Mývatn to Akureyri & North Iceland: travel options
Approximate direct distance: 54 km • Travel distance depends on the route and transport you choose.
Choosing your journey
Allow about an hour and a half for the basic drive from Reykjahlíð to Akureyri. Add a Goðafoss stop separately and check the Vaðlaheiði tunnel payment if your route uses it.
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Side-by-Side Transport Options
Driving times exclude stops. Car costs are shared by your group; tickets are per passenger.
Swipe the table horizontally to compare every option.
| Transport Mode | Operator / arrangement | Duration | Price guide | Start / arrival | Key Booking Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| car Self-drive | Self-drive planning | About 1h 30m | Shared vehicle cost; see guide |
Dep: Reykjahlíð, Mývatn
Arr: Akureyri
|
Allow about an hour and a half for the basic drive from Reykjahlíð to Akureyri. Add a Goðafoss stop separately and check the Vaðlaheiði tunnel payment if your route uses it. Driving information |
Leave the lake after the visits you planned
The westbound road makes Akureyri a practical next base after Mývatn. If you have already spent a full day around the lake, keep this as a manageable transfer with one main stop. There is no need to add a complete northern sightseeing circuit before reaching town.
Goðafoss lies along the corridor. Choose the open approach that suits your time and mobility, and read the parking instructions where you stop. Leave enough time for a walk rather than treating the waterfall as a stop made entirely from the car.
Check the tunnel cost by registration
The route through Vaðlaheiðargöng uses a toll tunnel. The operator lists ISK 2,216 for a single journey by a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes, with online payment within 24 hours before or after using it. Confirm the current terms and your rental company’s handling arrangements before paying, so the same journey is not charged twice.
An alternative road may be available, but check current conditions and the extra drive before choosing it to save the toll. Weather suitability matters more than a small saving on a mountain road.
Arrive ready for a town afternoon
Check the parking or luggage arrangements at your Akureyri room, then choose a harbour walk, café or pool. Without a car, regional route 56 links Reykjahlíð and Akureyri; use the actual timetable and arrange access to the stop from your accommodation.
Tunnel prices and payment · Akureyri guide
Count the car once for your group
This is a self-drive stage, so there is no separate passenger fare. Add the full rental quote, chosen cover, road-use charges, fuel or charging, parking and any tolls to the trip once. If a charge is already included in the rental quote, do not add it again. Divide the shared total only after those costs are clear. The car-hire guide gives a worked comparison.
The basic road journey between the named endpoints is roughly 85 km, calculated from a road-network map. It excludes sightseeing detours and is not a live route recommendation. The map summary above shows straight-line separation. Check the actual address, current road conditions and weather forecast before departure; allow extra time for stops and conditions.