15 Nov Iceland Plane Wreck: DC-3 Abandoned on a Black Sand Beach

The DC-3 Iceland plane wreck is a well-known tourist destination, and for good reason. There are not many locations where you can walk up to the wreckage of a U.S. Navy plane from the 1970s. That being said, pieces of the plane have deteriorated over time, and some individuals have also removed pieces they believed to be of value. What remains at the site is the shell of the plane and its wings, inviting you to take a look inside and snap some photos as it contrasts with the black sand beach. 

Need help crafting your itinerary for Iceland? Check out my detailed nine-day road trip itinerary. Feel free to copy it exactly or change around things as needed. I put blood, sweat, and tears (okay, maybe not all of those things) into the itinerary so that others, like you, could enjoy it as well.

Contents:

1)  Location

2) General Visitor Information

3) Quick Facts + FAQs

4) Background

5) Hiking Information

6) Tour Options

7) Recommended Items to Bring

8) Nearby Attractions

1) Location of DC-3 Iceland Plane Wreck

The DC-3 plane wreck is located in southern Iceland, right along the coast. More specifically, it is sitting on Sólheimasandur black sand beach. The DC-3 plane wreck is thus also known as the Sólheimasandur plane wreck in Iceland. Furthermore, it is only a 20-minute drive west from the town of Vík. It is a perfect addition to your itinerary if you are traveling around all of Iceland or even just the southern region.

However, there is not a big sign or anything to denote the attraction, and you cannot see the plane wreckage from the road. Nevertheless, you should be able to easily find it if you follow directions to the parking lot from google maps.

If you do not want to plan out the logistics of visiting yourself, then you can always book a south coast tour that includes a stop at the abandoned plane wreck in Iceland.

Is There Parking for the Iceland Plane Wreck?

You cannot drive right up to the plane wreck. Instead, you can park at Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck Parking , which then has a trail leading back to the wreckage. The parking lot is just a small pull-off area right on the side of the Ring Road.

Furthermore, there is a small fee for the parking area. The fee is 1,000 ISK, and it lasts for the entire day. In my opinion, that is a small price to pay for such a unique attraction.

For directions, drive along Route 1 (aka the Ring Road) until you reach the parking area. For reference, it is a two hour and 15-minute drive east from Reykjavík. The parking area is on the right side of the road if you are driving from the east. On the other hand, the parking area is on the left side of the road if you are driving from the west. The plane wreck is only a 20-minute drive west from Vík.

What are Nearby Lodging Options to the Iceland Plane Wreck? 

My partner and I stayed the night at South Iceland Guesthouse before visiting the plane wreck the next day. We then stayed the following night at The Barn in Vík. Both were great lodging experiences, and we would thus recommend them to others. 

If you are road tripping around Iceland and making your way to Thingvellir National Park next, check out the best hotels in the Golden Circle. On the other hand, you can always book a room at one of the most romantic hotels in Iceland.

Heading inside of the plane wreck

2) General Visitor Information

Ready for some good news? The DC-3 Iceland plane wreck is open to visitors all day, every day. There are no restrictions in terms of visiting hours or days. 

Additionally, the best time to visit the plane wreck is from the spring through fall seasons during daylight hours. On the other hand, there are a few times when I would recommend not visiting (unless you are traveling with an experienced guide). First, it is not safe to be near the plane wreck or on the beach if there is lightning in the area. Second, hiking to the plane wreckage in the dark or during snowfall can be difficult as getting lost on the black sand beach is all too easy if you cannot see the markers for the trail.

Lastly, you should plan for a minimum of two hours to visit the DC-3 plane wreck. A fast hiker can walk to the plane and back in a bit over one hour, yet it is a good idea to add some additional time for exploring and pictures. On the other hand, if you tend to hike at an average speed or even a bit slower, plan for two and a half to three hours in your itinerary. 

Close-up view of the DC-3 Plane Wreck in Iceland

3) Quick Facts + FAQs 

1. The DC-3 plane wreck is located in southern Iceland, just off the Ring Road. 

2. The hiking trail to the wreckage is approximately 4.6 miles (~7.4 kilometers) round trip. 

3. No one on board the plane was injured when the crash occurred. 

4. The plane crash occurred on November 21st, 1973. 

5. Tour companies offer ATV expedition tours in the area, which include a visit to the DC-3 plane wreck. 

FAQs for the DC-3 Iceland Plane Wreck

Where is the Iceland plane wreck? The DC-3 plane wreck is located on the southern coast of Iceland along Sólheimasandur black sand beach. 

Is the plane wreck near Vík, Iceland? Yes! The plane wreck is only a 20-minute drive east of the coastal town of Vík.

Can you drive to the Iceland plane wreck site? No. Driving up to the DC-3 plane wreckage is prohibited.

Is there an Iceland plane wreck shuttle? Yes! A few tour companies offer shuttle services to the DC-3 plane wreck site. More information can be found in section six below.

