Is road 862 in Iceland paved?

Is road 862 in Iceland paved?

Iceland, europe

Length

50.7 km

Elevation

N/A

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, road trip enthusiasts, listen up! Road 862, or Dettifossvegur as the locals call it, is an absolute must-do when you're cruising around Northeastern Iceland. This beauty leads you right to the mighty Dettifoss waterfall.

Forget gravel and dust – this road is paved! That's right, even your little rental car can handle this one with ease. Get ready for some seriously breathtaking views along the western side of the Jökulsá river. Trust me, the landscapes are worth the drive.

Spanning about 50.7 km (31.5 miles) inside Vatnajökull National Park, plan for about 1 to 1.5 hours to soak it all in. The road winds north to south from Road 85 (south of Thvera) so it's easy to find. This one's seasonal so be sure to travel between April and December. Even in summer, services can be limited.

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Iceland
Continent
europe
Length
50.7 km
Difficulty
moderate

Related Roads in europe

Pennes Pass is a classic Italian road triphard

Pennes Pass is a classic Italian road trip

🇮🇹 Italy

Passo di Pennes is a high mountain pass sitting pretty at 2,211m (7,254ft) above sea level in Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region. It's basically the shortcut everyone uses between Innsbruck and Bolzano, and honestly? It's got serious bragging rights. The summit is fully equipped with a massive parking lot and a restaurant where you can refuel (both you and your car), so it's a proper destination rather than just a pass-through. The entire route, known locally as Penser Joch and officially as Strada Statale 508 (SS508), is paved all the way up. You'll wind your way through 28.9 km connecting the charming villages of Rio Bianco and Vipiteno. Now, let's be real—this isn't a Sunday drive. The road throws hundreds of turns at you, with a handful of genuine hairpin bends that'll keep your hands firmly on the wheel. The steepest sections hit 20.7%, which is no joke. Even though they've widened it over the years, it's still pretty tight in places, so you'll want to stay sharp and respect the road. But that's exactly what makes it such an epic alpine experience.

How long is Kihnu Ice Road?hard

How long is Kihnu Ice Road?

🌍 Estonia

Ever dreamed of driving across the Baltic Sea? In Estonia, you actually can! The Kihnu Ice Road, a wild 13 km (8 mile) stretch of frozen sea, connects the mainland at Lao (near the Tõstamaa peninsula) to Kihnu Island. Forget your average Sunday drive, this one's for seasoned ice road warriors only! Historically, armies even used this frozen path to invade the islands back in the Middle Ages. But before you pack your bags, there are a few things to keep in mind. Weight limits are usually around 2-2.5 tons, and you've gotta keep a safe distance of 250 meters (820 feet) between vehicles heading the same way. Speed is key too: stick to under 25 km/h (16 mph) or between 40–70 km/h (25–43 mph) to avoid causing dangerous resonance in the ice. Other crucial rules include no seatbelts (seriously!), no stopping, three-minute entry intervals, and daylight driving only. Sounds intense, right? But imagine the views and the bragging rights!

Alto El Reyextreme

Alto El Rey

🇪🇸 Spain

# Alto El Rey Want to tackle a wild mountain drive? Head to Guadalajara in Castile-La Mancha, Spain, where Alto El Rey sits pretty at 1,858 meters (6,095 feet) above sea level. This peak—also called Montaña Sagrada del Santo Alto Rey—offers an exhilarating ride that'll test your driving skills. The asphalt road up is seriously narrow and relentlessly steep, with sections hitting 14% grades. It's not the place to be when the weather turns ugly—think heavy snow, ice patches, and the risk of avalanches or landslides that can pop up without warning. Honestly, save this one for clear, dry conditions. The paved section ends at a crumbling old military base complete with communications towers, but don't turn back yet! A gravel road continues all the way to the summit, where an ancient church awaits. Fair warning though: that gravel section maintains those brutal 14% gradients for a solid 4 kilometers, so you'll need a vehicle that can handle it and nerves of steel. If you've got the chops and the weather cooperates, this is an unforgettable Spanish mountain adventure with serious elevation gains and genuinely rewarding views at the top.

What’s Winston Churchill Avenue?extreme

What’s Winston Churchill Avenue?

🇬🇧 England

Okay, picture this: you're cruising into Gibraltar, the sun's shining, and BAM! You're stopped at what looks like a railroad crossing. But wait, those aren't trains – those are airplanes! Welcome to Winston Churchill Avenue, the main drag connecting Gibraltar to Spain. This isn't your average commute. This legendary road actually *crosses* the Gibraltar Airport runway! That's right, you're sharing the tarmac with passenger jets and military planes. So, every time a plane lands or takes off, the barriers come down, traffic halts, and you get a front-row seat to aviation history. Talk about a unique traffic jam! It’s definitely a wild ride. I mean, where else can you say your road trip involved dodging 747s?