Iceland's Highland F-Roads Open Now: What Drivers Need to Know

Iceland’s highland interior is opening for the 2026 summer season, with key F-roads now passable for the first time since winter. F35 Kjölur — the easiest of the highland routes, linking the southwest and north — was among the first to open in late May. Routes to popular destinations including F208 north to Landmannalaugar and F249 to Þórsmörk are now accessible or approaching opening, depending on current snow levels.

As of 20 June 2026, a new requirement applies at Landmannalaugar and several other highland sites: drivers must book a parking reservation in advance through the Parka app between 09:00 and 16:00. The reservation carries a service fee and must be confirmed before arrival — turning up without one risks being turned away during peak hours. Outside those hours, no reservation is required. This rule was introduced by the Environment Agency to manage the significant increase in highland visitors in recent years.

The legal requirement to drive on F-roads is a 4x4 vehicle with sufficient ground clearance. Standard SUVs are often inadequate for river crossings; purpose-built 4x4 rental vehicles with high clearance are necessary for routes that cross the Þórsmörk fords or the more remote interior tracks. Always check umferdin.is (road.is in English) on the day of travel — conditions change quickly and a road that was passable the previous afternoon can be blocked by snowmelt or fresh flooding by morning.

A word on why the rules matter: driving on a closed or marked-impassable F-road is illegal in Iceland and carries a substantial fine. More importantly, tyres cut deep ruts into the thawing volcanic soil that can take decades to recover.

Our Iceland driving guide covers F-road rules, river crossings, and insurance in detail, while Iceland car rental explains the vehicle categories and which options are suitable for highland access. Conditions for the rest of June across the ring road and coastal routes are covered in Iceland in June.