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.

Map of Iceland highlighting F-Road routes in red across the Highlands, with numbered mountain roads, glaciers, rivers and coastal roads

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.

White 4x4 SUV on a rough gravel F-road in Iceland’s Highlands, with a traveler assessing terrain, volcanic slopes and ocean views

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
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

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
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

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
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

1.     Gullfoss – Hveravellir
 
 
 
 

24th May
 
 
 
 

15th June
 
 
 
 

8th June
 
 
 
 

2.     Hveravellir – Blönduvirkjun
 
 
 
 

22nd May
 
 
 
 

12th June
 
 
 
 

5th June
 
 
 
 

F26 – Sprengisandur
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

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
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

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.