Navigating Iceland’s F-roads: A Beginners Guide

If you enjoy taking the road less traveled and have an adventurous spirit, Iceland’s F-roads should be on your radar. If you’re planning on exploring some of our more remote regions, the F-roads will also be something that you’ll have to deal with.

That’s why we created this handy guide, so any F-road first-timers have all the information they need to navigate these sometimes tricky roads. But those who take on the F-roads in Iceland are guaranteed to experience what most visitors never get to see or do here on the island, and you’ll find out that these challenging roads are also some of the most rewarding.

What are the F-roads in Iceland?

The F-roads in Iceland are unpaved roads of which the conditions vary. Some can be fairly easy to drive while others can be extremely rocky, there can be potholes, obstacles, and river crossings included in your journey. It goes without saying that these roads can only be driven with a 4x4 vehicle. You’ll also need to chat with your rental agent about your route so they can advise you on which vehicle will be best and what car or campervan insurance coverage you will need.

The F-roads are found in our more remote regions, such as the Westfjords and the Highlands, and are clearly marked on maps with the letter F. For example, F-208. While you may sometimes feel like the F stands for something else when driving these roads, the F really stands for “Fjalla”, which means “Mountain” in Icelandic.

A Visual Overview of the Best F-roads in Iceland

If you would like a visual overview of the F-roads, check out our Icelandic traffic website for a detailed map of the F-roads in Iceland. The map is interactive, so you will also be able to see which roads and routes are currently open or closed.

The List of F-roads in Iceland

Below, you will find a comprehensive guide to Iceland’s F-roads for quick-referencing purposes.

F26 – Sprengisandsleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F35 – Kjalvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Any 4x4.

F66 – Kollafjardarheidi

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Any 4x4.

F88 – Oskjuleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-to-large-sized 4x4.

F206 – Lakavegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F207 – Lakagigavegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F208 – Fjallabaksleid Nyrdri - North

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Any 4x4.

F208 – Fjallabaksleid Nyrdi – South

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F210 – Fjallabaksleid Sydri

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F223 – Eldgjarvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: F223 can actually be driven with a 2WD, but to reach it in the first place will require driving on roads one can only access via a medium-sized 4x4.

F224 – Landmannalaugavegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F225 – Landmannaleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F228 – Veidivatnaleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4 since the river crossing can be quite deep sometimes.

F229 – Jökulheimaleid

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Any 4x4.

F232 – Oldufellsleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F233 – Alftavatnskrokur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F235 – Langisjor

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F249 – Porsmerkurvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F261 – Emstruleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F333 – Haukadalsvegur

River Crossing: Yes (but just a small one)

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F335 – Hagavatnsvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F337 – Hlöduvallavegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F338 – Skjaldbreidarvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4 since the river crossings can be quite extreme at times.

F347 – Kerlingafjallavegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F349 – Kerlingarfjöll Old

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F508 – Skorradalsvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F570 – Jökulshalsvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Any 4x4.

F575 – Eynsteinsdalsleid

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F578 – Arnarvatnsvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F586 – Haukadalsskardsvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F649 – Ofeigsfjardarvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F734 – Svörtutungur/Old Kjölur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4 (this is also a pretty extreme route, so we advise never to drive this one alone, irrespective of the size of your vehicle).

F735 – Pjofadalavegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Any 4x4.

F752 – Skagafjardarleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4 since the river crossings can be quite extreme sometimes.

F821 – Eyjafjardarleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F839 – Leirdalsheidarvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F843 – Dyngjufjöll

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F881 – Dragaleid

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: While this road can be driven with any 4x4, the connecting F-roads will require a medium-to-large-sized 4x4.

F894 – Oskjuvatnsvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F899 – Flateyjardalsvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F902 – Kverkfjallaleid

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4 since the road is pretty sandy and can be a bit tricky to navigate.

F903 – Hvannalindavegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4 since the road is pretty sandy and rocky and can be a bit tricky to navigate.

F905 – Arnardalsleid

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F907

River Crossing: Yes (but we’d rather refer to them as ponds than rivers)

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F909 – Snæfellsleid

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4 since there’s a fairly wide river crossing on this route.

F910 – Austurleid – East

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F910 – Dyngjufjallaleid - West

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F923 – Jökuldalsvegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F936 – Pordalsheidarvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

F946 – Lodmundarfjardarvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F959 – Vidfjardarvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Any 4x4.

F980 – Kollumulavegur

River Crossing: Yes

Recommended Vehicle: Large 4x4.

F985 – Jökulvegur

River Crossing: No

Recommended Vehicle: Medium-sized 4x4.

Opening and Closing Times of the F-roads in Iceland

The F-roads are closed annually during the colder months of the year. Where opening and closing times may differ slightly each year, they generally tend to close when ice and snow starts making navigating the F-roads tricky and they open again once the snow and ice melts. This tends to be between the beginning of June and the end of July. The following should give you a good idea of what to expect:

Iceland’s F-roads: Opening Dates

Iceland’s F-roads: Closing Dates

Unlike the F-roads opening dates, the closing dates solely rely on when the roads simply become too challenging to drive. Many say it’s usually after the first heavy snow falls in the Iceland Highlands. This can be between the end of August and mid-October, but past experience has taught us that it tends to be during the second half of September.

Iceland’s F-Roads: A Motorhome Possibility?

Many visiting Iceland want to explore the island with a motorhome. This is a very convenient and affordable way to travel, and with the many different road trip routes in Iceland, it’s an easy way to see some of the most famous attractions and partake in some of our most popular activities.

But can one drive the F-roads with a motorhome? Absolutely! As long as you opt for one of our 4x4 versions. So, you don’t need to delay your F-road adventure. Simply rent a motorhome in Iceland and hit the road!