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Reykjavik to Akureyri drive weather

383 km (238 miles), about 4½ hours of driving via Route 1. The high point is Öxnadalsheiði at 540 m (1,772 ft), about 4 h 6 min in.

Distance
383 km
Drive time
~4½ hours
High point
540 m
Country
Iceland

Next 7 departures

Leaving Reykjavik at 7 AM each day · Updated · Forecast: MET Norway

  1. SatOct 3

    ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 5–9°C along the way.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Reykjavik7 AM GMTRain8°C
    Borgarnes8 AM GMTRain7°C
    Bifröst8:30 AM GMTLight rain6°C
    Route 1 southwest of Blönduós9:30 AM GMTCloudy6°C
    Öxnadalsheiði11 AM GMTRain5°C
    Akureyri11:45 AM GMTCloudy9°C
  2. SunOct 4

    CautionLight rain near Öxnadalsheiði around 11 AM GMT.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Reykjavik7 AM GMTRain8°C
    Borgarnes8 AM GMTLight rain8°C
    Bifröst8:30 AM GMTLight rain7°C
    Route 1 southwest of Blönduós9:30 AM GMTRain5°C
    Öxnadalsheiði11 AM GMTLight rain4°C
    Akureyri11:45 AM GMTCloudy7°C
  3. MonOct 5

    CautionLight rain near Akureyri around 11:45 AM GMT.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Reykjavik7 AM GMTCloudy5°C
    Borgarnes8 AM GMTCloudy2°C
    Bifröst8:30 AM GMTCloudy3°C
    Route 1 southwest of Blönduós9:30 AM GMTCloudy1°C
    Öxnadalsheiði11 AM GMTFog0°C
    Akureyri11:45 AM GMTLight rain3°C
  4. TueOct 6

    CautionFreezing, 0°C near Borgarnes around 8 AM GMT.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Reykjavik7 AM GMTMostly sunny0°C
    Borgarnes8 AM GMTPartly sunny0°C
    Bifröst8:30 AM GMTPartly sunny2°C
    Route 1 southwest of Blönduós9:30 AM GMTPartly sunny0°C
    Öxnadalsheiði11 AM GMTPartly sunny1°C
    Akureyri11:45 AM GMTPartly sunny3°C
  5. WedOct 7

    CautionLight rain showers near Borgarnes around 8 AM GMT.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Reykjavik7 AM GMTPartly sunny4°C
    Borgarnes8 AM GMTLight rain showers4°C
    Bifröst8:30 AM GMTPartly sunny3°C
    Route 1 southwest of Blönduós9:30 AM GMTPartly sunny3°C
    Öxnadalsheiði11 AM GMTCloudy1°C
    Akureyri11:45 AM GMTCloudy5°C
  6. ThuOct 8

    CautionRain near Bifröst around 8:30 AM GMT. Also at 2 other checkpoints.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Reykjavik7 AM GMTHeavy rain6°C
    Borgarnes8 AM GMTRain5°C
    Bifröst8:30 AM GMTRain3°C
    Route 1 southwest of Blönduós9:30 AM GMTSleet1°C
    Öxnadalsheiði11 AM GMTSnow1°C
    Akureyri11:45 AM GMTCloudy2°C
  7. FriOct 9

    CautionRain near Bifröst around 8:30 AM GMT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.

    Along the way
    Checkpoint · arrivalWeather · temperature
    Reykjavik7 AM GMTRain5°C
    Borgarnes8 AM GMTRain5°C
    Bifröst8:30 AM GMTRain4°C
    Route 1 southwest of Blönduós9:30 AM GMTCloudy3°C
    Öxnadalsheiði11 AM GMTRain2°C
    Akureyri11:45 AM GMTRain4°C

The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.

The route, stop by stop

Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Reykjavik (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.

Öxnadalsheiði · 540 m 0 km 383 km
Elevation along the route (Terrain Tiles, sampled every 8 km).
  1. Reykjavik, IcelandStart 76 melevation
  2. Borgarnes, IcelandKm 76 · 1 h 76 melevation
  3. Bifröst, IcelandKm 106 · 1 h 24 min 141 melevation
  4. Route 1 southwest of Blönduós, IcelandKm 204 · 2 h 33 min 166 melevation
  5. Öxnadalsheiði, IcelandMountain pass · Km 333 · 4 h 6 min 540 melevation
  6. Akureyri, IcelandKm 383 · 4 h 44 min 71 melevation

Typical weather by month

Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Reykjavik and Akureyri.

MonthReykjavik
53 m		Akureyri
27 m
High / low °CHigh / low °C
Jan3° / -1°3° / -4°
Feb3° / -1°3° / -4°
Mar4° / -1°4° / -3°
Apr7° / 1°7° / -1°
May10° / 4°10° / 3°
Jun13° / 8°14° / 6°
Jul15° / 10°15° / 8°
Aug14° / 9°15° / 8°
Sep11° / 7°12° / 5°
Oct8° / 3°7° / 1°
Nov5° / 0°4° / -2°
Dec3° / -1°3° / -4°

1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): REYKJAVIK, IC (ICM00004130, 53 m); AKUREYRI, IC (IC000004063, 27 m). Snow days are days with at least 2.5 cm (1 inch) of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.

Road conditions

Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Iceland rather than repeat them.

Check the official forecast from Icelandic Met Office and each road report before you leave.

Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there

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Questions about this drive

How long is the drive from Reykjavik to Akureyri?

383 km (238 miles), about 4½ hours of driving without stops, by way of Route 1. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.

What is the highest point on the drive?

Öxnadalsheiði, at 540 m (1,772 ft). It comes at km 333, about 4 h 6 min of driving after you leave Reykjavik.

How cold is Akureyri in January?

Akureyri averages a high of 3°C and a low of -4°C in January (1991–2020 averages).

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