Gravel roads in Iceland
The Ring Road is fully paved — the gravel is on the roads that get you somewhere quieter. Which ones are still gravel, and exactly what your insurance covers.
Iceland's Ring Road has been fully paved since 2019 — the old “20% gravel” line you still see quoted is out of date. Gravel is elsewhere: highland crossings like Kjölur (35) and Kaldidalur (550), east-fjord shortcuts like Öxi (939), much of the far Westfjords, and every one of Iceland's 51 F-roads, which are gravel by definition and often add unbridged rivers. If you leave the sealed routes, take Gravel Protection — gravel damage is the most common rental claim in Iceland, and the base insurance does not cover it.
| Road | Surface | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Road 35 — Kjölur (highland) | Gravel | The mid-highland crossing; graded gravel, no rivers, but rough and washboarded |
| Road 550 — Kaldidalur | Gravel | The “near-highland” route between Þingvellir and Húsafell; 2WD-passable when dry |
| Road 939 — Öxi | Gravel | The steep east-fjord shortcut off Route 1; closes first in bad weather |
| Road 864 — Dettifoss (east side) | Gravel | The eastern approach to Dettifoss; the west side (862) is now paved |
| Road 570 — Jökulháls (Snæfellsnes) | Gravel | Over the shoulder of Snæfellsjökull; narrow and rough |
| Much of the Westfjords (60, 622, 643…) | Part gravel | Long stretches of the far Westfjords remain unsealed and slow |
| All F-roads | Gravel + fords | Every F-road is gravel by definition, and many add unbridged river crossings |
All 51 F-roads are gravel — that count is read live from our own F-road dataset, not a guess. For each one's difficulty, 4x4 requirement, river crossings and opening dates, see the full F-roads map. The named roads above are the ones travellers are most often surprised to find unsealed; the Golden Circle and Route 1 are not among them.
What Gravel Protection actually covers
Gravel Protection (GP) is narrow and worth understanding before you sign. It covers gravel-thrown damage to the bodywork, headlights and windscreen — the chips and cracks kicked up by passing cars and your own wheels. It does not cover sandstorms and ash (that is a separate Sand & Ash Protection), water damage from a river crossing (never covered on any policy), the underbody, or tyres and chassis damage on rough tracks. The base Collision Damage Waiver excludes gravel and single-vehicle damage too — so on gravel, GP is the layer doing the work. If you are heading to the highlands, pair it with Sand & Ash Protection and read the river-crossing exclusion carefully.
A gravel road is not an off-road permit. Driving a marked gravel road is legal and normal; driving off any marked road or track — onto moss, gravel bars or a riverbed — is a criminal offence with fines into the hundreds of thousands of ISK. Slow down on loose surfaces, slow right down when meeting oncoming cars so neither windscreen takes a stone, and never attempt an unbridged river crossing you have not assessed on foot. 112 is the emergency number everywhere in Iceland.
Frequently
asked questions
Is the Ring Road in Iceland gravel?
Do I need Gravel Protection insurance in Iceland?
What does Gravel Protection NOT cover?
Can I drive gravel roads with a 2WD car?
How should I drive on Iceland’s gravel roads?
Cars & campers
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Transmission
Fuel
Seats
Drive
SleepsTours near Iceland
Small groups
Duration
Highlights
Type
