Q: Can you tell me, which is the nearest glacier to Reykjavík that can be visited in a normal family car (not a jeep)?
Liam, Manchester, England
———————–
A: That is the Sólheimajökull glacial tongue of Mýrdalsjökull glacier in south Iceland. It takes approximately one hour and forty minutes to drive there from Reykjavík. Our photographer, Páll Stefánsson, says it is the only glacier in Iceland that you can touch from a Yaris (the road is bumpy, though).
You can get close to other glaciers in a family car, including Langjökull by Húsafell and Snaefellsjökull by Arnarstapi in the west, which are a two to two-and-a-half hour distance from Reykjavík. But to actually get to the feet of the glaciers you either require a jeep or have to do some hiking.
You can also opt for a longer drive (around four hours) to the southeastern corner of Iceland and experience Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier, from Skaftafell National Park or by cruising on the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.
