If you enjoy taking the road less traveled, exploring remote regions, and uncovering its hidden gems, then you’re an F-roads driver, and you just don’t know it yet. But, there are F-roads opening and closing times in Iceland, making the window for your adventure pretty small.
In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about these exciting roads and what they have in store for you. We also provide detailed outlines of when you’ll be able to drive them or have to wait for the next F-roads season.
What are Iceland’s F-Roads?
The F-roads are rough-n-tough terrain. These gravel and rocky roads can have steep inclines and downhills, river crossings, holes, and boulders that must be navigated. But although the F-roads are challenging to drive, they can also be incredibly rewarding, allowing drivers to see sights left unseen to most visitors to the island.
Please note that it is a legal requirement to drive the F-roads with a 4x4 vehicle, so be sure to clarify your routes with your rental agent. Most of Iceland’s F-roads are found in the Highlands and the Westfjords, so if you are planning to visit these regions, you will likely be traveling via the F-roads and must prep accordingly.
The F-roads are also heavily impacted by the weather, so you must keep a close eye on the Iceland weather forecast and the Iceland road conditions as you may experience sudden road closures.
The Different Difficulty Levels of the F-roads in Iceland
The F-roads in Iceland are assigned different difficulty levels, so you can make the call whether you feel comfortable taking them on and be well prepared for your trip. The three difficulty levels are as follows:
Easy
Anyone can take on these roads, even those who have never driven 4x4 roads before. Although the roads are unpaved and pretty rough, they’re still fairly easy to navigate, and dealing with things like river crossings is extremely rare.
Medium
These F-roads are a bit more challenging. You will encounter things like shallow sand, extra rocky and stony sections, and river crossings with water levels ranging between 20-40 centimeters in depth. These F-roads are still an option for beginner 4x4 drivers, but we highly recommend that you gain a bit more experience before taking them on.
Difficult
These F-road bad boys are best left for the advanced and more experienced 4x4 drivers. You can expect to find boulders in the road, river crossings with water levels of 40-60 centimeters of raging water, and such steep inclines that it will sometimes feel like you’re attempting a climb straight up a wall.
If you’re planning on driving any of these F-roads, you will need to have an in-depth discussion with your rental company since most of these roads can’t even be driven with a standard 4x4 vehicle (for example, you’ll need a vehicle that sits even higher off the ground), and taking these on with a rental will have certain rental insurance consequences.
Opening Times of the F-Roads in Iceland
The F-roads are mainly open during the summertime in Iceland. Below, you will find the opening times of the F-roads in Iceland. It’s important to note that these are general guidelines since opening times may vary due to the weather and road conditions:
Mountain Road Routes 2017-2021 | Earliest Opening Date | Latest Opening Date | Median Opening Date |
F206 – Lakagigar | 12th June | 25th June | 18th June |
F208 – Fjallabaksleid north |
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1. Sigalda – Landmannalaugar | 24th May | 20th June | 10th June |
2. Laugar – Eldgja | 14th June | 8th July | 28th June |
3. Eldgja – Skaftatunga | 5th June | 26th June | 13th June |
F210 – Fjallabaksleid south |
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1. Keldur – Hvanngil | 21st June | 10th July | 3rd July |
2. Hvanngil – Skaftartunga | 28th June | 14th July | 22nd June |
F225 – Landmannaleid | 28th May | 14th July | 22nd June |
F261 – Emsturleid | 21st June | 8th July | 2nd July |
35 – Kjalvegur |
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1. Gullfoss – Hveravellir | 24th May | 15th June | 8th June |
2. Hveravellir – Blönduvirkjun | 22nd May | 12th June | 5th June |
F26 – Sprengisandur |
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1. Hrauneyjar – Nyidalur | 20th June | 9th July | 1st July |
2. Nyidalur – Bardadalur | 20th June | 9th July | 1st July |
F752 – Skagafjardarleid | 26th June | 9th July | 5th July |
F 821 – Eyjafjardaleid | 28th June | 24th July | 10th July |
F88 – Öskjuleid |
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1. Inn ad Herdubreidarlindum | 14th June | 1st July | 21st June |
2. Herdubreidarlindir – Dreki | 14th June | 1st July | 20th June |
F894 – Öskujuvatnsvegur | 14th June | 6th July | 21st June |
F864 – Holsfjallavegur | 2nd June | 29th June | 13th June |
F902 – Kverkfjalaleid | 14th June | 30th June | 20th June |
F905 – Arnardalsleid | 11th June | 30th June | 19th June |
F910 – Austurleid | 11th June | 17th July | 28th June |
52 – Uxahryggjavegur | 16th April | 16th May | 1st May |
550 – Kaldadalsvegur | 4th May | 19th June | 25th June |
When Do the F-roads Close?
Except for the sudden road closures mentioned above, the F-roads are generally kept closed throughout the colder months of the year. Although closing times may vary just like the opening times due to road and weather conditions, the F-roads tend to be closed between mid-October and the end of October. However, some circumstances might require them to close as early as the end of September.
A Few Helpful Tips for Driving the F-roads in Iceland
If this is your first time taking on the F-roads, the below advice will be helpful:
Keep hard copies of maps or download offline maps since the signal on the F-roads is finicky, and you don’t want to get lost on these routes.
If you’re planning on driving alone in just one vehicle, always let someone know about your travel plans and routes so they know when to start sounding the alarm.
Always pack extra water and snacks on these routes. They are remote, and even if help is on the way, it can take some time before it reaches you.
Keep an eye on the gas meter, and always ensure you have a full tank before heading out. Gas stations are few and far between when dealing with the F-roads.
The F-roads are Your Gateway to Adventure
The F-roads in Iceland are only for the real explorers at heart. These adventurous roads will get the blood pumping and allow you to see some of our island gems like Maelifell Volcano, the Multi-colored Mountains of Landmannalaugar, and Haifoss and Granni Waterfall.
If you are unsure how to plan out your F-roads holiday to Iceland or have further questions regarding the F-road routes here on the island, please do not hesitate to contact us at Travel to Iceland. We’ll be happy to assist.