Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
CautionHeavy rain near Kirkjubæjarklaustur around 10:15 AM GMT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Reykjavik7 AM GMT Rain8°C Hellisheiði7:30 AM GMT Heavy rain5°C Hvolsvöllur8:30 AM GMT Heavy rain8°C Vik9:15 AM GMT Heavy rain10°C Kirkjubæjarklaustur10:15 AM GMT Heavy rain8°C Route 1 southwest of Höfn11:15 AM GMT Heavy rain8°C Route 1 west of Höfn11:45 AM GMT Heavy rain7°C Höfn12:30 PM GMT Heavy rain8°C - SunOct 4
CautionWinds to 60 km/h near Vik around 9:15 AM GMT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Reykjavik7 AM GMT Rain8°C Hellisheiði7:30 AM GMT Light rain5°C Hvolsvöllur8:30 AM GMT Cloudy8°C Vik9:15 AM GMT Partly sunny9°C Kirkjubæjarklaustur10:15 AM GMT Partly sunny9°C Route 1 southwest of Höfn11:15 AM GMT Cloudy10°C Route 1 west of Höfn11:45 AM GMT Cloudy10°C Höfn12:30 PM GMT Mostly sunny10°C - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 1–7°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Reykjavik7 AM GMT Cloudy5°C Hellisheiði7:30 AM GMT Cloudy1°C Hvolsvöllur8:30 AM GMT Cloudy5°C Vik9:15 AM GMT Cloudy7°C Kirkjubæjarklaustur10:15 AM GMT Light rain6°C Route 1 southwest of Höfn11:15 AM GMT Light rain6°C Route 1 west of Höfn11:45 AM GMT Light rain6°C Höfn12:30 PM GMT Cloudy7°C - TueOct 6
CautionFreezing, -1°C near Hellisheiði around 7:30 AM GMT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Reykjavik7 AM GMT Mostly sunny0°C Hellisheiði7:30 AM GMT Sunny-1°C Hvolsvöllur8:30 AM GMT Partly sunny2°C Vik9:15 AM GMT Mostly sunny6°C Kirkjubæjarklaustur10:15 AM GMT Partly sunny5°C Route 1 southwest of Höfn11:15 AM GMT Partly sunny6°C Route 1 west of Höfn11:45 AM GMT Cloudy5°C Höfn12:30 PM GMT Partly sunny6°C - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 0–6°C along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Reykjavik7 AM GMT Partly sunny4°C Hellisheiði7:30 AM GMT Mostly sunny0°C Hvolsvöllur8:30 AM GMT Partly sunny4°C Vik9:15 AM GMT Partly sunny6°C Kirkjubæjarklaustur10:15 AM GMT Rain5°C Route 1 southwest of Höfn11:15 AM GMT Partly sunny6°C Route 1 west of Höfn11:45 AM GMT Cloudy5°C Höfn12:30 PM GMT Partly sunny5°C - ThuOct 8
CautionHeavy rain near Hellisheiði around 7:30 AM GMT. Also at 1 other checkpoint.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Reykjavik7 AM GMT Heavy rain6°C Hellisheiði7:30 AM GMT Heavy rain2°C Hvolsvöllur8:30 AM GMT Rain6°C Vik9:15 AM GMT Rain8°C Kirkjubæjarklaustur10:15 AM GMT Rain6°C Route 1 southwest of Höfn11:15 AM GMT Rain5°C Route 1 west of Höfn11:45 AM GMT Rain4°C Höfn12:30 PM GMT Heavy rain6°C - FriOct 9
CautionRain near Hellisheiði around 7:30 AM GMT.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Reykjavik7 AM GMT Rain5°C Hellisheiði7:30 AM GMT Rain3°C Hvolsvöllur8:30 AM GMT Cloudy6°C Vik9:15 AM GMT Partly sunny8°C Kirkjubæjarklaustur10:15 AM GMT Light rain showers7°C Route 1 southwest of Höfn11:15 AM GMT Mostly sunny8°C Route 1 west of Höfn11:45 AM GMT Partly sunny8°C Höfn12:30 PM GMT Rain showers8°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.
- Reykjavik, IcelandStart 76 melevation
- Hellisheiði, IcelandMountain pass · Km 35 · 29 min 430 melevation
- Hvolsvöllur, IcelandKm 108 · 1 h 23 min 101 melevation
- Vik, IcelandKm 188 · 2 h 21 min 75 melevation
- Kirkjubæjarklaustur, IcelandKm 259 · 3 h 12 min 89 melevation
- Route 1 southwest of Höfn, IcelandKm 352 · 4 h 18 min 15 melevation
- Route 1 west of Höfn, IcelandKm 399 · 4 h 52 min 78 melevation
- Höfn, IcelandKm 446 · 5 h 25 min 65 melevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with 2.5 cm (an inch) or more of snow, at Reykjavik, Hvolsvöllur and Höfn.
| Month | Reykjavik 53 m | Hvolsvöllur Vestmannaeyjar station · 118 m | Höfn Höfn (Hornafjörður) station · 7 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °C | High / low °C | High / low °C | |
| Jan | 3° / -1° | 4° / 0° | 4° / -2° |
| Feb | 3° / -1° | 4° / 0° | 4° / -2° |
| Mar | 4° / -1° | 4° / 0° | 5° / -1° |
| Apr | 7° / 1° | 6° / 2° | 7° / 1° |
| May | 10° / 4° | 9° / 4° | 10° / 4° |
| Jun | 13° / 8° | 11° / 7° | 12° / 7° |
| Jul | 15° / 10° | 13° / 9° | 14° / 8° |
| Aug | 14° / 9° | 13° / 9° | 14° / 8° |
| Sep | 11° / 7° | 10° / 7° | 11° / 6° |
| Oct | 8° / 3° | 7° / 4° | 8° / 3° |
| Nov | 5° / 0° | 5° / 1° | 5° / 0° |
| Dec | 3° / -1° | 4° / 0° | 4° / -2° |
1991–2020 averages computed from NOAA NCEI daily station records (GHCN-Daily): REYKJAVIK, IC (ICM00004130, 53 m); VESTMANNAEYJAR, IC (IC000004048, 118 m); HORNAFJORDUR, IC (ICM00004082, 7 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.
- Iceland · Road and Coastal AdministrationIcelandic road conditions (umferdin.is)
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
Road Travel plans the drive from Reykjavik to Höfn with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Reykjavik to Höfn?
446 km (277 miles), about 5½ 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?
Hellisheiði, at 430 m (1,412 ft). It comes at km 35, about 29 min of driving after you leave Reykjavik.
How cold is Höfn in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Höfn (Hornafjörður) (7 m), averages a high of 4°C and a low of -2°C in January (1991–2020 averages).