Can I drive from Reykjavík to Akureyri today?

Updated 11 July 2026Driving

388 km · ~5 h one way · roads 1 — live status below is scoped to this route only.

Short answer

Usually yes — 388 km of paved Route 1 over two mountain heaths, Holtavörðuheiði and Öxnadalsheiði. Those two passes are where winter closures happen; both are watched by cameras and reopened quickly. The live status below covers the actual corridor, not the whole Ring Road.

This route, right now

Live frames from the Vegagerðin cameras on and around this route — the fastest reality check there is.

Hafnarfjall road camera — live view from Vegagerðin — HafnarfjallThe wind gate north of BorgarnesLive · Vegagerðin

Holtavörðuheiði road camera — live view from Vegagerðin — HoltavörðuheiðiThe long heath that closes firstLive · Vegagerðin

Öxnadalsheiði road camera — live view from Vegagerðin — ÖxnadalsheiðiThe final pass before AkureyriLive · Vegagerðin

The heaths close first in storms — in winter check both passes before committing. Conditions change within hours — re-check before you leave, and treat a Vegagerðin closure as final.

Frequently
asked questions

How long does Reykjavík to Akureyri take?

About 388 km — 5 hours of driving in good conditions, longer in winter. The Hvalfjörður tunnel and both mountain heaths are included in that. There is also a domestic flight if the forecast looks grim.

Which parts close in winter?

Almost always one of the two heaths: Holtavörðuheiði (the long climb in the west) or Öxnadalsheiði (the pass before Akureyri). Closures are usually measured in hours. The live status above shows both, scoped to this corridor.