Drivers completing a full circuit of Iceland’s Ring Road need to plan around temporary daytime closures at the bridge over Jökulsá á Fjöllum near Grímsstaðir in northeast Iceland.
The Icelandic Tourist Board confirmed that maintenance and repainting work will keep the Route 1 bridge closed between 08:00 and 19:00 daily from 26 May to 16 June 2026. Outside those hours, the bridge is fully open to all traffic.
Passing windows during the day
During working hours, the bridge opens four times for vehicles to cross in both directions:
- 09:45–10:15
- 12:00–13:00
- 14:45–15:15
- 16:45–17:15
Emergency vehicles can cross at any time on request.
Planning your route
The affected crossing sits between the Mývatn lake district to the west and Egilsstaðir in the east fjords. There is no practical alternative route on this stretch of the Ring Road, so timing your arrival to coincide with one of the four windows is essential.
If you miss a window, the next opening is no more than three hours away. Drivers heading east from Mývatn may prefer to depart early enough to clear the bridge before 08:00. Those travelling west from Egilsstaðir can aim to cross after 19:00 - entirely viable in late May and June when daylight lasts past midnight.
Road conditions in northeast Iceland can change quickly. Monitor road.is and safetravel.is for live updates before you set out. Our Iceland driving guide covers Route 1 conditions, road rules and F-road access, and it is worth reviewing your car rental terms ahead of a Ring Road trip.
The bridge reopens without restriction from 17 June 2026. Travellers arriving after that date will not be affected.
Update: Bridge Now Fully Reopened
The maintenance work completed on schedule. As of 17 June 2026, the bridge over Jökulsá á Fjöllum is fully open to traffic in both directions at all hours with no restrictions. Travellers planning Ring Road trips from this date forward do not need to factor in the closure windows described above.
We are keeping this article live as a reference for the types of seasonal maintenance closures that occur on the Ring Road and what to expect when they do.
What to See Near This Section of the Ring Road
The bridge crossing at Grímsstaðir sits in one of the most dramatic stretches of northeast Iceland, between the Mývatn lake district to the west and the East Fjords region anchored by Egilsstaðir to the east.
Approaching from the west (Mývatn direction): The Mývatn area itself deserves a full day or more - Dimmuborgir lava formations, the Námafjall geothermal field, Grjótagjá cave (with its milky blue water), and the Skútustaðagígar pseudo-craters are all within a short drive of each other. Accommodation in the Mývatn area ranges from the Hótel Gígur (lake-view rooms from approximately ISK 35,000–45,000 per night as of 2026) to smaller guesthouses at ISK 18,000–25,000. The 4km stretch of road between Mývatn and Dettifoss waterfall - Iceland’s most powerful waterfall by volume - passes through otherworldly lava landscapes.
Approaching from the east (Egilsstaðir direction): Egilsstaðir is the largest town in east Iceland and functions as the regional service centre. Lagarfljót lake - home of the legendary Lagarfljótsormur serpent - lies immediately to the south. The East Fjords (Eastfjords) between Egilsstaðir and Höfn offer some of Iceland’s most scenic coastal driving, with fjords that penetrate deep inland and small fishing villages like Seyðisfjörður (a 27km detour from the Ring Road) that are worth the additional time.
Planning a Ring Road Trip
The full Ring Road (Route 1) circuit is approximately 1,332 km and takes a minimum of seven days to drive without rushing - most travellers allow 10–14 days to do it properly with detours. Northeast Iceland (the Mývatn–Egilsstaðir–Höfn triangle) is the least-visited stretch and arguably the most rewarding for those who make it.
Road conditions on this section can change quickly even in summer. The safetravel.is dashboard shows live conditions and any current closures. Our Iceland Ring Road guide covers the full circuit with day-by-day breakdowns, recommended overnight stops, and F-road access notes for highland detours. For vehicle hire including insurance terms for gravel road driving, see our Iceland car rental guide.