Iceland's Public Toilets and Rest Stops on the Ring Road: A Practical Guide

Facilities in the Capital Region and Southwest

Starting in Reykjavík, public toilets are available at major bus stations like BSÍ and at the City Hall on Tjarnargata. Expect to pay around 200-300 ISK, often by card. As you head east on Route 1, the town of Hveragerði has a rest stop with toilets at the local N1 station. Further along, the Seljalandsfoss waterfall car park has pay toilets (300 ISK) that are open year-round, though queues can be long in July and August. The nearby Skógafoss site also offers facilities.

Continuing east, the village of Vík í Mýrdal has public toilets near the church and at the Icewear store. The N1 station in Vík is a reliable stop for fuel and facilities. For those heading to the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón, note that the café there has toilets for customers, but the car park itself has no free facilities. The drive from Reykjavík to Vík takes about 2.5 hours, so plan your stops accordingly.

Rest Stops Along the South Coast to Höfn

Between Vík and Höfn, facilities become sparse. The Skaftafell visitor centre in Vatnajökull National Park has toilets and a café, open from 9am to 7pm in summer. This is a good place to refuel and use the facilities before the long stretch to Höfn. The nearby towns of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Hofn have public toilets at their N1 stations. In Höfn, the tourist information centre on Ránarslóð has toilets during opening hours.

The drive from Vík to Höfn is about 3.5 hours, so it's wise to use facilities when available. The glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón has a service building with toilets (500 ISK) that are open 24 hours. The Diamond Beach across the road has no facilities. If you're continuing to the East Fjords, the town of Djúpivogur has public toilets near the harbour. The drive from Höfn to Djúpivogur is roughly 1.5 hours, and facilities are limited along the way.

Facilities in the East Fjords and North Iceland

In the East Fjords, towns like Egilsstaðir have public toilets at the East Iceland Heritage Museum and at the N1 station. The drive from Djúpivogur to Egilsstaðir takes about 2 hours. Further north, the town of Seyðisfjörður has toilets at the ferry terminal and at the Blue Church (open during services). As you continue on Route 1 towards Akureyri, the town of Mývatn has facilities at the Nature Baths (for guests) and at the N1 station in Reykjahlíð.

Akureyri, the capital of the north, offers public toilets at the Hof Cultural Centre and at the bus station. The drive from Egilsstaðir to Akureyri is about 3.5 hours, so plan a stop at the Mývatn area. The N1 station in Blönduós, on the way to the Westfjords, has toilets and a café. For those heading to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the town of Stykkishólmur has public toilets at the library and at the ferry terminal.

Where to Stay and Final Tips

For accommodation, consider booking hotels in Reykjavík for the start or end of your trip, as the city has the widest range of options and easy access to facilities. In the south, Vík and Höfn offer convenient stops with hotels that cater to Ring Road travellers. Akureyri is a good base for exploring the north. Our hotel views show high interest in Reykjavík and Akureyri, so book early, especially for summer months (June-August).

When planning your trip, remember that many public toilets are only open during summer (June to September) and may require coins or cards. Rest stops at N1 stations are generally reliable and free. Always carry hand sanitiser and some tissues. Avoid relying on facilities at remote attractions like Dettifoss, where toilets are limited. The best months for the Ring Road are June to August for warm weather and open facilities, but May and September offer fewer crowds and still accessible stops.