North Atlantic
Ring Road Rookie
A full lap of Iceland in a hostel-and-hatchback budget
12 days
Duration
$75
Daily budget
Moderate
Difficulty
Jun – Aug for roads, Feb – Mar for auroras
Best months
Route 1 loops the whole island in 1,332km. Split a small car four ways, cook in hostel kitchens and every waterfall, black beach and glacier lagoon on the way is free.
The route, stop by stop
🇮🇸 Reykjavík · Iceland
Cheap hot dogs, Sundhöllin pool, sort the car here.
2 nights$72/day
🌊 Vík · Iceland
Reynisfjara black sand and Skógafoss you can walk behind.
2 nights$70/day
🧊 Jökulsárlón · Iceland
Icebergs calving into the sea, Diamond Beach next door.
1 nights$78/day
🦞 Höfn · Iceland
Langoustine town and the gateway to the east fjords.
1 nights$74/day
🐋 Akureyri · Iceland
Northern capital, whale watching, Mývatn nature baths.
3 nights$76/day
🏔️ Snæfellsnes · Iceland
Kirkjufell and a mini-Iceland peninsula before the airport.
3 nights$78/day
6 stops · 12 nights
≈ $898 total
Totals are estimates built from the per-night budgets above — your real spend will vary.
Getting around
- →Rental hatchback split 3-4 ways
- →Strætó buses in summer
- →Kex/Base hostel shuttle boards for lifts
Don't forget
- ✓Windproof shell (gusts open car doors)
- ✓Swimsuit — every town has a geothermal pool
- ✓Eye mask
- ✓Fuel card for N1 discounts
Ready to walk it?
Save the stops as a trip, track your budget and find hostels along the way.
Start planning free
