F-roadSouth CoastSkjaldbreiðarvegur
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About
A power-line service road across the Skjaldbreiður shield volcano, with braided river crossings.
More about route-finding than raw difficulty — the challenge is picking the right line through the braided rivers, which changes over time.
It exists as a maintenance road for the power line it follows, which is part of why it cuts directly across the volcano rather than around it.
The braided rivers here reroute themselves regularly, so there's no fixed 'correct' crossing point to memorize from an old trip report. Watch where the water is shallowest on the day you're there, and don't assume last season's line still holds.
Map of Skjaldbreiðarvegur
Skjaldbreiðarvegur is on Iceland's South Coast at 64.0833°N, 19.6500°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.
Plan your visit
- Getting there
- Road F225 (Landmleið að Heklu)
- Off the main road
- 4.7 km from Route 26
Nearest town- Árnes — 29.6 km away
- Distance from Reykjavík
- 112 km in a straight line
- What else is close
- 103 mapped places within 20 km
Reached on an F-road. Icelandic law requires a 4WD vehicle on F-roads, and they open only for the summer season — check the current status before setting out.
Is F338 open right now?
Live from Vegagerðin, the authority that opens and closes this road. Every other highland road is on the live F-road map.
1 highland road reported · Vegagerðin, updated 18 min ago
| F-road | Status now | Vegagerðin's wording |
|---|---|---|
| F338 Skjaldbreiðarvegur | Open to 4x4s | Fært fjallabílum |
F338 typically opens late June–early July and closes by September–October — always confirm on road.is before you drive.
Skjaldbreiðarvegur weather and conditions
At Skjaldbreiðarvegur in South Coast, conditions as of 29 August 2026, 22:45 (Iceland time): 8°C (feels like 4°C), overcast, wind 3 m/s gusting to 6 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 41 m (sunrise 05:59, sunset 20:39). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.
Data verified 29 August 2026, 22:45· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly
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Blue hour—Cars & campers
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Transmission
Fuel
Seats
Drive
SleepsTours near Skjaldbreiðarvegur
Small groups
Duration
Highlights
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Photos & videos
Reviews
Frequently
asked
questions
What car do I need for F338?
Are the river crossings on F338 always in the same place?
Why does F338 exist?
Can I drive F338 in a 2WD car?
Is F338 a good scenic drive?
Nearby
km column = your drive
- 1Hlöðuvallavegur5 km
- 2
Landmannaleið7 km - 3
Haukadalsvegur9 km - 4
Hagavatnsvegur10 km - 5
Landmannalaugavegur28 km
Waterfalls
A waterfall in South Coast.
A waterfall in South Coast.
A waterfall in South Coast.
Hjálparfoss is one of several waterfalls in the south of Iceland situated in the lava…
Hot Springs
Swimming_pool hot spring
Natural hot spring
Public_bath hot spring
Small natural spring near Flúðir. Less crowded than Secret Lagoon. On private land -…
Campsites
Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Facilities…
Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Campfires…
The campsite is divided into several clearings, surrounded by trees, and renowned for its…
Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Weather…
F-Roads
4 f-roads near South Coast
Supermarkets
Krambúð supermarket — supplies
Supermarket — supplies
Krónan supermarket — supplies
Krambúð supermarket — supplies
Gas stations
Olís · 315.8 kr/L petrol
N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol
N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol
N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol
Tours
The Buggy Iceland and Mega Zipline Combo Tour offers an exhilarating adventure for thrill-seekers exploring Iceland.
"Þórsmörk has a spot in every Icelander's heart.
Our transfer service offers a comfortable and safe way to travel from the heart of Iceland's highlands, Landmannalaugar, to the…
Data & sources
Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.
Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · CGP Grey · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community
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