Iceland F-Roads
F-roads are Iceland's unpaved highland routes — 51 mapped here, all legally requiring 4WD. 2WD cars are banned outright and rental insurance never covers river-crossing damage. Most open mid-June to early July and close by September or October. Always check road.is the morning you drive — conditions change fast, and a road open yesterday can be closed today.
Conditions right now
Driving conditions
Weather now
Safety first
Vehicle4WD only
River crossingsNot insured
SeasonJune–Sept
Check before drivingroad.isTop F-roads
Iceland’s best-documented highland routes, with real access info.
Directions
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ShareCars & campers
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Toyota RAV4
Heated seats for winter waterfall runs, range for highland summer loops.
TransmissionAutomatic
FuelHybrid
Seats5
DriveAWD
VW Caravelle
Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.
TransmissionAutomaticFuelDieselSeats9Drive2WD
Key Camper Wild Duo
Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.
TransmissionManualFuelPetrol
Sleeps2Drive4WDTours near Iceland's F-roads
Small groups
Duration
Pickup
ActivityBrowse F-roads by region
When & how to drive Iceland's F-roads
F-roads only open once meltwater drops, usually mid-June to early July, and most close by September — a few of the toughest (Fjallabak, Askja) sometimes hold into early October if the weather cooperates. Every F-road legally requires 4WD; driving one in a 2WD car is illegal and voids your rental insurance outright. River crossings are never covered by any rental policy, even full-coverage plans — cross only where locals or rangers confirm it's safe, and never after heavy rain. Check road.is the morning you drive: conditions change fast, and a route open yesterday can be closed today. Beginners should start with an easier route like F35 (Kjalvegur) before attempting river-crossing roads like F210 or F249.
The F-roads of Iceland, compared
All 51 F-roads, ranked — our best-documented picks first. Tap any name for the full guide, including 4WD requirements and opening dates.
| F-road | Region | Difficulty | Known for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F26 Sprengisandsleið | Highlands | hard | The longest highland road |
| F35 Kjalvegur | Highlands | easy | The beginner highland road |
 | F88 Öskjuleið | Highlands | medium-hard | Shortcut to Askja caldera |
| F208 Fjallabaksleið nyrðri | South Coast | varies | The road to Landmannalaugar |
 | F210 Fjallabaksleið syðri | South Coast | hard | Fjallabaksleið syðri |
 | F224 Landmannalaugavegur | South Coast | medium | Final stretch to Landmannalaugar |
 | F235 Langisjór | South Coast | medium | Road to Iceland's most beautiful lake |
 | F249 Þórsmerkurvegur | South Coast | extreme | The road to Þórsmörk valley |
 | F349 Kerlingarfjöll old | Highlands | hard | The long, lonely way to Kerlingarfjöll |
 | F578 Arnarvatnsvegur | Westfjords | hard | Road to 100+ lakes |
 | F843 Dyngjufjöll | North Iceland | hard | The forgotten road to Askja |
 | F902 Kverkfjallaleið | Highlands | hard | Kverkfjallaleið |
 | F910 Austurleið | Highlands | medium east / hard west | Main eastern route to Askja |
| F206 Lakavegur | South Coast | medium | Road to Laki craters | |
| F207 Lakagígavegur | South Coast | medium | Loop around Laki craters | |
| F223 Eldgjárvegur | South Coast | easy | Short road to Eldgjá canyon | |
| F229 Jökulheimaleið | South Coast | easy | Remote road to glacier edges | |
| F261 Emstruleið | South Coast | medium | The easier back door to Þórsmörk | |
| F347 Kerlingafjallavegur | Highlands | easy to resort / medium beyond | Kerlingafjallavegur | |
| F894 Öskjuvatnsvegur | Highlands | easy | Final bumpy kilometers to Askja | |
 | F66 Kollafjarðarheiði | North Iceland | medium | Highland road in North Iceland |
 | F225 Landmannaleið | South Coast | medium | Highland road in South Coast |
 | F333 Haukadalsvegur | South Coast | easy | Highland road in South Coast |
 | F335 Hagavatnsvegur | South Coast | medium | Highland road in South Coast |
 | F903 Hvannalindavegur | Highlands | medium | Highland road in Highlands |
 | F905 Arnardalsleið | Highlands | easy | Highland road in Highlands |
 | F909 Snæfellsleið | Highlands | hard | Highland road in Highlands |
| F228 Veiðivatnaleið | South Coast | medium | Highland road in South Coast | |
| F232 Öldufellsleið | South Coast | medium | Highland road in South Coast | |
| F233 Álftavatnskrókur | South Coast | extreme | Highland road in South Coast | |
| F337 Hlöðuvallavegur | South Coast | medium | Highland road in South Coast | |
| F338 Skjaldbreiðarvegur | South Coast | medium | Highland road in South Coast | |
| F508 Skorradalsvegur | West Iceland | medium | Highland road in West Iceland | |
| F570 Jökulshálsvegur | West Iceland | easy | Highland road in West Iceland | |
| F575 Eysteinsdalsleið | Highlands | easy-medium | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F586 Haukadalsskarðsvegur | Highlands | easy | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F649 Ófeigsfjarðarvegur | North Iceland | medium | Highland road in North Iceland | |
| F734 Svörtutungur | Highlands | extreme | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F735 Þjófadalavegur | Highlands | easy | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F752 Skagafjarðarleið | Highlands | hard | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F821 Eyjafjarðarleið | Highlands | medium | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F839 Leirdalsheiðarvegur | North Iceland | medium | Highland road in North Iceland | |
| F881 Dragaleið | Highlands | easy | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F899 Flateyjardalsvegur | Highlands | medium | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F907 Austurleið connector | Highlands | easy | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F923 Jökuldalsvegur | Highlands | medium | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F936 Þórdalsheiðarvegur | East Iceland | medium | Highland road in East Iceland | |
| F946 Loðmundarfjarðarvegur | Highlands | hard | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F959 Viðfjarðarvegur | Highlands | hard | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F980 Kollumúlavegur | Highlands | extreme | Highland road in Highlands | |
| F985 Jökulvegur | Highlands | hard | Highland road in Highlands |
