Best Road To Landmannalaugar
Looking for the best road to Landmannalaugar?
You can drive yourself to this scenic region of the Highlands in Iceland, but note that all the roads leading to Landmannalaugar are “F” roads.
F roads are gravel roads that wind through mountainous regions. There are no bridges, which means that you have to cross over streams and rivers in your vehicle.
F roads are only open to public driving in the summer, and you absolutely need a 4X4! When renting your vehicle, make sure you are allowed to drive the vehicle on F roads.
Exact dates when F roads are open vary from year to year, but you can typically expect them to open towards the end of June and shut in late September or early October.
Now let’s discover the road routes to Landmannalaugar!
Road Routes To Landmannalaugar
There are three roads that will get you to the scenic region of Landmannalaugar, and we describe them below, from the easiest to the most challenging.
Route 26 to F208 from the North: Easiest Drive to Landmannalaugar
The easiest of the roads is Route 26 to F208, approaching from the north. The route typically opens each year in June (the exact date varies depending on the weather).
Although the gravel roads are rough and very bumpy, you will not encounter river crossings on this route.
As a big bonus, along the route is the renowned Valley of Tears, the Sigöldugljúfur Canyon.
An incredibly beautiful place with a multitude of waterfalls, a surreal blue river, and lots of plants and trees, Sigöldugljúfur Canyon is worth the stop and the hike to get there.
You can also do the short detour to the Ljötipollur Crater before you head into Landmannalaugar.
From F208, you take F224 to Landmannalaugar. There is a river crossing on F224 right at Landmannalaugar, but you can park before the crossing and walk.
See driving map:
If you plan to drive to Landmannalaugar from Reykjavik, this route — Route 26 to F208 is without a doubt the best choice, especially if you are less experienced driving on dirt roads.
Note: F208 has been reclassified as just Route 208, due to road improvements. But it’s still a rough gravel road and you should still get that 4X4.
F225 from the West
This route is not as easy at the approach from the north but not as challenging as the approach from the south.
From Route 26, you will take F225 (also called Landmannaleið), to F208, which will lead you to Landmannalaugar.
This route offers views of the Hekla Volcano and traverses starkly beautiful landscapes.
F225 from the west to Landmannalaugar also involves stream crossings! In normal conditions, the crossings are manageable in a 4X4: they are not too wide or too deep.
The first crossing is Rauðfossakvisl, where you can do a hike to the Rauðfoss Waterfall if you wish (about 30 minutes each way).
The second and third crossings are across the Kluukkugilskvisl River. Again, they should usually be doable in a 4X4.
Now you will drive through beautiful scenery, with colorful mountains and lush valleys. Eventually, F225 hits F208, which will take you to F224 into Landmannalaugar.
See driving map:
F208 from the South: The Most Challenging Route to Landmannalaugar
Looking for the most scenic drive to Landmannalaugar? If you are not fazed by rather more challenging conditions, F208 from the South offers the best scenery en route.
From the Ring Road on the South Coast of Iceland just east of Vik, you will take F208 all the way to F224, which leads into Landmannalaugar.
This route involves three significant river crossings and other smaller ones. The three large river crossings are Kylslahólmar, Halldórsdalur, and Kirkjufellfoss.
If you plan to take this route, get a larger 4X4 to more easily manage the river crossings.
You’ll find plenty of places along the route where you will want to stop and take photos of the breathtakingly beautiful landscapes, featuring tall mountains draped in green and surreal blue rivers.
You may see rangers on this route that are helpful with updates on road and weather conditions and can help you decide whether to attempt the river crossings in your vehicle on a given day.