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Want a detailed itinerary for a 5 day road trip, here you go. This is a summary of mileage and stop times for road trip through West and South Iceland.  The trip total 850 miles (1350km) and averages 9-10 hours of drive and stop time per day. It covers all major tourist sites en route with some hidden gems along the way. Feel free to download it and PDF versions of the Itinerary and Site Details as well as the customized google map.

Itinerary Iceland Road Trip PDF    Detailed Site Description PDF    Iceland Road Trip Map

Day 1 – Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Driving: 142M, 3h21 – Planned Stop Time: 5h – Lunch: 1/2h – TOTAL Time: 9h

• Settlement Center in Borganes – Museum of founding of Iceland and the Regional Sagas, $25/person interesting but not worth price (46M,1h7; Museum: 1h)
• Geirabakari Kaffihus – Bakery that was changed into a Domino’s Pizza for “Life of Walter Mitty”.  Good lunch stop. (1M,4m)
• Gerðuberg Cliffs – rock formation (29M,38m; View: ½-1)
• Fosshotel Hellnar – Check In (48M,1h)
  • Arnarstapi to Hellnar Hike – cliff side hike (6.1km, 2+h)
• Djúpalónssandur  &  Dritvík Beach Stopped to try to catch the sunset after dinner. Not directly visited (10M,17m; View: 1hr)
  • Lóndrangar Rock – visible from the road
• Fosshotel Hellnar  Brekkubær, 356 Hellnar Phone: +354 435 6820 (10M,17m)

Day 2 – Golden Circle

Driving: 177M, 4h5 – Planned Stop Time: 5h – Lunch: 1/2h – TOTAL Time: 9h30

• Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park – Öxarárfoss Waterfall, Flosagjá tectonic plates, bluffs, parliament (55M,1h14, Hiking: Various,3h)
• Geysir Area – Geysir & Strokkur Geysir every 10 min (18M,46m; View: ½-1h)
• Gullfoss Waterfall – Golden Circle grand waterfall (6M,10m; View: 1h)
• Hotel Gullfoss –  Brattholt, 801 Tungufell Phone: +354 486 8979 (2.1M,6m)
• Hot Spring/Spa stops nearby route:
  • Laugarvatn (Fontana) – Resort town on road to national park, there’s a hot spring/Spa in this town.  11a-10p; $40
  • Secret Lagoon Hot Springs in Fludir (30min south of Gulfoss) – 11a – 8p ; $32

Day 3 – South Coast

Driving: 190M, 4h21 – Planned Stop Time: 5h – Lunch: 1/2h – TOTAL Time: 9h45

• Selfoss (via Reyholt) – Full service town.  We stopped to replace wiper blade (43M, 1h; Repair: 1.5hr)
• Seljalandsfoss/Gjulfrafoss Waterfalls  – Tour stop. Can go behind water fall or short walk inside canyon for second waterfall (44M,1h; View: 1.5h)
•  Skogafoss–  big tour stop.  Very high and wide.  High stairway to top (18M, 25m; View: 1/2h)
• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon (Closed to protect fauna) – Box Canyon, highly recommended hike (63M,1h22; Hike: 4km, 2h)
• Systrafoss in the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Charming waterfall with hike to top.   (7M, 14m; View: ½ h)
• Foss á Síðu & Dverghamrar – Waterfall and Rock formation (8M, 13m; View: 1h)
• FossHotel Nupara   880 Kálfafell Phone: +354 517 3060 (7M,8m)

Day 4 – Skaftafell National Park

Driving: 200m, 4h11 – Planned Stop Time: 6 – Lunch: 1h – TOTAL Time: 10h11

• Skaftafell National Park – Svínafellsjökull Glacier and Svartifoss Waterfall hikes, great lamb soup and bacon sandwich for lunch (29M,35m; Hike:3.7,1h30 & 5.5,2h)
• Jokuslaron  Glacier Lagoon – Road Trip, maybe boat trip (35M,46m; View: 1.5h)
• Hotel Katla – Check in (116M,2h17)
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Searching for Puffin sea birds (10M, 16m; View:1h)
• Hotel Katla Hofdabrekka – Hofdabrekka Road 1, Vik Phone: +354 487 1208 (10M, 16m)

Day 5 – South Coast Return to Reykjavik

Driving:  133m, 3h14 – Planned Stop Time: 3h – Lunch: 1h – TOTAL Time: 7h14

• Dyrhólaey Beach & Light House – Spectacular Ocean View, two sides to explore (15M,28m; View: 1.5h)
• Kvernufoss Water Falls –hidden gem   (17M,29m; View: 1.5h)
• Fosshotel Reykjavik (96m,2h)
• Other en route Stop:
  • Reykjadalur near Hveragerði – great hike along thermal hot spring unfortunately didn’t want to hike in pouring rain (40M, 54m; hike: 7.8km,3h)

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