The ultimate guide to Iceland's remote interior — F-roads, volcanic landscapes, geothermal hot springs, hiking trails and how to plan your trip.
The Highlands — Miðhálendi Íslands — are Iceland's vast interior plateau, covering roughly one-third of the country. Sitting at 400–1,100 metres above sea level, this is one of Europe's last true wildernesses: no towns, no permanent inhabitants, and roads that are impassable for most of the year.
The region is characterised by active and dormant volcanoes, colourful rhyolite mountains, lava deserts, geothermal fields, glaciers and crystal-clear rivers. It opens to visitors between approximately late June and September, when snowmelt allows the F-roads to open safely.
Access requires a 4-wheel-drive vehicle — all routes into the Highlands are legally designated F-roads. But for those who make the effort, the Highlands offer landscapes found nowhere else on Earth.
Choose your level — all require a 4×4 vehicle.
Suitable for most 4×4 drivers. No river crossings. F35 Kjölur is well-maintained and the most accessible highland route.
Routes:
F35 Kjölur
Destinations:
Still requires a 4×4 — no 2WD cars on any F-road.
Some river crossings. Requires confidence in 4×4 driving. Research current road conditions before departure.
Routes:
F208 (north), F225
Destinations:
River levels are highest in June — July is safer.
Deep river crossings, very remote conditions, limited rescue access. Experienced highland drivers only. Satellite communicator recommended.
Routes:
F88, F249, F26, F208 south
Destinations:
Highland buses are the safest option for Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar.
The best places to visit in Iceland's Highlands — ranked by accessibility and experience.
Iceland's most colourful landscape — vivid rhyolite mountains in pink, green and yellow, a natural geothermal hot spring pool and the start of the world-famous Laugavegur hiking trail.
A remote and breathtaking volcanic caldera, 1,100 m above sea level. The Víti explosion crater contains a warm, milky-blue geothermal lake — one of Iceland's most surreal bathing experiences.
A lush, dramatic valley ringed by three glaciers — Eyjafjallajökull, Mýrdalsjökull and Tindfjallajökull. The end point of the Laugavegur trail and start of the Fimmvörðuháls pass to Skógar.
A dramatic mountain range with vivid orange and red geothermal fields. Accessible via the easiest highland route (F35 Kjölur) — ideal for first-time highland visitors.
A magical geothermal oasis in the middle of the Kjölur highland desert. Natural hot spring pool for bathing, mountain huts and a small service hut. The only 'rest stop' in the central highlands.
Iceland's great highland crossing — a 200 km drive through a bleak black lava desert between two glaciers. No fuel, no services, no phone signal. One of Europe's most remote drives.
One of the world's great long-distance hiking trails — 55 km from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk through lava fields, obsidian deserts, glacier rivers and hot springs. Usually 4 days.
A remote highland pass between the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glacier systems. Extremely isolated — few travellers reach here. Extraordinary views across the highland plateau.
All F-roads are legally restricted to 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Here's what you need for each destination.
Standard SUVs (Toyota RAV4, Dacia Duster) handle F35. Advanced routes need a Land Cruiser or similar.
| Destination | 4×4 Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hveravellir (via F35) | Recommended | F35 has no deep crossings. High-clearance recommended. |
| Kerlingarfjöll (via F35) | Yes | 4WD required by law. F35 is manageable. |
| Landmannalaugar (north F208) | Yes | Minor crossings. Most capable SUVs fine. |
| Landmannalaugar (south F208) | Yes — large | Deep crossings. Large 4×4 strongly recommended. |
| Þórsmörk (F249) | Yes — large | Multiple deep glacial rivers. Highland bus safer. |
| Askja (F88) | Yes — large | Remote. Lindaá crossing can be waist deep. |
| Sprengisandur (F26) | Essential | No services for 200 km. Large 4×4 only. |
| Laugavegur trail (hiking) | No | Hiking only — no vehicle needed. |
The Highlands are only accessible in summer. Opening dates vary by 2–4 weeks each year — always confirm at road.is.
May
ClosedAll F-roads closed. Snow still deep. No highland access.
June
OpeningF35 opens early June. F208 and others open late June. Check road.is daily.
July
BestAll major routes open. Warmest weather. Busiest month — book huts in advance.
