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

Where is Alto del Hornillo?hard

Where is Alto del Hornillo?

🇪🇸 Spain

Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Let's talk about Alto del Hornillo, a wild ride nestled high in the Teruel province of Spain. Where exactly? Picture this: Aragón, that eastern slice of Spain, hiding a seriously awesome mountain pass. Now, the road… oh, the road! Forget smooth tarmac; we're talking pure, unadulterated off-road action. You'll DEFINITELY want a 4x4 for this one. From Valdelinares (the highest town in mainland Spain!), it’s just shy of 4 miles to the top. Don't let the short distance fool you. You'll be climbing nearly 1,000 feet along the way! A word of warning: winter ain't your friend here. Being so high up in the Sierra de Gúdar mountains, snow and ice often shut this road down completely. But is it worth it? Absolutely! The views are insane. Think panoramic vistas of the Sierra de Gúdar, the cute towns of Valdelinares and Mosqueruela, the Valdelinares ski resort, and the whole Maestrazgo area stretching out before you. Trust me; your camera will thank you.

Driving the curvy and narrow road to Cason di Lanza Pass in the Alpsmoderate

Driving the curvy and narrow road to Cason di Lanza Pass in the Alps

🇮🇹 Italy

# Passo del Cason di Lanza Tucked away in northeastern Italy's Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, right near the Austrian border, sits Passo del Cason di Lanza—a seriously impressive alpine pass that peaks at 1,552m (5,091ft). Also known as Pas di Lance or Lanzenpass, this 30km stretch of fully paved road connects Paularo and Pontebba, making it a bucket-list ride for cycling enthusiasts and road-trippers alike. The Giro d'Italia has tackled this beast multiple times, and once you experience it, you'll understand why. You've got two distinct routes to the summit: from Pontebba, it's a punchy 15.6km climb with 991m elevation gain (6.4% average), while the Paularo side offers a slightly easier 15.4km push with 912m of climbing (5.9% average). Don't let those averages fool you though—the final 6km ramps up brutally with gradients hitting 16%. **Fair warning:** This isn't a leisurely Sunday drive. The narrow, twisty road clings to rock faces with plenty of blind corners, making oncoming traffic a genuinely nerve-wracking experience. You'll encounter some stretches of seriously rough pavement—think washed-out tarmac, loose drain covers, potholes, and the occasional rockfall or gravel section. The good news? These sketchy bits are marked with warning signs. Snow lingers until June, so plan accordingly. It's demanding, it's scenic, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart—but that's exactly what makes it unforgettable.

Driving the wild paved road to Coma de Ransolmoderate

Driving the wild paved road to Coma de Ransol

🌍 Andorra

Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! You absolutely HAVE to check out Carretera de Ransol in Andorra. This asphalt ribbon winds its way up to Coma de Ransol, a stunning peak sitting pretty at 1,932 meters (6,338 feet). Starting in the charming village of Ransol, this 4.52 km climb isn't for the faint of heart. Expect some seriously steep sections – we're talking gradients hitting 11%! But trust me, the views are SO worth the effort. You'll gain 280 meters as you ascend, averaging a 6.19% gradient, so get ready for a leg-burner! The road is usually closed from October to June, so plan your trip accordingly. At the top, a convenient parking lot awaits, and you can soak in the incredible scenery. Get ready for a drive you won't soon forget!

The frightening and dizzying road to Kyparissi in Greecemoderate

The frightening and dizzying road to Kyparissi in Greece

🇬🇷 Greece

Kyparissi is a tiny coastal gem tucked away in one of the most remote corners of the Peloponnese, perched on Laconia's northeastern shore in Greece. And fair warning: the road getting there is absolutely wild. This scenic, nail-biting drive winds through the mountains with countless hairpin turns and impossibly narrow sections. The entire 14.6 km (9.07 miles) stretch from Lampokampos is fully paved, but here's the catch—it clings to the mountainside for miles without guardrails in places. If you're scared of heights, seriously, just focus on the road ahead and maybe don't look down. The combination of sheer cliffs, plunging ravines, and zero safety barriers? That's exactly what's kept Kyparissi so beautifully untouched and isolated. Built back in the 1960s, the road includes a small Byzantine church right at the entrance to the sea—honestly, it's the perfect spot to pull over, catch your breath, say a little prayer (or a lot of them), and psych yourself up for the final twenty minutes of white-knuckle driving. The payoff? One of Greece's most spectacular villages, so pristine it feels like you've stepped back in time. It's even caught the attention of some famous visitors—George W. Bush, Prince Charles, and Princess Diana all vacationed here. So yes, the drive is intense, but Kyparissi itself? Totally worth the adrenaline rush.