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Skjaldbreiðarvegur

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F-roadSouth Coast

Skjaldbreiðarvegur

South CoastmediumMin vehicle: medium 4x44WD required

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.

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Plan your visit to Skjaldbreiðarvegur

Build an itinerary — full days, multi-stop routes, drive times, alternatives.

Map of Skjaldbreiðarvegur

Map

64.0833°N, 19.6500°W · South Coast

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
Good to know
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.

Tours near Skjaldbreiðarvegur

Highlands Hiking: Small Group Landmannalaugar Hike & Hot Springs - Without transferfrom 16.500 ISK · 5 hBus transfer from Landmannalaugar to Hella / Reykjavikfrom 12.220 ISK · 4 hSecret Lagoon Admissionfrom 4.500 ISK · 1 h 30 minKayak River Ridefrom 30.990 ISK · 3 hRiver Fun Raftingfrom 22.990 ISK · 3 hFamily Fun Raftingfrom 19.990 ISK · 3 hFamily Raftingfrom 34.900 ISK · 4 hGlacier Snowmobiling & Ice Cave from Geysir Areafrom 38.990 ISK · 5 hLaugarás Lagoon Birki - Premium Lagoonfrom 9.900 ISK · 2 h
All 1,648 tours
ToursIn season nowSolheimajokull Ice Climbing & Glacier Hikefrom 31.381 ISK · 4 hEarly Bird Ice Cavefrom 25.000 ISK · 3 h 30 minLaugarás Lagoon Birki - Premium Lagoonfrom 9.900 ISK · 2 hAll 1,648 toursBy activity and region

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 · 1 not reported · Vegagerðin, updated 3 min ago

F-roadStatus nowVegagerðin's wording
F338 SkjaldbreiðarvegurNot reportedÓþekkt

F338 typically opens late June–early July and closes by September–October — always confirm on road.is before you drive.

Skjaldbreiðarvegur weather and conditions

Last updated

4°Clight drizzle · feels -2°C9 m/sgusts 149 h 51 mdaylight · 08:08 – 18:00
In season now · Winter in IcelandSolheimajokull Ice Climbing & Glacier Hikefrom 31.381 ISK · 4 h
See the tour
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Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellationKEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Dacia Duster 4x4
SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol/diesel
Seats5
Drive4WD
From
5,355 kr6,300 kr/day
Reserve −12%
VW Caravelle
9-seater

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic
FuelDiesel
Seats9
Drive2WD
From
12,750 kr15,000 kr/day
Reserve −12%
Key Camper Wild Duo
Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol
Sleeps2
Drive4WD
From
5,304 kr6,240 kr/day
Reserve −12%

Photos & videos

Skjaldbreiðarvegur — photo by CGP Grey · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Photo: CGP Grey · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
F338 – Skjaldbreiðarvegur – in fog and rain, F-roads, Iceland 4KEpic Iceland
F-roads of Iceland: F338 (Skjaldbreiðarvegur) (21.07.2020)Ervin Drives Around
ICELAND F ROADS IN 4K - F338 SkjaldbreiðarvegurBaseDrifterAbroad
Iceland - Road F338 eastcilurnirides.com
Across lavafields, F338 Iceland 🇮🇸Ju:rg
Eastbound on the F338 in IcelandMotorbike Riding Adventures

Nearby

km column = your drive

  1. 1Hlöðuvallavegur5 km
  2. 2Landmannaleið7 km
  3. 3Haukadalsvegur9 km
  4. 4Hagavatnsvegur10 km
  5. 5Landmannalaugavegur28 km
All f-roads in South Coast →

Waterfalls

  1. 1Rangárbotnar5 km
  2. 2Tröllkonuhlaup6 km
  3. 3Gjárfoss9 km
All waterfalls →

Hot springs

  1. 1Natural hot pot near Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur12 km
  2. 2Geothermal hot spring near Rangárþing ytra28 km
  3. 3Geothermal hot spring near Skeiða- og Gnúpverjahreppur30 km
All hot springs →

Fuel

  1. 1Hrauneyjar22 km · 315.8 kr/L
  2. 2Árnes30 km · 310.9 kr/L
  3. 3Flúðir33 km · 310.9 kr/L
All fuel →

Supermarkets

  1. 1Krambúð33 km
  2. 2Kjörbúðin46 km
  3. 3Krónan47 km
All supermarkets →

Tours

  1. Adrenaline Combo: Off-Road Buggy & Mega Zipline Experiencefrom 29.300 ISK · 3 hours
  2. Buggy Adventure in Þórsmörkfrom 89.990 ISK · 5 hours
  3. Bus transfer from Landmannalaugar to Hella / Reykjavikfrom 12.220 ISK · 4 hours
All tours →

Frequently
asked
questions

What car do I need for F338?
At least a medium 4x4. It's rated medium difficulty, mainly due to the braided river crossings.
Are the river crossings on F338 always in the same place?
No — the braided rivers shift from year to year, so there's no single fixed crossing point. Judge the crossing on the day, not from an old report.
Why does F338 exist?
It runs as a service road under a power line crossing the Skjaldbreiður shield volcano.
Can I drive F338 in a 2WD car?
No. It's an F-road; 2WD vehicles are prohibited by law and excluded from rental insurance.
Is F338 a good scenic drive?
It's a functional road across a shield volcano — treat it as a route with a specific challenge (the river crossings) rather than a leisure drive.

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Spotted an error, or have something to add? Help us keep this page accurate.

All f-roads18 F-roads in South Coast, mapped with photos, distances and live conditions
Iceland nowfrom 19 Sep 06:10
8°C · overcastWind 2 m/sRing Road (R1) openAurora Kp 2.67Daylight 07:02 – 19:39Webcams