We’ve been to Iceland several times now and most of those trips we’ve rented a car and driven ourselves around.  Most of the time, it’s totally fine and while we did encounter a random snowstorm in a mountain pass in the North of Iceland in May one year, every other time has been well worth having a car.  I’ve written a post about the basics of Driving in Iceland but driving in the Winter there is a totally different story!  So if you are interested in heading to Iceland in the Winter, here’s all you need to know for driving in the snow and ice of Iceland.

Rent a 4×4 vehicle with Winter tires.

Usually, I try to get the smallest rental car I can find.  This time however, I wanted a 4×4 vehicle with a good all wheel drive and Winter tires so that I’d be comfortable driving in the snow and ice.  We went through Budget and booked a Ford Edge which we were so happy with.  It handled really great in the Winter weather and didn’t have any issues even on some pretty sketchy roads.

Expect the unexpected like crazy strong wind and snow storms that start suddenly.

Iceland is notorious for weather that changes in an instant or for storms that seem otherworldly.  And driving in those unexpected instances can be challenging, like 75 miles per hour winds where you have to literally steer into the wind just to go straight or snow storms that start out of the blue and accumulate very quickly.  You have to think on your feet driving in the Winter in Iceland and be prepared for the unexpected.

Get the full insurance package.

This is a must in Iceland any time of year but for sure in the Winter.  Even though it’s going to cost you more, please please please get the full insurance package with no deductible.  I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been returning rental cars there and have the people in front of us dealing with an incident report with the rental car company because a rock flew and hit their wind shield or wind threw a piece of debris at them.  With the crazy weather in Iceland, it’s well worth it to protect yourself!

Go slower than the speed limit in bad weather especially in high winds.

The speed limits are posted all through Iceland but the majority of the time in the Winter, you’ll be going less than that.  High winds will prohibit you driving very fast as will snow and ice, so go slower and be cautious.

Give yourself plenty of time to stop.

I had a scary situation on our way back to the airport where a round about came up and I couldn’t barely see it in the heavy snow and wind and had to slam on my breaks.  Good thing our car handled really well and the Winter tires stopped us from sliding, but when you need to stop give yourself more time than you think.

Check road conditions before you go anywhere.

I’m usually pretty good about this but our second day in Iceland this past trip, we originally wanted to go East but due to a massive storm, all the roads were closed.  So we headed inland to the Golden Circle and didn’t think weather in that area would be a problem so I didn’t check the roads.  We circled around through Gullfoss and then when we headed back to Reykjavik, a snow storm popped up and closed off some roads so we had to go a little out of way to get back to the city.  Long story short – always check the road conditions on Iceland’s road website before you go anywhere!

Be flexible with your plans.

One thing to remember if you’re headed to Iceland in the Winter, be flexible in your plans.  You most likely will have to change your plans at some point while there due to weather or availability so keep an open mind and just go with whatever comes your way!

Headed to Iceland?

Check our the rest of our Iceland content here.

Iceland is a land of extremes, the midnight sun in the Summer versus hours and hours of dark in the Winter, ice and snow in the winter and vast colorful landscapes in the Summer.  Whatever season you visit Iceland you’ll be sure to be blown away, but it seems like a lot of people pick either the Summer or the Winter when visiting this magical land and therefore, I thought it was important, since I’ve been in all seasons, to point out the differences you might encounter per the season you visit and how to pick which season might be better for you!

Go to Iceland in the Summer for:

• The Midnight Sun – this incredible experience is really one to see in your lifetime!  To stand outside at 2 or 3 in the morning and have it feel like 6 or 7am is really a surreal but incredible experience.
• Easy Driving – If you really want to explore Iceland by driving around it, especially if you want to head up North, you’ll want to go in the Summer or shoulder seasons.  But beware, weather up in the North can still be pretty unpredictable, like in late May when we were driving back to Reykjavik from Akureyri and encountered a fierce snow storm.  So be prepared, but you’ll for sure have an easier time getting around and driving in the Summer.
• Colors like you’ve never seen – Whenever anyone asks me to describe Iceland, I say that the landscape has colors like you’ve never seen, like you are on another planet.  The greens are a shade that are truly indescribable, the blues deeper than most, the whites brighter.
• Less Layers Required – Obviously the weather is going to be warmer in the Summer, however keep in mind, “warmer” in Iceland still requires layers.  It will still be chilly in certain places and particularly along the coast as the wind coming off the ocean always lowers the temperature by about 10 degrees F.
• Adventurous Activities – You’ll have your pick of adventurous activities in the Summer like a helicopter ride (which I’d highly recommend) or hiking or whatever your heart desires.

Go to Iceland in the Winter for:

• A Winter Wonderland – If you want snow and ice and a true Winter wonderland, Iceland is the place for you in the Winter months.  You’ll be met with a truly beautiful and unique winter landscape in Iceland.
• Cold Weather – Sometimes I just love a trip where it’s going to be freezing and you have to bundle and we are all your coats with the faux fur you never get to wear anywhere else.  If you love the cold weather, Iceland is for sure home to a true cold.
• Darkness to Sleep In – If you love to sleep in on vacation, then try out Iceland in the Winter.  The sun doesn’t even rise until around 10-11am, which allows you to really relax and sleep in before heading out to explore when the sun finally does rise.  Also keep in mind though – it sets early too so be sure to plan your days wisely!
• Gorgeous Sunrises and Sunsets – One thing that comes with the late sunrise and early sunset in the Winter in Iceland are the gorgeous colors in the sky around those times unlike other times during the year.  They last longer and the colors are just softer in hue, which makes them truly a magical spectacle.
• Northern Lights – While we had yet to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, we finally caught glimpses of them on this last trip and they are an amazing sight to see while in Iceland for the Winter.
• Sticking closer to Reykjavik – You might not be able to travel as far in the Winter or while you may technically be able to, it won’t be easy in the Winter.  I’ve heard horror stories of people trying to drive North in the Winter and while the locals might know more to be able to do it, I would recommend to any tourists to stay farther South in the general radius of Reykjavik during the Winter months, particularly if the weather is stormy.
  

  Headed to Iceland?

  See all our Iceland content here.

Where to Stay in Iceland