Driving to Skógafoss: tolls, fuel & road trip guide
Skógafoss is one of Iceland's biggest waterfalls: the Skógá river drops 60 meters over a 25-meter-wide curtain from a former sea cliff that marks the old coastline, now about 5 kilometers inland. The constant spray means a single or double rainbow is normally visible on sunny days. The tiny settlement of Skógar beside it is home to one of Iceland's oldest folk museums, founded in 1949.
Skógafoss sits right beside Route 1, about 30 kilometers west of Vík, so it slots naturally into a South Coast drive together with Seljalandsfoss and the Sólheimajökull glacier. The Fimmvörðuháls trail toward Þórsmörk starts here, but it is only open from mid-June to late August. In autumn, expect shorter daylight and strong winds, and be prepared to get soaked by spray near the falls.
Top attractions
Skógafoss waterfall
A 60-meter-high, 25-meter-wide curtain of water on the Skógá river, falling from a former sea cliff. A flat path leads from the car park almost to the base, where the spray is heavy and rainbows often appear on sunny days.
Top-of-the-falls staircase and viewpoint
A long staircase on the east side of the falls climbs to a platform looking straight down the drop and out over the coastal plain. Above it, the river continues past a chain of smaller waterfalls along the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail.
Skógar Museum (Skógasafn)
Founded in 1949 and one of Iceland's oldest regional museums, with more than 18,000 objects on fishing, farming and crafts. It also has a group of late-19th-century turf houses and a museum of transport and technology opened in 2002.
Seljalandsfoss
A 60-meter waterfall right by Route 1, about half an hour's drive west of Skógafoss, famous for the path that runs behind the falling water. Bring a waterproof layer and good shoes, as the trail is wet and can be slippery or closed in icy conditions.
Sólheimajökull glacier
An outlet glacier of the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap between the Katla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes, reached by a short side road off Route 1 between Skógar and Vík. The glacier is retreating, and in 2026 Iceland's Met Office warned of unstable ground at its margin, so only go onto the ice with a certified guide.
Driving to Skógafoss
Road charges in Iceland
No motorway vignette or environmental sticker is required for passenger cars in Iceland; motorways are free or distance-tolled.
Mandatory equipment in Iceland
- Headlights (daytime running lights or dipped beam)
- Safety vest (reflective, high-visibility)
- Warning triangle
- Winter tires
- Snow chains
Driving distances from Skógafoss
| To | Road km | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Vík | 37 | 32 min |
| Geysir | 124 | 1 h 46 min |
| Þingvellir | 147 | 2 h 06 min |
| Reykjavík | 179 | 2 h 33 min |
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