Vegagerðin (the Icelandic Road Administration) recorded a status change on the Laugafell–Sprengisandur highland road section on 14 October 2026 at 18:01. The route moved from passable for four-wheel-drive vehicles to Vegur ekki í þjónustu — meaning the road is no longer in service. No further comment was issued by the road administration.
Why this matters for photographers
Sprengisandur (F26) is one of Iceland’s longest highland routes, crossing the central interior and offering access to remote lava fields, river crossings and highland landscapes. A mid-October closure is consistent with the annual end-of-season pattern for F-roads, but photographers with plans to access the interior via this corridor should treat the route as unavailable until further notice. Alternative highland access routes may also be closing around this time.
What photographers should do
- Check the current road status for all highland roads directly on road.is before departing — conditions can change without advance notice.
- Revise any itinerary that relied on the Laugafell–Sprengisandur section and identify whether your planned shoot locations remain reachable via other routes.
- Contact your vehicle rental company if your trip requires highland access, as most rental agreements restrict or prohibit use of closed F-roads.
For full guidance, see our Iceland F-Roads for Photographers: Access, Safety & Seasons.
Source: Vegagerðin — https://www.road.is/travel-info/road-conditions-and-weather/