DESTINATION HUB · BAKKAFJÖRÐUR
Coming east from Þórshöfn, Bakkafjörður can be the clean end to a coastal day. Travelling from Mývatn towards Egilsstaðir on the fastest line, it is an extra overnight that needs a clear purpose. The decision is about route direction and service tolerance, not simply how attractive a lighthouse looks.
ICENAVI · COASTAL DETOUR TEST
Let the remote coast earn its place in the route
Stay when Route 85 is already part of the journey, your bed or campsite is confirmed and dinner can be arranged before departure. Make it a daytime stop when the weather is settled and Digranes fits the daylight. If tomorrow involves a flight, unstable winter roads or a long service gap your group cannot absorb, keep the main-route option.
Start with the map: Bakkafjörður sits at the edge of the route, and that is precisely its appeal
The Arctic Coast Way stretches from Hvammstangi in the west to Bakkafjörður in the east. It is not a fast road linking every attraction in a straight line; it follows the coast, connecting small settlements, bird cliffs, lighthouses and open landscapes. Bakkafjörður lies east of the Langanes peninsula. When approaching from Þórshöfn, Raufarhöfn or Kópasker, the direction of travel matters more than the number of kilometres: leaving the coast and later rejoining the Ring Road does not automatically recover the time spent on the detour.
If you are moving east from the main route across northern Iceland, How to divide two days along the northeastern coast of Route 85 puts Bakkafjörður, Þórshöfn and Raufarhöfn into the same time budget. Read it before deciding whether this should be a short stop or an overnight stay.
Digranes Lighthouse: the strongest reason to stay, and the easiest part to miscalculate
Digranes Lighthouse was built between 1943 and 1947 and stands about 18.4 metres high. A marked route from the Bakkafjörður area passes the abandoned Steintún before continuing for roughly 1 kilometre to the lighthouse. Its apparent proximity can be misleading. This is not an urban attraction that you can visit simply by parking at the entrance: coastal cliffs, wind and ground conditions determine how far you will actually be willing to walk. A settled day is the sensible time to seek the broad views across Bakkaflói. In low cloud or strong wind, you can still visit the settlement, but the lighthouse should not remain a mandatory stop.
If you also intend to cover Langanes, first read the Þórshöfn and Langanes decision guide. Sauðaneshús, Stórikarl, Skoruvíkurbjarg and Bakkafjörður cannot simply be added to a single afternoon. If you are already travelling east from the main northern route, Raufarhöfn and the Arctic Henge offer a better way to test the coastal pace the night before.
Camping dates and fees: a low price does not make this a last-minute decision
The approximate 2026 opening season for the Bakkafjörður campsite runs from 15 May to 15 September. The reference price is about 2,000 ISK per adult per night; check that season's campsite information for current charges, facilities and weather restrictions. This seasonal window directly changes the itinerary: even if the route still looks feasible on a map in early May or after mid-September, camping should not be assumed to be available. Charges for a tent, campervan, shower, electricity and pitch may be separate, so confirm the contact method, late-arrival arrangements, payment and cancellation terms together.
For self-drive travellers, the greater risk is not losing the 2,000 ISK fee. It is reaching the settlement and discovering that there is no alternative for dinner, fuel, groceries or charging. Arrange dinner and drinking water before leaving Þórshöfn. If you are arriving from Raufarhöfn, check the next available service point first. Travellers who are not camping should also confirm whether their accommodation accepts late arrivals. For more room to adapt, visit Bakkafjörður during the day and spend the evening back in Vopnafjörður or continue towards Egilsstaðir, instead of searching for another room after midnight.
Route trade-offs: which kind of trip should turn onto Route 85?
| Your situation | Recommendation | What you genuinely gain | What it costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May–15 September, self-driving, with camping equipment or confirmed accommodation | Stay one night | The Digranes walk in daylight, a coastal sunset and a sparsely populated evening | Few services; dinner and supplies require advance planning |
| Already travelling east from Þórshöfn in settled weather | Make a short stop or stay one night | No lighthouse backtrack and a coherent route theme | You still need to manage your exit from Route 85 the following day |
| Only interested in Digranes, with a flight to catch the next day | Skip the overnight stay | More time for Egilsstaðir or an airport buffer | You give up the coastal evening and a slower pace |
| Winter, strong wind, low cloud or unreliable road information | Do not lock it in | Room to adjust on the main route | You may miss the remote coast |
ICENAVI · COASTAL STAY FIT
Bakkafjörður's scores depend on your willingness to slow down
Only factors supported by published geographic, route or campsite information are scored. Scenic preferences, same-day room prices and unconfirmed availability are not turned into numbers.
