
Driving the bumpy Road 864 to Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland
Iceland, europe
56.4 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, buckle up for Road 864, also known as Hólsfjallavegur, in the wild Northeast of Iceland! Picture this: You're cruising through Vatnajökull National Park, but hold on tight because this 56.4 km stretch is no smooth ride. We're talking a bumpy, dusty, unsealed adventure from Road 85 (south of Thvera) up to the Ring Road. Road 864 keeps it real running alongside its paved sibling, Road 862.
Word to the wise: this road plays hide-and-seek during winter, usually opening up around late May, depending on how much snow Iceland got.
Now, the scenery? Think lunar landscape. Seriously, it's out of this world! The road itself is all gravel, corrugated, and yes, dusty. Potholes? Oh, they're part of the experience! While a regular car *might* make it in ideal conditions, a 4x4 is your best bet.
The drive clocks in between 1 and 2 hours if you're not stopping (but why wouldn't you?!), though speed is all about the current road conditions. And the prize? You'll end up at the east side of Dettifoss waterfall – one of the most powerful waterfalls in Europe! 500 cubic meters of water plummeting every second? It’s epic!
Where is it?
Driving the bumpy Road 864 to Dettifoss waterfall in Iceland is located in Iceland (europe). Coordinates: 65.2741, -18.1597
Road Details
- Country
- Iceland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 56.4 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 65.2741, -18.1597
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