Canonical URL: https://www.iceland.org/driving/diamond-circle Content updated: 2026-09-10 This is the Markdown representation of the page. Interactive tools and forms are available on the [HTML page](). Source-check and review dates retain the meanings stated in the article. --- # Driving the Diamond Circle: Choose Your Dettifoss Approach The most important route choice is which bank of Dettifoss to visit. Route 862 reaches the west bank on pavement; Route 864 reaches the east bank on gravel. Build the day around that choice before adding a whale cruise or a long canyon walk. Updated September 10, 2026 · [Published by Iceland.org]() · [Writing & review]() ## 862 west or 864 east? [Vatnajökull National Park’s access guide]() identifies 862 as paved with limited winter service. It describes 864 as gravel, slow to drive and closed when autumn snow begins. Spring reopening depends on the road drying. The old version of this guide had those surfaces reversed. Set your navigation to the parking area on the chosen bank. Do not enter one Dettifoss viewpoint and assume you can switch to the other road at the falls. Compare the complete route back to Route 1 or Route 85 before adding both sides. Check [Umferðin]() for the actual road segments. Pavement is not a promise of winter access. A map’s journey time also excludes the walk from the car park. ## Use your overnight base to divide the loop **From Húsavík:** give a booked whale trip its own departure, check-in and return time. Use the remaining day for town or a nearby stop; do not automatically attach Ásbyrgi, both banks of Dettifoss and Mývatn to the end of a cruise. **From Mývatn:** choose the open Dettifoss approach first. Add Ásbyrgi if the route and remaining walking time fit. Keep the geothermal and lakeside stops around Mývatn for a separate block instead of treating them as quick photographs on the way to another town. A two-day outline could pair Húsavík with Ásbyrgi on one day, then Dettifoss with selected Mývatn stops on the next. This is an editorial planning example; enter your accommodation, bookings and current road status to calculate it. A one-day visit needs fewer stops. ## Give the canyon walk a name At Ásbyrgi, decide between a short canyon-floor visit and a longer hike before parking. The [park’s Jökulsárgljúfur guide]() lists Botnstjörn as route Á1 and Eyjan as Á2. Their routes and walking demands differ; “see Ásbyrgi” is not a useful time allowance by itself. Dettifoss and Selfoss can be combined on the park’s marked D2 route when conditions permit. Follow the current signs and barriers. A full walk along Jökulsárgljúfur is a separate hiking trip, not a shortcut back to the car. ## Book the experience you can actually fit For [Húsavík](), compare the named operator’s season, boat type, clothing provision and cancellation or repeat-trip policy. A town-wide whale-sighting percentage cannot promise what happens on your departure. For [Mývatn](), choose whether your priority is a walk, geothermal scenery or a booked bath visit. Check that attraction’s current name, admission and last entry before arranging the driving day around it. Identify fuel or charging at your actual stops, including payment access. If a road closes, remove that segment from the itinerary instead of sending navigation to the other bank without checking its condition. Planning help ## Planning questions Quick answers with safety notes where it matters. **Which Dettifoss road is paved?** Route 862 on the west side is paved. Route 864 on the east side is gravel. The national park warns that 862 has limited winter service and 864 closes with autumn snow, reopening when conditions allow. **Can I drive the Diamond Circle in one day?** Choose a reduced set of stops and calculate the day from your actual base. A whale cruise, both Dettifoss approaches, canyon hiking and Mývatn sightseeing should not be assumed to fit together. **Is a summer date enough to confirm access?** No. Check current road and park information. Snow, road drying and local conditions determine access; an old seasonal opening window is not confirmation. [Compare Iceland driving routes]() For visitor trends and accommodation-night data to complement your trip planning, see our [Iceland statistics]().