The eastern end of the Arctic Coast Way, Bakkaflói and Digranes Lighthouse create a clear coastal theme.
It is the eastern coastal gateway to the Arctic Coast Way, not a quick service stop on the Ring Road.
The approximate 2026 opening window is 15 May–15 September; neither dates nor facilities should be extrapolated to other months.
A remote settlement has fewer dining, fuel and alternative accommodation options. This is a route-planning risk supported by the available information, not a judgement of its residents.
Would you enjoy this kind of evening?
At five in the afternoon, you may realise that Bakkafjörður's appeal comes without another must-see attraction to organise your time. You have to watch the wind and light, arrange dinner and judge the path for yourself. For some travellers, that unstructured time is what makes a journey feel real. For others, it feels like handing the entire evening to a weather forecast with no fallback. If your companions want shops, bars and the freedom to change plans at short notice, this place will soon feel too quiet. If you want one night during a circuit of Iceland with no attraction to chase, that quiet is the reason to stay.
When arriving from the main northern route, use Húsavík for whale watching and organised activities, then reserve Bakkafjörður for the coastal theme. When returning from the east, use Egilsstaðir as your supply point and a place to change route. Do not compress all three places into one day, or you will ultimately see them only through the car window.
Checks to complete before setting out
- Are you deliberately heading towards Bakkafjörður, or do you actually need the fastest return to the Ring Road?
- Does your camping date fall within the 2026 opening window of 15 May to 15 September?
- Is the approximate adult price of 2,000 ISK still valid, and have pitch fees, electricity, showers or payment methods changed?
- Do the day's wind, rain, ground and cliff-edge conditions make the Digranes walk safe?
- Which settlement will cover dinner, breakfast, fuel, drinking water and late check-in?
- After leaving the next day, are you heading towards Þórshöfn and Raufarhöfn, Kópasker or Egilsstaðir?
- If road conditions deteriorate, will you remove Bakkafjörður from the route or cancel your next booking?
Related reading
Connect the coastal route
Þórshöfn and the Langanes peninsula: the route decision
Raufarhöfn and the Arctic Henge: should you stay overnight?
Vopnafjörður: the northeastern exit from Route 85
More reading
Return to a northern base
Húsavík destination hub
Egilsstaðir as an inland base in eastern Iceland
How to check road conditions in Iceland
Q&A | Questions to settle before visiting Bakkafjörður
Is Bakkafjörður suitable for a day trip?
Yes, if you are already travelling the Arctic Coast Way and only plan a short daytime walk to Digranes. If you are making a dedicated return trip from Mývatn or Húsavík solely for the lighthouse, the transport cost will usually outweigh the attraction itself.
Is camping necessarily the cheapest option?
The approximate adult rate of 2,000 ISK per night is a 2026 reference price, but pitch fees, electricity, showers, equipment and seasonal opening dates must be counted as well. Without equipment, or outside the opening window, you cannot use this figure to assume that a stay is available.
Digranes Lighthouse is close by. Does that make it easy to reach?
From the Bakkafjörður area, the walk continues for about 1 kilometre after Steintún. Coastal terrain and wind can change the real difficulty, so do not judge access by straight-line distance on a map alone.
Can I visit without a car?
This page assumes a self-drive journey on Route 85. It does not guarantee public transport timetables, transfers or organised activities. If you are not driving, first confirm transport that can actually take you there and back on the day.
References
- Arctic Coast Way | About (the route's extent from Hvammstangi to Bakkafjörður).
- Arctic Coast Way | Digranesviti (the lighthouse's dates, height, walking directions and safety advice).
- Útilegukortið | Opening dates 2026 (seasonal information for the Bakkafjörður campsite).
- Visit Iceland | FarNorth Campsite Bakkafjörður (entry point for campsite location and opening information).
- Vegagerðin and SafeTravel Iceland (pre-drive checks for roads and weather).
- OpenStreetMap contributors (base map for the real-location map in this article).
- Hero image: a real view of the sea off Iceland's northern coast, used only to communicate the scale of the coastline. It does not show conditions in Bakkafjörður or the weather on any particular day.