August
BestAll routes open. Good weather continues. River levels stabilise.
September
GoodQuieter, dramatic colours. Routes begin closing mid-September. Check conditions.
October
ClosingMost F-roads closed. Some routes inaccessible after first snowfall.
The Highlands contain some of Iceland's most extraordinary geothermal bathing — remote, wild and free of charge.
Landmannalaugar
F208 / F225 · ~39°C
Iceland's most famous highland hot spring — a natural pool fed by geothermal water next to the campsite. Free.
Hveravellir
F35 Kjölur · ~35–40°C
A magical pool in the middle of the highland desert. One of the most atmospheric bathing spots in Iceland. Free.
Víti, Askja
F88 · ~22–26°C
A warm, milky-blue crater lake inside the Askja caldera. Surreal and extremely remote — one of Iceland's most unique experiences.
Strútslaug
F210 · ~38°C
A hidden hot river pool in the Þórsmörk area, accessible by 4×4 or on foot. Very few visitors.
From a day trip to a full expedition.
~350 km. Suitable for most 4×4 rentals. No river crossings.
Stay at Landmannalaugar campsite (book in advance).
Guided 4×4 tours available from Mývatn — recommended for F88.
Book FÍ mountain huts months in advance. Hiking only — no 4×4 needed.
The Highlands are genuinely remote. Every year travellers get stranded or injured by underestimating conditions. These six precautions are not optional.
Highland weather changes in minutes. Always check vedur.is for colour-coded warnings (yellow / orange / red). Do not enter the highlands on orange or red warning days.
F-roads can close overnight after rain or snow. Check road.is on the morning of your trip. A road listed as open on Monday may be closed on Tuesday.
Before entering the Highlands, submit your travel plan at safetravel.is. In an emergency, rescue teams need to know your route. It takes 2 minutes and could save your life.
There are no petrol stations inside the Highlands. The last stations are in Reykjavík/Selfoss (south), Hella, Vík, Akureyri or Mývatn (north). For F26 and F88, carry a jerrycan.
Mobile coverage is absent in most of the Highlands. Download offline maps using OsmAnd, Maps.me or Google Offline Maps before departure. Download the 112 Iceland emergency app.
Never cross a river you haven't inspected on foot first. Cross at the widest point, use low gear, and turn back if in doubt. River levels rise in the afternoon as glacial melt increases.
Everything travellers ask about Iceland's Highlands.
The Highlands (Miðhálendi) are Iceland's vast interior plateau — roughly one-third of the country's total area. Sitting at 400–1,000+ metres, this is one of Europe's last true wildernesses: no towns, no permanent inhabitants and roads that are impassable for most of the year.
The main highland routes open between early June (F35 Kjölur) and July (F88 Askja, F26 Sprengisandur). Opening dates depend on snowmelt and vary by 2–4 weeks each year. Check road.is before travel — closures can happen at any time.
Yes — all roads beginning with 'F' require a 4-wheel-drive vehicle by Icelandic law. Driving a 2WD car on any F-road invalidates your insurance and is illegal. For advanced routes with river crossings (F88, F249, F26), a large-wheelbase 4×4 is strongly recommended.
Some routes remain open into September, but conditions deteriorate rapidly. F35 Kjölur typically stays open until mid-September. F88 and F26 may close earlier. First snowfall can close roads overnight. Always check road.is on the day.
Yes, at designated Highland campsites. Wild camping is not permitted on F-road routes. Main campsites: Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk (Húsadalur), Askja (Drekagil), Hveravellir and Kerlingarfjöll. Book in advance for July and August.
No. There are zero fuel stations in the entire Highland interior. For most routes, fill up in Reykjavík, Selfoss, Hella or Vík before heading south, or Akureyri/Mývatn before heading north. For F26 Sprengisandur, carrying a fuel jerrycan is essential.
Very limited. Coverage exists near some larger campsites (Landmannalaugar, Hveravellir) and in river valleys, but most of the interior has no signal. Download offline maps and the 112 Iceland emergency app before departure.
Yes — highland buses run from Reykjavík to Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk daily in summer (late June to mid-September). For Askja, guided 4×4 tours from Mývatn are the most practical option. The Laugavegur trail is accessible by bus at both ends.
