Start with the number of full daylight hours you have
Route 85 is difficult not because of the kilometres on the map, but because services are sparse between the towns. Parking, a coastal walk, finding a toilet, buying supplies and getting back to the main road can turn an apparently easy 20-minute stop into a longer break. With one day, treat it as one themed stop; two days give you room to shorten a section when weather or road conditions demand it. If you plan to combine the North Coast Trail with Dettifoss the next day, read the Route 85 North Coast Trail and Dettifoss worksheet first: it places the walking times for Botnstjörn and Eyjan alongside the eastbound and westbound exits, making it easier to judge whether a one-day version actually fits.
ICENAVI ROUTE FIT · ROUTE 85
Is this coast worth paying for an extra night?
These scores cover only factors that change the Route 85 decision; recheck roads, opening hours and accommodation for your departure date.
Every stop means returning to the same remote road; with one day, the number of stops quickly becomes driving pressure.
An extra night keeps coastal walking, waiting for the wind and resupplying from competing for one afternoon, but check the available rooms and food options first.
Two days give you a chance to move the coastal day, but on a remote road “go tomorrow” is not a cost-free option.
It earns its place as a northern themed detour; its value drops quickly when squeezed into an already full Ring Road day.
Use the map to see where the three stops sit
Three towns, three reasons to stop
| Place | Where it fits | What you gain | The cost that is easy to miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakkafjörður | Entering the north-east coast from the Eastfjords / Þórshöfn direction | A fjord entrance and small coastal-town feel that gives a short stop some shape | Few services; do not leave dinner and supplies until you arrive |
| Þórshöfn | The first night or midpoint of a two-day detour | Splits the remote coast into two sections, with Raufarhöfn or the return west within reach the next day | Rooms and opening hours are not city-dense; secure check-in and meals in advance |
| Raufarhöfn | Make the Arctic Henge the theme, then head for Kópasker / Húsavík | Coastal scenery, a half-day walk and a clear northbound or westbound exit | Strong wind can shorten the coastal stop; check indoor alternatives and dinner first |
Entering from the Eastfjords already uses a full transfer day, so treating Bakkafjörður as something you “must also see” can make the evening unexpectedly long. With two nights, stop the car in Þórshöfn, take one coastal walk in the afternoon and continue towards Raufarhöfn the next day. If you have whale watching in Húsavík booked for the following morning, bring the Raufarhöfn stop forward; a boat departure is not a flexible endpoint.
One-day version: keep one theme and leave the rest for another trip
The one-day version most often appears when a Ring Road journey travels north from the east. Start with tomorrow's fixed time: if you need to reach Lake Mývatn in the afternoon, attend a timed activity or return to Akureyri, choose a stop close enough to the main route to finish in 45–90 minutes. Make Raufarhöfn the only major stop when the whole day is specifically for the Arctic Henge, and arrange fuel, food and accommodation confirmation the night before.
Bakkafjörður usually matters as a recognisable entrance to the detour, not for the number of attractions. Þórshöfn works more like a midpoint reset: a room, a meal and time to deal with wet clothes give you room to continue the next day. When all three towns are treated as checkboxes, the first thing to disappear is usually the buffer you meant to keep for roads and weather.
Two-day version: where you sleep matters more than one extra coastal stop
A two-day trip can use either one night in Þórshöfn or one night in Raufarhöfn. Entering from the east and returning west towards Lake Mývatn the next day, Þórshöfn balances the two sections more evenly. If you are already in the north and want a fuller afternoon at the Arctic Henge, Raufarhöfn gives the second day a more direct exit. This is not a hotel ranking; it puts tomorrow morning's task beside your bed.
On the accommodation page, check three details in particular: the latest check-in method, whether dinner is available and whether you can leave directly in the early morning. A remote town having a room does not mean someone will still be there at midnight. Leaving dinner undecided until arrival turns a simple evening into a last-minute search when wind, snow or delays intervene. To connect these service points with the wider north, read the Lake Mývatn and Húsavík base split before deciding whether Route 85 is a themed detour or the northern exit.
When wind and road conditions change, how to reclaim the day
Write Route 85's fallback plan before departure: which stop can be removed, which night can end early and where the next option is after a missed supply stop. Check the Iceland road conditions site and the weather before setting out; an open main road does not mean the coastal detour is equally suitable. If the wind makes you unwilling to get out by the sea, keep a short walk in town or continue to confirmed accommodation. That is more practical than spreading the day across five parking places.
If this is your first Ring Road trip, you can leave this detour out entirely. The eight-day Ring Road accommodation stops already provide enough northern time. Route 85 belongs when you have a clear interest in the coast, an extra night and road-time margin. Removing one remote detour does not strip the main route of Iceland; spending an evening chasing it can unsettle the rhythm of the whole journey.
ICENAVI · ROUTE 85 FINAL CALL
If you want the coast, give the coast a night
Use the available time honestly: pick one stop for a short window, make Raufarhöfn or Bakkafjörður the day's theme when you have a full day, and reserve an overnight in Þórshöfn or Raufarhöfn when the detour is the reason for coming. Put fuel, food, check-in and the next day's direction in the plan first; then Route 85 is a choice rather than extra homework.
Save offline addresses and contact numbers before leaving. Do not wait until the car has turned off the main route to test signal, shops or payment methods on the remote coast.
Q&A | Route 85 north-east coast
Can you drive Route 85 in one day?
Yes, but only if one town or one coastal theme is your main stop. Getting out at all three squeezes the buffer needed for supplies, weather and the next day's direction.
Should you stay in Þórshöfn or Raufarhöfn?
Entering from the east and travelling west the next day, Þórshöfn balances the two sections more evenly. If you are already in the north and want a full afternoon at the Arctic Henge, Raufarhöfn has the more direct exit. Check rooms, check-in and dinner for your dates.
Is Bakkafjörður worth a dedicated detour?
With half a day, it makes more sense as a short stop at the north-east entrance. A dedicated detour needs at least one night and a clear coastal theme; otherwise services and the return cost absorb the value of the stop.
Can you follow a summer Route 85 plan in winter?
You should not copy it. Daylight, wind, snow and road conditions change the time available; rebuild the plan around the day's roads, weather and accommodation fallback before departure.
References
- Visit Iceland | Arctic Coast Way (background and route context for the north coast).
- Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (road conditions and same-day travel information).
- SafeTravel Iceland (wind, weather and self-drive safety decisions).
- OpenStreetMap contributors (the base map used for the location figure).