Waterfalls, black sand & glacier lagoons
This is leg 2 of 3.
Travel leg · Iceland Ring Road
Vík to Jökulsárlón
Vík and Jökulsárlón sit about 155 km (96 mi) apart in a straight line, with Jökulsárlón to the north-east. It is leg 2 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
- 155 km · 96 mi
- Est. road distance
- 186–217 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h – 3 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading north-east
- 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 186–217 km (116–135 mi) of road and 2 h – 3 h 15 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 Jökulsárlón
Allow a full day to combine the lagoon boats, Diamond Beach and Skaftafell hikes; ice caves add a winter day.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Lagoon full of icebergs calved from Breiðamerkurjökull.
Jökulsárlón boat tour
Amphibious boat or zodiac trips among the icebergs.
Frost Restaurant
Buffet restaurant at the Fjallsárlón visitor center with glacier views.
Diamond Beach
Black sand covered with ice chunks washed out from the lagoon.
Fjallsárlón
Smaller lagoon right under the glacier tongue with fewer crowds.
Skaftafell
Vatnajökull National Park area with glacier walks and the Svartifoss trail.
Before you leave Vík
Allow a full day for the waterfalls on the drive in plus black-sand beaches, and overnight in Vík.
On this curated route
Where Vík → Jökulsárlón sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Jökulsárlón to Vík is the same 155 km in a straight line, heading south-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in July, when Jökulsárlón averages highs 3°C cooler than Vík.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vík high | 3° | 4° | 4° | 6° | 8° | 11° | 13° | 13° | 10° | 7° | 5° | 4° |
| Jökulsárlón high | 2° | 2° | 2° | 4° | 6° | 8° | 10° | 10° | 8° | 5° | 3° | 2° |
| Vík rain | 250 | 232 | 222 | 174 | 124 | 120 | 144 | 166 | 229 | 235 | 221 | 251 |
| Jökulsárlón rain | 284 | 262 | 222 | 175 | 109 | 92 | 115 | 146 | 220 | 251 | 230 | 271 |
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 Jökulsárlón month guides.
Vík to Jökulsárlón: questions travelers ask
How far is Vík from Jökulsárlón?
Vík is about 155 km (96 mi) from Jökulsárlón in a straight line, with Jökulsárlón to the north-east. By road, we estimate 186–217 km (116–135 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 Vík to Jökulsárlón?
An estimated 2 h – 3 h 15 min, assuming 186–217 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 Vík to Jökulsárlón?
Our Iceland Ring Road itinerary includes this leg. Iceland Ring Road runs about 10 days across 4 stops, best in Jun – Sep.
Onward from Jökulsárlón
- Jökulsárlón to Mývatn 173 km
Getting to Vík
- Reykjavík to Vík 165 km
Guides for both ends
- Vík travel guide
- Vík weather best time to visit
- Jökulsárlón travel guide
- Jökulsárlón weather best time to visit
Jökulsárlón by month
Plan Vík → Jökulsárlón 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.