Reykjavík to Akureyri & North Iceland: travel options
Approximate direct distance: 249 km • Travel distance depends on the route and transport you choose.
Compare the options
Driving times exclude stops. Car costs are shared by your group; tickets are per passenger.
| Transport Mode | Operator / arrangement | Duration | Price guide | Start / arrival | Key Booking Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bus Direct | Strætó | About 6h |
Check fare
Fare source checked: 13 Sep 2026 Fares vary by departure and ticket conditions. Tickets and times: Strætó |
Dep: Reykjavík regional bus stop
Arr: Akureyri regional bus stop
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Use route 57’s dated timetable and selected stops. The fare is per passenger; luggage, stop access and onward travel need their own check. |
| car Self-drive | Self-drive planning | About 5h 30m |
Shared vehicle cost; see guide
Driving source checked: 13 Sep 2026 Vehicle costs are shared by your group; see the full budget in the guide. Driving information |
Dep: Reykjavík
Arr: Akureyri
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Compare a full road day, route 57’s roughly six-hour bus journey and a domestic flight from Reykjavík Airport. Include airport access and rental return terms when comparing the complete trip. |
| flight Direct | Icelandair | Check planner |
Check fare
Fare source checked: 13 Sep 2026 Fares vary by departure and ticket conditions. Tickets and times: Icelandair |
Dep: Reykjavík Airport (RKV)
Arr: Akureyri Airport (AEY)
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Choose the actual departure and baggage allowance. RKV is separate from Keflavík; include airport access and any KEF connection in the total. |
Choosing your journey
Compare a full road day, route 57’s roughly six-hour bus journey and a domestic flight from Reykjavík Airport. Include airport access and rental return terms when comparing the complete trip.
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Reykjavík Start
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Akureyri & North Iceland 249 km apart
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Choose the journey for the holiday you are taking
Driving from Reykjavík to Akureyri suits a trip with stops in the northwest or a continuing northern road route. Allow about five and a half hours of basic driving in good conditions, then add the breaks and visits you want. Collecting a rental car, shopping and leaving the city are additional tasks.
If you mainly want time in North Iceland, flying can be worth comparing. Icelandair uses Reykjavík’s domestic airport, RKV, for this route. An international arrival at Keflavík requires a separate transfer before that flight. Check the full connection and luggage terms rather than comparing only time in the air.
The regional bus is a real alternative
Strætó route 57 links Reykjavík and Akureyri, with the regional visitor site describing around six hours on the bus. Check the dated departure and stop in the planner. A capital-area city ticket does not cover the intercity journey, and the service is not a sightseeing coach with long stops along the way.
On arrival, check the walk or local journey from the stop to your room. If you want to explore rural North Iceland without a car, arrange tours or individual connections from that base. Reaching Akureyri is only the first part of that plan.
Keep the first evening local
A harbour walk and dinner near your room are enough after a long transfer. Save a longer Mývatn or boat outing for another day. If the forecast changes your plans, having a town base gives you more room to choose a shorter activity.
Akureyri transport · Flights and airports · 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 380 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.
