Sprengisandur Route
About Sprengisandur Route
Sprengisandur is the empty heart of Iceland, a high plateau of gravel and sand between the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull ice caps. The F26 highland road crosses it from south to north, and driving the Sprengisandur route means about 200 km of track without a single village, with glaciers on the horizon whenever the clouds lift.
In Icelandic the road is Sprengisandsleið. Its southern end is near Lake Þórisvatn, where it meets Route 26 (Landvegur) about two and a half hours' drive from Reykjavík, and its northern end is in the Bárðardalur valley in North Iceland, where it joins Route 842 close to Aldeyjarfoss waterfall. Side routes branch off toward Askja (F910) and Skagafjörður (F752).
F26 is an F-road, so Icelandic law allows only four-wheel-drive vehicles on it, and no insurance covers damage from crossing a river. The road opens only in summer, once the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration declares it passable, and the date shifts with snow and meltwater every year. Check umferdin.is for road status and safetravel.is for conditions before you set out.
Roughly halfway across, at about 830 meters, the Ferðafélag Íslands huts at Nýidalur are the main stop. The two huts sleep 54 and have a campsite, showers and a summer warden, and they are usually open from early July to early September. Meltwater from Tungnafellsjökull crosses the track near the huts, so look at the depth before you drive in.
July and August are the best time to drive Sprengisandur, when the road and huts are open and the long days give you light for the whole crossing. Plan on a full day with stops, and start with a full tank, food and water, because there are no villages or shops between the two ends. In winter the plateau is an expedition for specialist vehicles and experienced crews only.
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Good to know
Where is Sprengisandur?
Sprengisandur is a highland plateau in central Iceland between the Hofsjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers. The F26 road crosses it from Lake Þórisvatn in the south to the Bárðardalur valley in the north.
Can you drive the Sprengisandur route in a regular car?
No. F26 is an F-road, and Icelandic law allows only four-wheel-drive vehicles on F-roads. Rental insurance also does not cover river-crossing damage.
When does the Sprengisandur road open?
Only in summer, when the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration opens it, and the date changes every year with snow conditions. The Nýidalur huts are usually open from early July to early September, so check umferdin.is before you plan.
How long does it take to drive Sprengisandur?
The F26 is about 200 km of gravel highland road, so plan on a full day including stops. Slow sections and stream crossings make it much slower than the distance suggests.
Is there anywhere to stay on Sprengisandur?
Yes. Ferðafélag Íslands runs two huts with 54 beds and a campsite with showers at Nýidalur, roughly halfway along F26, during the summer season.
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