Manage booking
145 km
About 2 h 15 min
Car 1–4 · Van 5–7
Free cancellation 24 h
South coast · from KEF
About Hvolsvöllur and the drive
Hvolsvöllur is a small town on Route 1 in the Rangárþing district, a short way east of Hella, at the point where the south coast starts to feel wild. This is the country of Njáls saga, one of the great Icelandic sagas, and on clear days the view takes in the glacier Eyjafjallajökull and the slopes of Fljótshlíð. The town is home to the LAVA Centre, an exhibition about Iceland's volcanoes and earthquakes.
From Keflavík Airport the driver follows Reykjanesbraut to the edge of Reykjavík and then Route 1 the whole way: over Hellisheiði, past Hveragerði, through Selfoss, across the Þjórsá river and on through Hella. It is a main-road drive with wide views of farmland and mountains, and Selfoss is the natural place for a shopping stop if you agree it in advance.
Many visitors stay in Hvolsvöllur or on farms nearby as a base for the south coast, and your driver takes you to the door, including farm stays outside town if you send the location. Seljalandsfoss is a short drive further east, Skógafoss is not far beyond it, and the road down to Landeyjahöfn, the ferry port for Vestmannaeyjar, turns off close by. Read more in our south coast day trip guide.
Seasons and roads
Route 1 is open all year, but in winter strong winds and ice can slow the drive, and Hellisheiði can close briefly in storms. The long dark nights are good for northern lights from roughly September to April (never guaranteed).
