Mid-autumn · Weather & things to do
Mývatn in October
Mývatn cools off: highs slip to 36°F (2°C), from 43°F in September, with lows of 29°F (-2°C) and about 4.1 in (104 mm) of rain.
With a comfort score of 34/100 (12th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 36°F (2°C)
- Avg low
- 29°F (-2°C)
- Rain
- 4.1 in (104 mm)
- Humidity
- 94%
- Cloud cover
- 84%
- Daylight
- ~9 h 05 min
- Comfort score
- 34/100 · Tough
What October feels like
Highs only reach about 36°F (2°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Average lows of 29°F (-2°C) mean frosty nights and icy mornings.
Showers are part of the month, adding up to about 4.1 in (104 mm).
Expect plenty of overcast days, with cloud cover near 84%.
Only about 9 h 05 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around October
October is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are June – August.
- Freezing nights return: average lows drop to 29°F.
- Inside the wettest three-month stretch, September – November.
- The year's biggest cool-down: highs drop 4°C (7°F) from September.
- Comfort slips from 40/100 in September to 34/100.
- Our Iceland Ring Road route recommends Jun – Sep, so October falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for October
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 29°F
- Shoes with gripfrost and ice are possible
- Packable rain jacket or umbrellaa shower or two is likely
- Comfortable walking shoesmost picks involve some walking
What to do in Mývatn in October
With highs near 36°F, these picks lean toward food, drink and places with a roof, with outdoor options when the weather breaks.
Daddi's Pizza
Simple Reykjahlíð pizzeria popular with campers.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 36°F.
Hverfjall
Tephra crater with a steep path to the rim and lake views.
Hverir
Steaming vents and bubbling mud pots on an orange geothermal field.
Vogafjós Farm Resort
Café in a working cowshed serving geyser bread and smoked trout.
Why now Somewhere to warm up between colder walks.
Skútustaðagígar
Pseudocraters along the southern lake shore with an easy path.
Nearby in October
- Jökulsárlón in October~108 mi · highs 42°F, 9.9 in rain · 3°C (6°F) warmer by day, wetter
- Vík in October~162 mi · highs 45°F, 9.3 in rain · 5°C (9°F) warmer by day, wetter
- Reykjavík in October~177 mi · highs 44°F, 5.8 in rain · 4°C (8°F) warmer by day, wetter
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~487 m to Mývatn's ~276 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Mývatn in October: quick answers
Is October a good time to visit Mývatn?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 34/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are June – August. Expect highs of 36°F (2°C) and 4.1 in (104 mm) of rain. Our Iceland Ring Road route recommends Jun – Sep, so October is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Mývatn in October?
Average highs are 36°F (2°C) and average lows 29°F (-2°C), making it the 6th-warmest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it rain a lot in Mývatn in October?
Some: about 4.1 in (104 mm) of rain falls across October on average, the 2nd-wettest month of the year. The annual total is about 39.0 in (991 mm).
What should I pack for Mývatn in October?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 29°F), shoes with grip (frost and ice are possible), packable rain jacket or umbrella (a shower or two is likely) and comfortable walking shoes (most picks involve some walking).
Planning Mývatn in October?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.