Driving the tricky F570 Road around the Snaefellsjökull glacier

Situated on the most western part of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, in western Iceland, F570 (Jökulshálsvegur) is one of the most scenic roads of the country. The drive can be very tricky: it is only passable by 4x4 vehicles and is closed to passenger cars.

Can you drive the F570 Road (Jökulshálsvegur)?

Tucked away in Snæfellsjökull National Park, the road is very steep, with loose gravel surface, potholes, blind turns and blind hills. It is a rough and challenging road only for a 4 wheel drive vehicle with high clearance. The track is pretty bad, it's not rolling with a lot of big rocks. Expect large potholes, many ruts and large boulders on their surface. If the cloud cover is very low the drive is not recommended as you will be in them for most of the drive. It’s one of the famous F Roads of the country. F-marked roads are forbidden by rental companies for 2WD-cars.

How long is the F570 Road (Jökulshálsvegur)?

Set high on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, between Faxaflói bay and Breiðafjörður fjord, the road is 18.3km (11.37 miles) long, running from Arnarstapi (or Stapi) on the southern side of Snæfellsnes to Ólafsvík, on the northern side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The journey offers stunning views of Snæfellsjökull, a 700,000-year-old glacier-capped stratovolcano. Lava is everywhere, bare or covered with moss, rough or smooth.

Is the F570 Road (Jökulshálsvegur) open?

Surrounded by a lunar landscape, the road is pretty bumpy. It’s only open during the summer months, usually between late June and early September. It’s one of Iceland's last mountain roads to open. Expect to be alone, this track is not very busy. It is not recommended to drive unaccompanied. In case of a breakdown, there is very little in the way of passing traffic or inhabitants around, and no cell phone service in parts. Along the way you’ll be truly in a natural wonderland of landscape and geology. It’s one of the highest roads of the country, topping out at 658m (2,158ft) above the sea level. It is scary for those who have fear of height. Once you reach the highest point of the road, you have a magnificent view over the entire Snaefellsnes peninsula.