Planning a road trip in Iceland is exciting—towering mountains, black sand beaches, waterfalls around every bend. But once you’re actually behind the wheel, one thing matters more than anything else: knowing where you’re going and how to get there safely. That’s where navigation apps become your best travel companions.
For guests staying with Ourhotels.is—whether at Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur Inn on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, or Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords—using the right navigation tools can turn a beautiful drive into a smooth, stress‑free adventure.
Iceland’s roads can be very different from what many visitors are used to. Distances between services are long, weather changes quickly, and mobile coverage can be patchy in rural areas. Relying only on road signs or a weak data connection is risky, especially in winter or when exploring remote fjords and mountain passes. A good navigation setup helps you:
– Find the safest and fastest route
– Avoid closed roads and dangerous mountain tracks (F-roads)
– Locate fuel stations, viewpoints, and services
– Stay on schedule for check‑in at your accommodation
Below are the most useful navigation apps for Iceland road trips, plus tips tailored to the areas around our hotels.
Google Maps is the most popular choice and works very well for most main roads and towns in Iceland. It’s especially handy for planning your route between accommodations, such as driving from Reykjavík to Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, then continuing to Stykkishólmur Inn, and later heading north and west toward Ísafjörður Inn.
To make Google Maps reliable in Iceland, download offline maps before you start driving. This is essential in areas with limited coverage, such as parts of the Westfjords. With offline maps, you can still search for places, get turn‑by‑turn directions, and see your location even without mobile data.
Apple Maps has improved a lot in Iceland and is a good option if you’re an iPhone user. It’s accurate on main routes like the Ring Road and the roads leading to Borgarnes, Stykkishólmur, and Ísafjörður. However, it may not be as detailed as Google Maps in some remote areas, so it’s wise to have a backup app or offline map.
Maps.me is a favorite among travelers who like to explore off the beaten path. It uses detailed OpenStreetMap data and works fully offline once you’ve downloaded the region. This can be very useful when driving in the Westfjords around Ísafjörður Inn, where small side roads, hiking paths, and viewpoints are often better marked than in other apps.
Waze is less commonly used in Iceland because there are fewer users contributing live data, but it can still be helpful around Reykjavík and on busy routes. For more remote areas like Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur, and Ísafjörður, it’s better as a secondary app rather than your main navigation tool.
For safety, every driver in Iceland should know about the official road and weather resources. The road administration’s website and app (road.is) show real‑time road conditions, closures, and webcams. The national weather service (vedur.is) provides detailed forecasts, wind warnings, and storm alerts. These are not navigation apps in the traditional sense, but they are essential for deciding whether a route is safe to drive—especially in winter or when crossing mountain passes.
When staying at Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, you’re in one of the most beautiful regions of West Iceland, close to Borgarnes and the Hvítá river. The area is full of waterfalls, hot springs, and scenic valleys, but some attractions are on smaller roads. Before you leave Reykjavík, download offline maps for West Iceland and save key locations like Hvítá Inn, Borgarnes, and nearby sights as favorites. This way, even if your signal drops, you’ll still find your way back to the inn after a day of exploring.
Stykkishólmur Inn is perfectly placed for exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, often called “Iceland in Miniature” because it has a bit of everything: lava fields, cliffs, beaches, and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Many of the peninsula’s highlights are along paved or well‑maintained gravel roads, but weather and visibility can change quickly. Use your navigation app to plan a loop around the peninsula and check road conditions before you set out. Saving Stykkishólmur Inn as your “home base” in your app makes it easy to return, even if you decide to take spontaneous detours.
Ísafjörður Inn sits in the heart of the Westfjords, one of the most remote and dramatic regions in Iceland. Here, navigation apps and offline maps are especially important. Roads wind around deep fjords, and some passes can be closed in winter or during storms. Before driving to Ísafjörður, download offline maps for the entire Westfjords region and check road.is for any closures. Apps like Maps.me can be particularly helpful for finding viewpoints, small villages, and hiking trails around Ísafjörður, while Google Maps or Apple Maps guide you along the main routes.
To get the most out of navigation apps on your Iceland road trip, combine them with local knowledge. At Ourhotels.is, our staff at Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn are happy to help you choose the best routes, suggest scenic stops, and point out any roads to avoid in bad weather. Ask at reception for recommended driving times, fuel stops, and viewpoints, then save them in your app before you go.
By pairing reliable navigation apps with the comfort and local insight of Ourhotels.is, you can enjoy Iceland’s wild landscapes with confidence. Whether you’re crossing rivers and valleys near Borgarfjörður, circling the Snæfellsnes Peninsula from Stykkishólmur, or winding through the fjords toward Ísafjörður, the right digital tools—and the right places to stay—make your Iceland road trip safer, smoother, and far more enjoyable.
