Ten days is the best length for a first Ring Road trip. You drive the same loop as the 7-day route, but with shorter days, a full day around Egilsstaðir and time for a glacier walk and proper hikes. The last two days swing out to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, which the Ring Road skips. Most days have one to four hours of driving.
Why drive the Ring Road in 10 days instead of 7?
With ten days you see more and drive less each day. On a 7-day trip, the stretch from Vík to Höfn and the run from Akureyri to Reykjavík are long days in the car. Here they are split, so you have time for the Svartifoss walk, a guided glacier hike, Stuðlagil canyon and the Snæfellsnes coast.
The extra days also give you a weather buffer. If a storm closes a pass, you can lose a day without dropping half the trip. If you only have a week, use our 7-day Ring Road itinerary instead.
What does the 10-day Ring Road route look like?
| Day | Route | Approx. distance | Overnight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reykjavík, Golden Circle | 230 km | Hella or Selfoss area |
| 2 | South coast waterfalls | 100 km | Vík |
| 3 | Vík to Skaftafell | 140 km | Skaftafell area |
| 4 | Glacier lagoons to Höfn | 140 km | Höfn |
| 5 | East Fjords | 250 km | Egilsstaðir |
| 6 | Hengifoss and Stuðlagil | loop, varies | Egilsstaðir |
| 7 | Dettifoss to Mývatn | 200 km | Mývatn |
| 8 | Goðafoss to Akureyri | 100 km | Akureyri |
| 9 | Akureyri to Snæfellsnes | long day | Grundarfjörður or Stykkishólmur |
| 10 | Snæfellsnes to Reykjavík | 2–2.5 h drive | Reykjavík |
Distances are rounded and include short detours. Check every leg on our Ring Road driving times page.
Days 1 and 2: Golden Circle and the south coast waterfalls
Start with the Golden Circle: Þingvellir, the hot springs at Geysir and the two-step drop of Gullfoss. Sleep near Hella or Selfoss, where the countryside is dark enough for the aurora from late August.
On day 2, walk behind Seljalandsfoss and see the neighbouring Gljúfrabúi, five minutes' walk away in a narrow gorge. Then climb the steps at Skógafoss, look at the ash-streaked tongue of Sólheimajökull, and finish at Reynisfjara before Vík. Stay back from the waves.
Days 3 and 4: How much time do you need at Skaftafell and the lagoons?
Give the glacier coast two days. On day 3, drive east past Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Fjaðrárgljúfur, a mossy canyon about 6 km off Route 1, then on to Skaftafell. Walk to Svartifoss (about 5.5 km return) and the glacier viewpoint in the afternoon.
Day 4 is your best chance for a guided glacier hike from Skaftafell. Never walk onto a glacier without a guide; crevasses are hidden under snow. In the afternoon, see Fjallsárlón, then Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, before driving about an hour to Höfn.
Day 5: Which way through the East Fjords?
From Höfn, stop at Stokksnes for Vestrahorn, then follow the coast through Djúpivogur. In summer, the Öxi pass saves about 70 km but is a steep, narrow gravel road. The coastal Ring Road is longer and more scenic, and it is the only choice once snow arrives. Fill up whenever you can.
Day 6: What can you do around Egilsstaðir?
Day 6 is a day off from the Ring Road. Walk up to Hengifoss, which falls 128 metres past red layers of rock; the walk takes 40–60 minutes each way. Then drive to Stuðlagil canyon in Jökuldalur, where a glacier river runs between basalt columns.
If you prefer towns to hikes, drive over the mountain to Seyðisfjörður instead, with its coloured wooden houses and quiet fjord.
Days 7 and 8: Dettifoss, Mývatn and Akureyri
Cross the plateau to Dettifoss, taking paved Route 862 to the west bank. Dettifoss is 100 metres wide and drops 44 metres into the Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. Continue to Hverir and Mývatn, and soak at the Mývatn Nature Baths in the evening.
On day 8, walk the Hverfjall crater rim in the morning, then drive to Goðafoss on Route 1. Akureyri is about 45 minutes further, through the Vaðlaheiðargöng toll tunnel (ISK 2,216 per trip in 2026, paid online at veggjald.is). With time to spare, Húsavík is about an hour from Akureyri for whale watching.
Days 9 and 10: Is Snæfellsnes worth the detour?
Yes. Snæfellsnes packs lava fields, black beaches, fishing villages and the 1,446-metre Snæfellsjökull glacier volcano into one peninsula. Day 9 is a long drive from Akureyri over the Öxnadalsheiði and Holtavörðuheiði passes, turning west towards the peninsula after Borgarnes. Stay in Grundarfjörður, below Kirkjufell, or in Stykkishólmur.
On day 10, drive around the peninsula's western tip through Snæfellsjökull National Park, past Arnarstapi and Hellnar, then back to Reykjavík in about two to two and a half hours.
Short on time on day 9? Sleep in Borgarnes instead and do a shorter Snæfellsnes loop on day 10. You will still see Kirkjufell and the coast, just faster.
How much driving is there each day?
Most days on this route have one to four hours of driving. Days 1, 5 and 9 are the long ones, at around three to five hours plus stops. Days 2, 4, 6 and 8 are short, which leaves time for a long walk, a guided tour or a swim. Keep the long days for good weather where you can, and swap days around if the forecast demands it.
Where should you stay on a 10-day Ring Road trip?
Book the beds in this order: the Skaftafell area and Höfn, then Vík, then Egilsstaðir and Mývatn. These are small places with few rooms, and they fill months ahead in summer. Akureyri and Reykjavík have the most choice. Two nights in Egilsstaðir mean you can leave your bags in one place for day 6. On Snæfellsnes, Grundarfjörður puts you closest to Kirkjufell, while Stykkishólmur has more restaurants and the ferry to the Westfjords. Our guide to where to stay in Iceland compares each base.
When is the best time for a 10-day Ring Road trip?
June to early September is best. Stuðlagil and the Öxi pass are easiest in summer, and the long days let you walk in the evening. In September the first dark nights bring a chance of northern lights; see our northern lights guide. In winter, read our Ring Road in winter guide before committing to the full loop.
For rules, tolls and fuel on the road, see our complete Ring Road guide. If you like a book on the dashboard, our Complete Guide to Iceland follows the same loop.
Facts checked October 2026. Distances are approximate. Stuðlagil's colour, the Öxi pass and Route 864 depend on the season; check road.is and vedur.is each day, and confirm toll and parking fees before you travel.
