The South Coast (Reykjavík to Höfn) is the most-driven stretch in Iceland. The big names (Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón) are beautiful and busy. These are the stops that don't make every itinerary, from west to east.
Kerið Crater
15 minutes off the main road just before Selfoss. A 270-metre-wide volcanic caldera with a bright blue lake at the bottom. Small entrance fee (~400 ISK) and a short trail. Most Golden Circle tours skip it.
Þjóðveldisbærinn (Stöng / Þjórsárdalur)
A reconstructed Viking-era turf farm in a green valley about 50 km north of Selfoss, with almost no tourists. Pair it with a hike along the Þjórsá river or to Háifoss waterfall nearby.
Gljúfrabúi
The "hidden" waterfall right next to Seljalandsfoss. You walk into a slot canyon to reach it, so wear waterproofs or you'll get drenched. 90% of Seljalandsfoss visitors miss it.
Sólheimasandur DC-3 plane wreck
The famous abandoned plane on the black sand beach. The walk in is 4 km each way, all flat. Wear shoes you don't mind sandblasting, or take the shuttle from the car park. Go at sunrise or sunset if you can.
Mýrdalur cliffs and Dyrhólaey
Skip the busy Reynisfjara viewpoint and go to Dyrhólaey instead. The cliff views are better, there are puffins in summer, and the lighthouse is worth a photo. You can charge at ON Vík nearby.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
A 100-metre-deep canyon between Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur. It was in a Justin Bieber video, then closed for a while for "ecological recovery", and it's now open again with proper paths. Walk along the rim and don't try to scramble down into it.
Fjallsárlón (the other glacial lagoon)
Jökulsárlón's little sister, 10 km west. Smaller and less photogenic, but quieter and more peaceful. Boat tours run May–October. Both lagoons are within reach of chargers in the South region.
Zodiac and amphibian boat tours run on both lagoons May–October. It's the quiet way to see the icebergs up close.
Browse lagoon boat tours →Vestrahorn at Stokksnes
Every photographer wants this mountain. You pay a small fee at the Viking Café, drive 4 km on a rough track and end up on a black-sand beach with one of Iceland's most photogenic peaks behind it. Go at low tide.
Where to charge along the way
Outside Reykjavík, the South Coast has the best EV charging coverage in the country. The main stops are ON Hveragerði, ON Vík, N1 Kirkjubæjarklaustur, and Tesla in Hveragerði and Höfn. The South region charging map has the rest.
Rule of thumb
If a place has a paved car park and a coffee truck, every guidebook lists it. The more interesting spots are usually 10 minutes off Route 1 down a gravel turnoff. Bring offline maps.