Getting to Ísafjörður: Flying vs Driving from Reykjavík

The Case for Flying

Icelandair’s domestic operation flies from Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) to Ísafjörður (IFJ) in roughly 40-45 minutes, covering a distance of about 220 km as the plane flies rather than the 450+ km by road. It’s the fastest way to reach the Westfjords by far, and the approach itself is part of the experience: the runway sits on a narrow spit of land inside Skutulsfjörður, with mountains rising steeply on both sides. Pilots fly a visual approach that curves in low over the fjord.

That drama comes with a catch. The approach is weather-sensitive, and flights are sometimes delayed, diverted to Reykjavík, or cancelled outright when cloud ceilings drop or crosswinds pick up. If you’re flying in for a short stay, especially in winter, build a buffer day into your plans rather than booking a same-day connection onward.

The Case for Driving

Driving from Reykjavík to Ísafjörður covers roughly 450-460 km and takes about 5.5-6 hours without stops, following Route 1 north and then Route 60 into the Westfjords. The road is fully paved for the entire route. The Dýrafjörður tunnel, which opened in 2020, replaced a high mountain pass between Dynjandi and Þingeyri and now keeps that stretch open through winter conditions that used to force closures.

The drive is slower than flying but gives you a rental car once you arrive, which matters in the Westfjords since public transport between villages is limited. It also means you pass Dynjandi waterfall and the fjord-side road through Arnarfjörður along the way, rather than skipping over them at altitude.

Weather and Timing

Whichever way you travel, treat your schedule as flexible rather than fixed, especially between October and April. Mountain roads in the Westfjords can close temporarily after heavy snow, and domestic flights can back up for a day or two if a low-pressure system parks over the fjords. Check road.is for conditions and the Icelandair schedule for delays before you commit to same-day onward plans.

• Flying: about 40-45 minutes, Reykjavík Domestic Airport to Ísafjörður Airport
• Driving: about 450-460 km, 5.5-6 hours via Route 1 and Route 60
• Road conditions: fully paved via the Dýrafjörður tunnel (opened 2020), but check road.is in winter
• What to bring: warm layers year-round, and a spare day of flexibility if flying in winter
• From the airport: Ísafjörður Airport sits across the fjord from town, a few minutes’ drive to the centre

Where to Stay

However you arrive, the Ísafjörður Inn puts you within walking distance of the harbour, the town pool, and restaurants, so a car isn’t essential once you’re settled — useful if you flew in and want a day to explore on foot before picking up a rental for the northern Westfjords. Book direct on Ourhotels.is for the best rate.

Photo: Hornstrandir1 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.