Borgarnes: The Ring Road’s Unofficial Halfway Stop

Drive north out of Reykjavík on Route 1, and about 75 minutes later — roughly 75 km (46 miles) — you’ll cross the causeway bridge into Borgarnes. For most West Iceland itineraries, it’s unavoidable: Borgarnes sits at the junction where the Ring Road meets the routes branching off to Snæfellsnes, the Westfjords, and the rest of West Iceland.

Why Everyone Ends Up Here

Borgarnes’ location isn’t an accident — it’s geography. The town sits on a peninsula in Borgarfjörður, right where the Ring Road crosses the fjord and where drivers heading toward Snæfellsnes or the Westfjords peel off from those continuing north and east around the country. That makes it the last sizeable service town before those roads narrow and towns thin out.

What’s Actually There

There are fuel stations on both sides of the main road — N1 and Olís — so it’s a reliable place to top up before the longer, service-free stretches toward the Westfjords. Baulan, a roadhouse restaurant right on Route 1, serves pizza, burgers, fish and chips, and lamb chops, with a large car park and self-service pumps. There are also supermarkets in town, plus the Settlement Center, which tells the story of Egil’s Saga in the buildings where much of it is set — we’ve covered that museum in depth elsewhere.

Making the Stop Count

Because Borgarnes functions as a logistics stop rather than a scenic overlook, the smart move is to treat it that way: fuel, food, bathroom, restock, and a short leg-stretch, then continue. The town’s waterfront walkways along the fjord are a pleasant five-minute wander if you need to shake off a long drive.

• Distance from Reykjavík: about 75 km / roughly 75 minutes by car on Route 1
• Role: junction town where the Ring Road meets routes to Snæfellsnes and the Westfjords
• Fuel: N1 and Olís stations on the main road
• Food: Baulan roadhouse plus supermarkets for self-catering
• Culture stop: The Settlement Center, in two of the town’s oldest buildings
• Good for: a fuel-and-food break before or after the Snæfellsnes or Westfjords legs of a trip

Where to Stay

If you’re routing through this part of West Iceland, Hvítá Trucks puts you on the bank of the Hvítá river at Hvítárbakki, a short drive from the Borgarnes junction. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Lucida sidera via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.