Driving in iceland in winter

Winter, of course, technically lasts from December to March. During these times, you may encounter winter conditions, including snow and ice on the roads. May tourists have never seen snow before, let alone driven in it.

Many tourists are under the misconception that snow is the problem. Just use your common sense, stay update check the forecast regularly and you should be fine. Always take the weather into account. Most tourists seem to think snow is the problem.

While snowploughs will try to maintain a passage and bright yellow markers line many of the roads, it is incredibly easy to get stuck in snow and cause a crash. These are usually the most dangerous part of your way since the weather in the mountains can be much worse than down by the seaside. It was light by around a. Your vehicle selection is also crucial to have a trip without any problems. Most rental car companies recommend driving a 4xwheel drive vehicle during the cold season.

Studded tires are also a must to drive a car in winter. Make sure your vehicle does include them. Know the road conditions before you set out. The website vegagerdin.

Expect a varied and turbulent weather that may affect your traffic on the island. In winter, temperatures fluctuate around 0°C, which has the main consequence of constantly freezing and defrosting roads.

Beginning of the day on a slightly wet road at the beginning of February. This road was listed as icy but drivable on the road conditions website. We probably went about mph down it, safely. Iceland is an island with a changing climate.

Handling a vehicle in such weather – especially on icy mountain roads – requires careful attention and good driving skills. Road are well maintained but conditions can change quickly. However, they don’t seem to give any driving tips to be safe in winter weather.

Check rental car prices now! Winter can be fierce but oh, so beautiful. A four wheel drive vehicle is much more equipped to deal with the severe conditions.

Ensure you ask your rental agent about studded tires for further safety in the slippery icy weather. Many of the highland roads are closed during this period.

Personally, my advice is: unless you are very familiar with driving in snowy, wintery conditions, take a guided tour in the winter and self drive in summer. We had an amazing time and such a great country!

Also we were really lucky to see the northern lights! Having said that, gravel roads are generally where the traffic is less and in winter that could mean they have lower priority regarding snow removal service. It almost feels like you are experiencing a different country between the summer and the winter.

It all depends on your driving skills and whether or not you feel comfortable driving in challenging conditions (snow, strong winds). With some basic safety measures and precautions, you’re more likely to arrive safe and sound at your destination. Speaking of black ice, don’t drive at night. There is black ice everywhere during the winter and it’s especially hard to see at night.

If you can avoid driving in the dark, do it. If the win snow, rain, or fog is so heavy that you can’t see the road in front of you, pull over and wait for it to pass.

For this reason, it is necessary to be well prepared for all circumstances. For all that though, the landscape during winter is a spectacular, pure, sparkling wonderland. We stayed in a log cabin in the Helludalur Valley, which is just around the corner from the Geysir Center.

More info: mytraveltips.