Iceland's South Coast runs east from Reykjavík along Route 1, the Ring Road, reaching the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon about 380 kilometres away, roughly five hours of driving without stops. The main stops, in order, are Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach and the village of Vík, then Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón. This guide sets out a one-day and a two-day plan, with the distance and drive time for each leg.
South Coast itinerary at a glance
| Leg | Distance and time |
|---|---|
| Reykjavík to Seljalandsfoss | About 120 to 130 km, roughly 2 hours |
| Seljalandsfoss to Skógafoss | About 30 km, about 25 minutes |
| Skógafoss to Reynisfjara and Vík | Vík about 180 km from Reykjavík, roughly 2.5 hours |
| Vík to Skaftafell | About 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Skaftafell to Jökulsárlón | About 57 km, about 45 minutes |
| Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón total | About 380 km, roughly 5 hours direct |
One day: Reykjavík to Vík and back
A single day works well if you turn around at Vík. Leaving Reykjavík, the first stop is Seljalandsfoss, about 120 to 130 kilometres and two hours east, a 60-metre waterfall you can walk behind, with Gljúfrabúi tucked in a gorge about 200 metres north. About 30 kilometres and 25 minutes further on is Skógafoss, roughly 60 metres high and 25 metres wide. Reynisfjara black sand beach and Vík come next, about 188 kilometres from the capital and 2.5 hours direct. That is a full but manageable day, leaving Reynisfjara and Vík as the natural turning point before the drive back.
Two days: continuing to Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón
Reaching Jökulsárlón, about 380 kilometres and five hours from Reykjavík one way, is too far to do there and back in a day with any time to stop. The better plan is to spend the night in or near Vík, then carry on east. From Vík it is about 1 hour 45 minutes to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park, then about 45 minutes and 57 kilometres more to Jökulsárlón, where icebergs drift across a lagoon that reaches about 284 metres at its deepest. Diamond Beach sits across the road, so you can pair the two before turning back. Two days gives time for a Skaftafell walk and the lagoon without rushing.
The key stops in order
The classic run of sights, heading east:
- Seljalandsfoss, the waterfall with a path running behind the water, and nearby Gljúfrabúi at about 40 metres in its gorge.
- Skógafoss, a broad curtain about 60 metres high on the Skógá river, with a staircase to a clifftop view.
- Reynisfjara, a black sand beach with basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, the tallest about 66 metres.
- Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland's southernmost village and the largest settlement for about 70 kilometres, a good base for food, fuel, and lodging.
- Skaftafell, for the Svartifoss waterfall and glacier walks, then Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach as the eastern finish.
Driving, weather, and safety
Route 1 is paved the whole way, but conditions change fast, especially in winter when daylight is short and wind and ice can close sections without much notice. Check road conditions on road.is and the forecast on vedur.is before you set out, and travel alerts on safetravel.is, Iceland's official travel safety service. Reynisfjara deserves particular care: it has sneaker waves that surge far up the sand without warning, so stay at least 25 metres from the water, never turn your back on the sea, and obey the warning-light system. Keep to marked areas and give yourself more daylight than you think you need.
Self-drive or guided tour
Self-driving gives you the freedom to set your own pace and linger where you like, which suits the two-day plan. If you would rather not drive, guided day tours cover the western stops as far as Reynisfjara and Vík, and multi-day tours reach Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón. Operators set their own prices and the popular trips fill up, so it helps to compare South Coast tours and their stops in one place before you travel. Either way, the order of sights stays the same, running east along Route 1.
Price the route
Use the Fuel Cost Calculator before setting out to estimate fuel spending for an itinerary that includes South Coast Iceland itinerary: Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón.
