Road trip weather · Updated 19 October 2026 at 17:44

Reykjavík → Jökulsárlón

Today, 19 Oct · leaving 18:00 · Arrive around 00:31

Drive with care

Gusts up to 15 m/s at Hveragerði around 18:48 — hold the car door with both hands.
Wet snow and slush: Hellisheiði, 18:37.
Heavy rain — standing water and spray: Hveragerði and Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

Distance: 394 km; Route 1
Driving: 5 h 56 min; 6 h 32 min with breaks
Highest point: 351 m; Hellisheiði
In the dark: 6 h 22 min; 1 pass

FromTo

Day

Leaving at

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

WetSlushFreezing level — above the line it's below zero13Gusts under the band, m/sDark

Stop by stop

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

18:00
ReykjavíkStart · 5 m
5°6 ↑9 m/s0.7 mm/hWet
Onward: slush
18:37
37 min
HellisheiðiMountain pass · 384 m
0°5 ↑11 m/s0.4 cm/hSlushDark
Now (17:30): 4° · road 3° · ↑15 m/s
18:48
48 min
HveragerðiOn the way · 23 m
3°2 ↑15 m/s4.5 mm/hWetDark
19:04
1 h 5 min
SelfossOn the way · 7 m
5°6 ↑14 m/s0.7 mm/hWetDark
19:42
1 h 42 min
HellaOn the way · 18 m
6°7 ↑13 m/s2.1 mm/hWetDark
19:57
1 h 58 min
HvolsvöllurOn the way · 21 m
7°9 ↑15 m/s0.6 mm/hWetDark
20:25
2 h 25 min
Hvammur undir EyjafjöllumNotorious gusts · 17 m
7°8 ↑14 m/s0.3 mm/hWetDark
Now (17:30): 6° · road 6° · ↑10 m/s
20:37
2 h 37 min
Steinar undir EyjafjöllumNotorious gusts · 28 m
7°4 ↑7 m/s1.0 mm/hWetDark
Now (17:30): 6° · road 6° · ↑7 m/s
20:47
2 h 47 min
SkógafossOn the way · 30 m
7°4 ↑8 m/s1.6 mm/hWetDark
21:22
3 h 22 min
VíkOn the way · 3 m
7°5 ↑10 m/s2.0 mm/hWetDark
21:42
3 h 42 min
MýrdalssandurNotorious gusts · 37 m
7°6 ↑10 m/s2.5 mm/hWetDark
Now (17:30): 6° · road 6° · ↑8 m/s
22:30
4 h 31 min
KirkjubæjarklausturOn the way · 50 m
6°5 ↑9 m/s5.8 mm/hWetDark
23:36
5 h 37 min
SkaftafellOn the way · 87 m
8°5 ↑9 m/s0.3 mm/hWetDark
23:49
5 h 50 min
Sandfell í ÖræfumNotorious gusts · 84 m
8°7 ↑12 m/s0.5 mm/hWetDark
Now (17:30): 5° · road 5° · ↑3 m/s
00:16
6 h 16 min
KvískerNotorious gusts · 24 m
5°2 ↑4 m/s1.3 mm/hWetDark
Now (17:30): 5° · road 5° · ↑1 m/s
00:31
6 h 32 min
JökulsárlónArrival · 5 m
6°1 ↑2 m/s1.4 mm/hWetDark

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 tyres advised for the passes

Ice is possible where the road climbs. Summer tyres lose grip near freezing — ask your rental for winter or all-season 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.

Station	Air	Road	Gusts
Hellisheiði · 17:30	4°	3°	15
Hvammur undir Eyjafjöllum · 17:30	6°	6°	10
Steinar undir Eyjafjöllum · 17:30	6°	6°	7
Mýrdalssandur · 17:30	6°	6°	8
Sandfell í Öræfum · 17:30	5°	5°	3
Kvísker · 17:30	5°	5°	1

umferdin.is

Questions visitors ask

How long is the drive from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón?

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 Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón?

Hellisheiði, about 351 m above the sea. The road crosses Hellisheiði — the places where ice and snow come first. Hvammur undir Eyjafjöllum and Steinar undir Eyjafjöllum and Mýrdalssandur and Sandfell í Öræfum and Kvísker are known for violent gusts.

Is the road from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón 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 Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón?

Winter tyres advised for the passes. Ice is possible where the road climbs. Summer tyres lose grip near freezing — ask your rental for winter or all-season 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?

Drive with care, leaving at 18:00. Gusts up to 15 m/s at Hveragerði around 18:48 — hold the car door with both hands. Wet snow and slush: Hellisheiði, 18:37. Heavy rain — standing water and spray: Hveragerði and Kirkjubæjarklaustur.