Egilsstaðir & Eastfjords Travel Guide

Make the eastern overnight stop real

Egilsstaðir is inland beside the Lagarfljót area and close to the Ring Road. It provides a useful break after the coastal drive from Höfn. Arrive, check in and choose a simple evening. A hotel in Akureyri would put you on the other side of another long stage, even if an itinerary labels the day Eastfjords.

Stay in town for straightforward shopping and meals, or choose a rural address for a quieter night. Before booking outside town, check the access road and whether dinner is available. A low room price loses its appeal if it adds a late return drive to find food.

Choose one side trip for a spare day

Hengifoss is about 35 km from Egilsstaðir by either side of the lake. The regional visitor guide describes a moderately steep gravel approach, with roughly 40–60 minutes to walk up from the parking area. Allow more time for the return, stops and conditions. This is a walk to plan for, not a roadside photograph between two long drives.

Hallormsstaður offers a different day around the forest and lake. Pick a marked walk that suits your time rather than trying to combine every trail with Hengifoss. Carry what you need and check the current route information before setting out.

Seyðisfjörður is reached across a mountain road. Choose the trip when conditions permit and keep time for the return if you are sleeping in Egilsstaðir. If you choose to stay in Seyðisfjörður instead, that changes the following morning’s drive. A ferry arrival there also needs its own onward plan.

Continue west with supplies and daylight

The journey to Mývatn crosses a more open, sparsely serviced stretch. Check fuel or charging needs before leaving town. Keep optional detours separate from the basic drive, and check access for any waterfall road you add.

On the ten-day plan, the destination after Egilsstaðir is Mývatn, where two nights leave a full day around the lake. Going straight to Akureyri can work for a different trip, but it should not erase the time needed for the sights described in your day plan.

Flying can suit an eastern holiday

Icelandair flies to Egilsstaðir from Reykjavík’s domestic airport. Arrange the final journey from EGS to your room or rental pickup before arrival. If arriving internationally at Keflavík, include the separate ground transfer to RKV and check the airline’s connection requirements. A regional bus can also be useful, provided its current schedule matches your route.

Hengifoss access · East Iceland visitor information · Domestic flight arrangements · Traffic information