Driving the scenic Route 61, a coastal road in Iceland

Route 61 (Djúpavegur) is the name of a very exciting coastal road of Iceland.

Is road 61 in Iceland paved?

Tucked away on the northwestern part of the country, Route 61 (Djúpavegur) is totally paved. The road is 249 km (155 miles) long, running from Vestjarðavegur (Road 60) to Ísafjörður, the largest town in the Westfjords peninsula, with some 2600 inhabitants, in the Westfjords region.

Is Route 61 (Djúpavegur) challenging?

The road is in very good conditions. It has steep sections and tops out at 440m (1,443ft) above the sea level by Steingrimsfjörðurheiði pass. If you travel by car during winter, remember to get updates on weather and road conditions: adverse conditions are common. Along the side of the road, man-made stone piles, known as cairn, help fellow travelers know they’re on the right path. To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 3 and 4 hours.