Waterfalls, black sand & glacier lagoons
This is leg 3 of 3, the final leg.
Travel leg · Iceland Ring Road
Jökulsárlón to Mývatn
Jökulsárlón and Mývatn sit about 173 km (108 mi) apart in a straight line, with Mývatn to the north. It is leg 3 of 3 on our Iceland Ring Road itinerary, a 10-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 173 km · 108 mi
- Est. road distance
- 208–243 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min
- Direction
- Heading north
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Iceland Ring Road itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 208–243 km (129–151 mi) of road and 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
A rental car is the standard way to do the ring road, with a loop that returns you to the starting region. Some travelers join guided tours for parts of it, while domestic flights can shorten the trip if time is tight.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Mývatn
Give Mývatn a full day for the lake loop of craters, lava and vents, finishing with an evening soak.
Goðafoss
Horseshoe-shaped falls on the Skjálfandafljót river.
Hverfjall
Tephra crater with a steep path to the rim and lake views.
Grjótagjá
Small lava cave with a geothermal pool seen in 'Game of Thrones'.
Vogafjós Farm Resort
Café in a working cowshed serving geyser bread and smoked trout.
Skútustaðagígar
Pseudocraters along the southern lake shore with an easy path.
Dimmuborgir
Lava field of towers and arches with marked trails.
Before you leave Jökulsárlón
Allow a full day to combine the lagoon boats, Diamond Beach and Skaftafell hikes; ice caves add a winter day.
On this curated route
Where Jökulsárlón → Mývatn sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Mývatn to Jökulsárlón is the same 173 km in a straight line, heading south. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in January, when Mývatn averages highs 4°C cooler than Jökulsárlón. Over a year, Jökulsárlón gets about 1,390 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jökulsárlón high | 2° | 2° | 2° | 4° | 6° | 8° | 10° | 10° | 8° | 5° | 3° | 2° |
| Mývatn high | -2° | -1° | -1° | 2° | 4° | 9° | 10° | 9° | 6° | 2° | -1° | -2° |
| Jökulsárlón rain | 284 | 262 | 222 | 175 | 109 | 92 | 115 | 146 | 220 | 251 | 230 | 271 |
| Mývatn rain | 82 | 68 | 77 | 68 | 71 | 58 | 78 | 83 | 106 | 104 | 101 | 95 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Mývatn month guides.
Jökulsárlón to Mývatn: questions travelers ask
How far is Jökulsárlón from Mývatn?
Jökulsárlón is about 173 km (108 mi) from Mývatn in a straight line, with Mývatn to the north. By road, we estimate 208–243 km (129–151 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Jökulsárlón to Mývatn?
An estimated 2 h 15 min – 3 h 45 min, assuming 208–243 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Jökulsárlón to Mývatn?
Our Iceland Ring Road itinerary includes this leg. Iceland Ring Road runs about 10 days across 4 stops, best in Jun – Sep.
Getting to Jökulsárlón
- Vík to Jökulsárlón 155 km
Guides for both ends
- Jökulsárlón travel guide
- Jökulsárlón weather best time to visit
- Mývatn travel guide
- Mývatn weather best time to visit
Mývatn by month
Plan Jökulsárlón → Mývatn with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.