Good to know

Roads in the Central Highlands are called F-roads (i. fjallvegir). F-roads are mountain and gravel roads only accessible for 4×4 (AWD) vehicles. F-roads are difficult to drive as the terrain is rough, and the roads often have potholes meaning it takes a long time to drive them.

It is important to plan a route in advance and know how long it will take. Keep in mind the average speed for cars on F-roads is rarely over 40km/hr.

Before driving on F-roads, tourists must always check the conditions of their rental car agreement to see whether they are allowed to drive on F-roads or not.

During winter, the Icelandic Highlands are impassable. Most of the roads open between late May and late June (depending on the weather).

Once the roads are open in summer, driving in the Highland requires experience in addition to a proper vehicle (AWD vehicle with good ground clearance).

Many roads in the Central Highlands have river crossings. If the driver does not know how to cross a river, they should turn around and not attempt to cross the river. No insurance covers the damaged caused by river crossings.

If an emergency occurs while driving on an F-road, call 112 for Iceland’s emergency services. Off-road driving is forbidden in Iceland due to safety and nature preservation factors. Always follow marked roads and pay attention to any posted warnings or road signs. Keep a charged phone in the car at all times in order to call for help if needed.

Make sure to check out the Highland Driving information from safetravel