Ten days · counter-clockwise · summer
The same loop as our 7-day plan at the pace it deserves: two days for the glacier coast, a whole day at Mývatn, and an afternoon in Akureyri instead of a fuel stop.
By the Iceland Routes research team · claims re-checked 11 August 2026 · how we research
Why ten days works
This plan averages 167 km of driving per day — against 234 km on our 7-day version. The extra days don't add distance; they add time where the 7-day plan has to ration it: the glacier coast, Mývatn and Akureyri.
The buffer logic still applies: if conditions turn, skip a stop — not the safety margin. Check the official live road service every morning.
Start early and keep the Golden Circle focused: walk Þingvellir, see Geysir and Gullfoss, then continue south to camp near Route 1.
A short driving day leaves real time at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, plus the exposed viewpoints around Dyrhólaey and Reynisfjara.
Where the 7-day plan compresses glacier country into one day, this one splits it. Walk Fjaðrárgljúfur's rim without a clock, then camp inside Skaftafell and spend the afternoon on the Svartifoss or glacier-view trail.
Under two hours of driving means Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach get the hours they deserve — including the option of a boat tour among the icebergs — before the short run to Höfn's harbour.
Follow the coast through Djúpivogur and Breiðdalsvík. Skip the Öxi shortcut: the itinerary is designed around the main-road approach for first-time visitors.
The longest day of this plan. Leave early, use the signed public access for Stuðlagil and check the official road service before committing to Dettifoss.
Under 30 km of driving — the buffer day the 7-day plan cannot afford. Circle the lake at walking pace: the Hverir boardwalks, Grjótagjá's rift, Dimmuborgir's lava formations, and an evening soak if the budget allows. You end where you started, at the same campsite.
See Goðafoss before the tour buses peak, then take the afternoon in Akureyri itself — the north's only real town, with its botanical garden, old town and swimming pool.
A relaxed westward leg through the Öxnadalur valley. Arriving early leaves the evening for Hvammstangi's shoreline — the low-effort day that keeps the final stretch short.
Close the loop with Kolugljúfur and a service stop in Borgarnes. Keep the afternoon flexible for weather delays, vehicle return rules and the Reykjavík arrival.
Before you reserve the van
Ten days means ten campsite nights and about 26 hours at the wheel. The calculator adds your rental quote, fuel use, campsite nights and the 2026 road fees.
Route estimates use OSRM with OpenStreetMap data — segments shared with the 7-day plan were checked 5 August 2026, new segments 11 August 2026. Times exclude stops and can change with weather, traffic and road conditions. The Northbound price link is an affiliate link; we may earn a commission if you book after clicking.
Yes — comfortably, for the main loop. This plan averages about 167 km of driving per day, includes two days under two hours at the wheel and a full day at Mývatn with almost no driving. It is enough for the Ring Road plus the Golden Circle; it is not enough to add the Westfjords or Highlands on top.
The loop and direction are the same; the pace is not. The 10-day plan gives the glacier coast two days instead of one (camping inside Skaftafell), adds a full lake day at Mývatn, and turns the Akureyri drive-through into an afternoon in town. Total wheel time is similar — it is simply spread across more, shorter days.
About 1,669 km planned. The official Route 1 loop is 1,309.7 km; the difference is the detours worth taking — the Golden Circle, Fjaðrárgljúfur, Stuðlagil, Dettifoss and the Mývatn lake loop.
Mostly no — Icelandic campsites, including Skaftafell, generally work first-come for individual travellers. In July and August, plan to arrive by early evening at the popular ones. Wild camping in a campervan is not permitted in Iceland.
No — this plan is built for summer conditions and daylight. Winter Ring Road driving means storms, closures and short days, and needs a different route, different vehicle choices and bigger safety margins.