Driving Iceland's Ring Road in 10 Days

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Our trip to the Faroe Islands inspired us to visit Iceland next. The Sterlings are going to drive the Ring Road. Rick Steves recommends a clockwise route and here's our plan:

Day One - Reykjavik

Land in Reykjavik, pick up rental car, check into hotel
Breakfast: Sandholt, 06:30-21:00
City Walk Free Tour, 11:00, 13:00 or 15:00
Lunch: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Shopping mall: Kringlan 10:00-18:00
Icelandic Phallological Museum 10:00-18:00
Hallgrimskirkja, 09:00-21:00, ISK 1,000
Shopping Street: Laugavegur
Ice Cream: Valdís
Brewery options:  RVK, Bryggjan, Mikkeller & Friends

Day Two - Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Borg á Mýrum - Church and graveyard
The Búðir Church
Hike: Arnarstapi to Hellnar
Lunch: Hellnar Primus Kaffi
Snaefellsjoekull National Park: Malarrif Lighthouse
Svörtuloft lighthouse
Öndverðarnes lighthouse
Skarðsvík Beach
Súgandisey Island lighthouse
Overnight in Stykkishólmur

Day Three - heading North

Hvitserkur - rock formation
Sundlaugin á Hofsósi - Hofsos thermal pool, 09:00-21:00 (closed 13:00-17:00)
Lunch: Restaurant Sólvik or Lónkot Rural Resort
Brewery: Segull 67 Brewery
Overnight in Siglufjörður

Day Four - Whale Watching

Drive to Akureyri
Húsavík Whale Watching 
Goðafoss Waterfall
Overnight in Mývatn (2 Nights)

Day Five - in Mývatn

Skutustadhir - hike
Dimmuborgir - hike
Hverfjall - hike
Mývatn Nature Baths
Hverir - hike; Námafjall geothermal area
Krafla - hike - Viti crater
Overnight in Mývatn (2 Nights)

Day 6 - heading East

Dettifoss waterfall; Selfoss waterfall
Lunch: Fjallakaffi vs wait for East Coast
Lagarfljót - lake
scenic drive to and from Seydisfjordur 
Navigate the coast - roads might be closed - be alert
Overnight in Fáskrúðsfjörður

Day 7 - Glaciers

Blabjorg Cliffs 
The Stappin Sea Stack
Hvalnes Lighthouse
Big Red Chair
Höfn Lunch: Otto Matur & Drykkur or Pakkhús Restaurant
Diamond Beach / Jökulsárlón Glacier
Iceberg Boat Tour Fjallsarlon
Drive back to Höfn
Dinner: Jon Riki Brewery, Höfn, 17:00-21:00
Overnight in Höfn

Day 8 - Foss, Foss and More Foss

Vatnajökull National Park: Skaftafell - hike to see Iceland’s most impressive waterfall; Skaftafellsjökull glacier; Svartifoss 
Systrafoss - small waterfall in town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Vik
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach: Hálsanefshellir Cave
Dyrhólaey - arch
Dyrhólaey lighthouse
DC-3 Wreckage
Skógafoss
Seljalandsfoss - you can walk behind it - and Gljúfrabúi waterfall
Overnight in Hella (2 nights)

Day 9 - Golden Circle

Haifoss - hike
Efstidalur II - ice cream barn
Geysir - why geysers are called geysers
Lunch: Friðheimar Tomato Restaurant, 12:00-16:00 - tomato ice cream, yo!
Gullfoss
Overnight in Hella (2 nights)

Day 10 - The End Is Near

Laugardælakirkja - Bobby Fisher’s grave
Lunch: Ölverk Pizza & Brewery, 11:30-22:00
Kerið - crater lake
Almannagjá - gorge where tectonic plates meet
Return car, fly home

Stay tuned for trip reports!

12 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting the Faroe Islands

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It's expensive there. But your home country would be, too, if you had to import most everything and provided your citizens with great benefits.

Alcohol is only available in restaurants and the state-run liquor stores (Rúsdrekkasøla). Who wants to waste valuable sightseeing hours trying to find liquor stores that close at 17:30? Stock up at the airport when you arrive instead.

Most rental cars we saw were manual transmission; if you want to ensure an automatic transmission, make sure to specify this when booking your rental.

Take-away options are limited; eta in Tórshavn looked good but hours were limited.

Supermarkets are open until 8 or 10 (but not on Sundays) with some sandwiches available or options for improvising meals.

Things close early.

Keep your speed under 90 km/hr. Watch the sharp curves. Locals will not hesitate to pass you.

You've read about the rules in one-way tunnels; the same rules apply on single-lane roads.

Familiarize yourself with roundabout/traffic circle rules.

Heed the old saying "Red in morning, sailor's warning; red at night, sailor's delight."

You will get muddy and you will step in sheep poop.

There's cell phone coverage everywhere, if you have international coverage. See comment about benefits above!

You will find a well-maintained, free WC in almost every town. Ditto re: benefits.

The wool sweaters for sale are not soft.