The main highway circling around Iceland, Route 1 Ring Road, is a typical paved road. Most roads inside the cities and towns are also paved. The usual speed limit is 55/miles hr (90/km hr) on highways and 18 - 30 miles/hr (30 - 50 km/hr) in urban areas.

A big portion of roads in the Icelandic road systems are gravel roads. They could be in different conditions-potholes or washboard surfaces can be commonly found. The usual speed limit is 50 miles/hr (80 km/hr).

Icelandic mountain roads are called, F-Roads, these are the most difficult roads to drive. They are ONLY open to the public during the summertime (typically from mid-June to August) and ONLY accessible with 4 WD vehicles as requested by law. The usual speed limit is 30 miles/hr (50 km/hr), but it is always a good idea to drive slow and steady on F-Roads.

In general, Icelandic paved roads are easy to navigate, and it is fairly easy to visit the most famous attractions with the paved Ring Road. But it is also one of the most common reasons accidents happen: drivers get distracted by the views on the side due to the ease. When driving on paved roads, always make sure you can stay focused and drive according to the actual situation. Don't forget to plan in advance and have multiple rest stops in between attractions.

On the other hand, the gravel roads and F-roads are more challenging. As mentioned, there is no absolute assurance that the gravel roads are in good shape. Not only loose stone, rocks and potholes or washboards, but you will also have to deal with the ‘attack’ of sand or other earth materials when there is a strong wind, heavy rain, snow etc. If you are driving on gravel roads, it would be best to move at a steady slow pace, and you are also advised NOT to continue driving if you cannot handle the situation. Please call the emergency number if needed. Iceland emergency phone number: 112.