strokkur erupts every few minutes to around 20 m, beside the mostly dormant Great Geysir. There is a large car park across route 35; keep to the paths, as the water is boiling. - [Gullfoss](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-gullfoss/): The Hvítá river drops about 32 m in two steps into a narrow gorge. Upper and lower car parks give different views; the lower path is often closed in winter ice, and spray soaks you at the edge. - [Skógafoss](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-skogafoss/): A 60 m curtain of water falling off the old sea cliffs, with a staircase of over 500 steps to a platform at the top. The car park is right below, and the Fimmvörðuháls trail starts above the falls. - [Reynisfjara](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-reynisfjara/): A black sand beach with basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, just west of Vík. Sneaker waves have killed visitors here: stay well back from the water and follow the warning lights at the entrance. - [Stokksnes and Vestrahorn](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-stokksnes/): Black sand dunes below a jagged mountain wall that rises straight from the sea, a few kilometres off route 1 east of Höfn. The land is private: pay at the café at the entrance before driving on to the beach. - [Stuðlagil](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-studlagil/): A canyon of the Jökla river lined with tall basalt columns, exposed after the river was dammed upstream. A viewing platform on the west side is reached from Grund; the east side at Klaustursel needs a longer walk to the canyon floor. - [Þingvellir](https://camping-spirit.com/places/thingvellir/): Where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart, and the site of Iceland’s parliament from 930. - [Lake Mývatn](https://camping-spirit.com/places/myvatn/): A volcanic lake with lava pillars, steaming vents and pseudo-craters. The nature baths are on the east shore. - [Gerðuberg](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b5-gerduberg/): A long wall of regular basalt columns rising from the moor just off route 54. A two-minute detour on a gravel track. - [Skálholt](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-skalholt/): For more than seven centuries the seat of the bishops of southern Iceland, now marked by a 1960s church above a medieval underground passage. A quiet, free stop just off route 35 between Geysir and Selfoss. - [Kerið](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-kerid/): A red volcanic crater about 55 m deep with a green lake at the bottom, beside route 35. The landowners charge a small entry fee; a path circles the rim and steps lead down to the water. - [Dyrhólaey](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-dyrholaey/): A headland with a huge sea arch, a lighthouse and puffins in summer. The steep gravel road to the upper car park is not for large vehicles, and parts of the headland may close in the May and June nesting season. - [Fjaðrárgljúfur](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-fjadrargljufur/): A winding canyon about 100 m deep and 2 km long, with a path and platforms along the rim. It lies up a short gravel road off route 1 west of Kirkjubæjarklaustur; the trail can close during the thaw to protect the moss. - [Svartifoss](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-svartifoss/): A waterfall framed by dark hanging basalt columns in Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park. It is about 1.5 km uphill from the visitor centre car park (fee); allow around 1.5 hours there and back. - [Fjallsárlón](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-fjallsarlon/): A glacial lagoon where Fjallsjökull calves icebergs into the water, quieter than Jökulsárlón about 10 km further east. A short walk from the car park by route 1 leads to the shore. - [Hengifoss](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b15-hengifoss/): One of Iceland’s tallest waterfalls, about 128 m, falling over basalt striped with red clay. From the car park on road 931 the path climbs about 2.5 km, passing Litlanesfoss and its basalt columns on the way. ## FAQs **What are the best road trips in Iceland?** Popular routes include Iceland’s south coast, North Iceland: the Diamond Circle, Snæfellsnes: Iceland in miniature and Iceland’s Westfjords: puffins, fjords and Dynjandi. CampingSpirit has 7 trip guides that pass through Iceland, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map. **Which places in Iceland are worth a detour?** Our editors recommend Seljalandsfoss, Jökulsárlón, Goðafoss, Dettifoss, Búðir Church and Djúpalónssandur. **Do you need a vignette or pay tolls in Iceland?** No motorway tolls for cars. Many roads are gravel; F-roads need a 4×4. Rules and prices change. Check official sources before you travel. **What is the motorway speed limit in Iceland?** 90 km/h on motorways for cars, unless signs show otherwise. **Are there low-emission zones in Iceland?** Few or none.