Iceland, Capital Region
The Ring Road and the Golden Circle both start here, with weather that changes the drive hourly.
First instinct from Reykjavik: head east on the Ring Road.
Scored roads in range
3
Nearest great road
47 mi
Best rated nearby
8.9 / 10
Shortest full loop
6 hr 42 min
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 2 April 2026
60 to 150 km from the centre
Far enough to feel like a proper trip, close enough to be home for dinner.
Roughly 8 hr 37 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.
65 mi away · Vesturland
Iceland in miniature, lava fields, black beaches and a glacier capped volcano.
140 km · 87 mi · Atlas rating 8.9 / 10
47 mi away · Sudurland
Rift valley, geysers and a waterfall you hear long before you see it.
105 km · 65.2 mi · Atlas rating 8.4 / 10
150 to 400 km from the centre
Leave early, take the long way back and make a day of it.
Roughly 16 hr 8 min of driving if you string the lot together and come back the way you came.
Plan it