Iceland Weather
Road trip weather · Updated

Akureyri → Reykjavík

Today, 19 Oct · leaving 19:00 · Arrive around 01:31

Difficult driving
  • Freezing rain — glare ice possible: Holtavörðuheiði, 22:57.
  • Gusts up to 19 m/s at Öxnadalsheiði around 19:50 — hold the car door with both hands.
Distance
394 km
Route 1
Driving
5 h 56 min
6 h 32 min with breaks
Highest point
529 m
Öxnadalsheiði
In the dark
6 h 32 min
3 passes
Day
Day
Leaving at

The road, stretch by stretch

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Vegagerðin's report right now, stretch by stretch.

  • Clear389 km
  • Not reported on5 km
  • Webcams19

The road ahead

Height above the sea, the weather where you'll be when you're there, and the road surface it points to.

Swipe along the road →394 km
0 °CÖxnadalsheiði · 546 mVatnsskarð · 435 mHoltavörðuheiði · 407 m19:007°19:502°20:483°21:234°22:570°23:353°00:105°01:315°7916191416131375276796348945Akureyri19:00 · 0 kmVarmahlíð20:34 · 96 kmBlönduós21:23 · 146 kmStaðarskáli22:42 · 230 kmBifröst23:35 · 285 kmBorgarnes00:10 · 318 kmReykjavík01:31 · 394 km
DryWetGlare iceFreezing level — above the line it's below zero13Gusts under the band, m/sDark

Webcams on the way

19 of Vegagerðin's cameras beside the road, in driving order — and when you pass each.

Webcams by Vegagerðin, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (CC BY 4.0), refreshed every few minutes — the time is in the picture. See them all on umferdin.is.

Stop by stop

Times include short breaks. The surface is our estimate from the forecast.

  1. 19:00
    AkureyriStart · 36 m
    7°5 ↑7 m/sDryDark
  2. 19:50
    51 min
    ÖxnadalsheiðiMountain pass · 546 m
    2°12 ↑19 m/sDryDark
    Now (18:50): 3° · road 2° · ↑14 m/s
  3. 20:34
    1 h 35 min
    VarmahlíðOn the way · 17 m
    7°8 ↑13 m/sDryDark
  4. 20:48
    1 h 49 min
    VatnsskarðMountain pass · 435 m
    3°8 ↑13 m/sDryDark
    Now (18:50): 2° · road 1° · ↑9 m/s
  5. 21:23
    2 h 23 min
    BlönduósOn the way · 6 m
    4°4 ↑5 m/s0.1 mm/hWetDark
  6. 22:42
    3 h 42 min
    StaðarskáliOn the way · 17 m
    3°4 ↑7 m/s0.7 mm/hWetDark
  7. 22:57
    3 h 58 min
    HoltavörðuheiðiMountain pass · 407 m
    0°7 ↑9 m/s0.7 mm/hGlare ice possibleDark
    Now (18:50): 1° · road 2° · ↑12 m/s
    Onward: glare ice possible
  8. 23:35
    4 h 35 min
    BifröstOn the way · 69 m
    3°1 ↑3 m/s0.4 mm/hWetDark
  9. 00:10
    5 h 10 min
    BorgarnesOn the way · 3 m
    5°6 ↑8 m/sWetDark
  10. 00:22
    5 h 22 min
    HafnarfjallNotorious gusts · 41 m
    4°6 ↑10 m/sWetDark
    Now (18:50): 4° · road 5° · ↑7 m/s
  11. 01:05
    6 h 5 min
    KjalarnesNotorious gusts · 38 m
    4°3 ↑4 m/sWetDark
    Now (18:50): 5° · road 5° · ↑4 m/s
  12. 01:31
    6 h 32 min
    ReykjavíkArrival · 5 m
    5°3 ↑5 m/sDryDark

The road surface here is our estimate from the forecast, not a report. Always check umferdin.is before you set off.

Tyres and the car

Winter conditions — studs allowed and wise

Snow or ice is likely on this drive. Studs are normally banned until 1 November, but the law allows them when driving conditions require it — and these will. At the least, ask your rental for winter tyres.

Studded tyres are allowed from 1 November to 14 April. Outside those dates the law allows them only when driving conditions require them.

  • Open the doors with both hands where it's gusty — rental companies charge for doors the wind takes.

On this road right now

Vegagerðin's latest report for each stretch, and the roadside stations.

Clear all the way, Vegagerðin reports.

StationAirRoadGusts
Öxnadalsheiði · 18:503°2°14
Vatnsskarð · 18:502°1°9
Holtavörðuheiði · 18:501°2°12
Hafnarfjall · 18:504°5°7
Kjalarnes · 18:505°5°4
umferdin.is

Questions visitors ask

How long is the drive from Akureyri to Reykjavík?

About 394 km on Route 1 — around 5 h 56 min of driving, longer with stops for fuel, food and photos.

What's the highest point on the road from Akureyri to Reykjavík?

Öxnadalsheiði, about 529 m above the sea. The road crosses Öxnadalsheiði, Vatnsskarð, Holtavörðuheiði — the places where ice and snow come first. Hafnarfjall and Kjalarnes are known for violent gusts.

Is the road from Akureyri to Reykjavík open today?

Yes — Vegagerðin reports the road clear all the way. Conditions change fast; check umferdin.is before you set off.

Do I need studded tyres to drive from Akureyri to Reykjavík?

Winter conditions — studs allowed and wise. Snow or ice is likely on this drive. Studs are normally banned until 1 November, but the law allows them when driving conditions require it — and these will. At the least, ask your rental for winter tyres. Studded tyres are allowed from 1 November to 14 April. Outside those dates the law allows them only when driving conditions require them.

What's the weather on the drive Monday 19 Oct?

Difficult driving, leaving at 19:00. Freezing rain — glare ice possible: Holtavörðuheiði, 22:57. Gusts up to 19 m/s at Öxnadalsheiði around 19:50 — hold the car door with both hands.

Popular drives

Road reports and stations: Vegagerðin. Route © OpenStreetMap contributors.