How long is the walk to the plane wreck in Iceland? An average person can walk from the parking area to the wreckage in approximately one and a half hours. The trail is 4.6 miles (~7.4 kilometers) round trip. 

Is there an Iceland plane wreck tour? Yes! There is an ATV tour to the wrecked plane in Iceland as well as a few south coast tours that include a quick stop there. More information can be found in section six below.

View of the plane wreck from the inside

4) Background of Iceland Plane Wreck

The DC-3 plane wreck on Sólheimasandur black sand beach is a popular spot in Iceland for photography, and it is easy to see why. The white and silver hues of the wrecked plane seem larger than life when compared against the background of the black sand beach. Do not believe me? Well, Justin Bieber must have thought it was a unique setting as he filmed portions of his “I’ll Show You” music video there.

However, the plane wreckage will likely not be around forever. There is a volcano underneath Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, which is around 10 miles (~16 kilometers) north. When the next eruption occurs, flooding could possibly wash away the wreckage. With that being said, go check out the black sand beach Iceland plane wreck today. You are welcome to take photos from outside the plane as well as inside. However, there is a sign posted asking individuals to not climb on the top of the plane. Additionally, wherever you take pictures, be cautious as the plane is old and has sharp edges in some areas.

If you are still not convinced to visit, then you should know the DC-3 plane wreck is considered one of the most epic attractions in Iceland.

When Did the Plane Wreck Occur?

The United States and Iceland had a defense agreement in the 1970s, and thus it was normal for the U.S. to be flying over Iceland constantly. This particular plane, a U.S. Navy DC-3, was a cargo plane. More specifically, it was a Douglas R4D-8, Super DC-3. On November 21, 1973, the plane was flying from Höfn, which is a town in eastern Iceland, when it crashed on the Sólheimasandur black sand beach around 2:00pm. Thankfully, none of the seven crew members on board were seriously injured.

Concerning why the DC-3 plane wreck occurred, there are a couple of different theories. One theory is that the pilot accidentally switched to the wrong fuel tank. Another theory is that icing damaged the plane during flight.

Flying around on the DC-3 Plane Wreck

5) Hiking Information

Once you park in the pull-off area just off the Ring Road, it is easy to see where the trail begins. Follow along the trail until you reach the plane. It is a fairly flat and straight walk with markers every so often to mark the edges of the path. 

Do not worry if you start the trail and cannot see the DC-3 plane wreck in front of you. Moreover, do not worry if you cannot see the plane at any point along the trail. As my partner and I were walking along, we were not able to see any of the plane wreckage until we had basically arrived. Why is this? There is a small hill right before the plane, which means you cannot see the plane until you start to descend this small hill. It makes the hike a bit tricky – you really do not know how much further you have to go until you have already arrived!

One other quick note – it can be very windy on the black sand beach, which encompasses the entire trail to the plane wreckage. If the wind is strong enough, it will feel like the wind is pelting you with sand. Be prepared with a coat of some sort to protect yourself and possibly a bandana to partially (or fully) cover your mouth, nose, and eyes.

If you are in search of additional hikes to add to your itinerary, check out Svartifoss Waterfall in eastern Iceland and the hike from Hellnar to Arnarstapi in the west.

Feeling the wind in my hair at the DC-3 Plane Wreck

How Long is the Hike to the Iceland Plane Wreck? 

In terms of time needed to hike to the plane wreck and back, I recommend around one and a half to two hours. The trail is 2.3 miles (~3.7 kilometers) long each way. The round trip hike is thus 4.6 miles (~7.4 kilometers) long. My partner and I tend to walk at a slightly faster than average pace, and it took us over 30 minutes to hike there and over 30 minutes to hike back. The main concern is to watch your footing – when I say the path is rocky, I mean that it is made entirely of rocks. 

You are not allowed to drive up to the wreckage site, but instead you can walk on the path mentioned above or go with a tour company – see more information in the next section. 

“Falling” out of the plane wreckage

6) Tour Options 

While you are welcome to walk along the trail to the DC-3 plane wreck in Iceland, there are a couple of tour options to get you there as well.

For a fun fact, my favorite tour in Iceland that I experienced was glacier kayaking on the Glacier Lagoon. Looking for even more tours? I got you – check out the five best excursions in Iceland. There are SO MANY excursions offered in Iceland. Be sure to plan for at least two of them within your itinerary as well as your budget.

ATV Expedition Tour for the Iceland Plane Wreck

First, you can book an ATV expedition tour where you drive an ATV to the DC-3 wrecked plane in Iceland. The tour also includes time to drive around the Sólheimasandur black sand beach as well as along the Jökulsá River. Views, views, and more views! However, you need to bring along your driver’s license if you want to take control and drive the ATV. 

The ATV tour to the plane wreck in Iceland costs around $125 for the one-hour option or $170 for the two-hour option.

Link to tour booking: South Coast ATV Tour

Shuttle Bus for the Iceland Plane Wreck

Second, you can book a shuttle from the parking lot to the crash site. While personal vehicles are not allowed to drive to the site, the shuttle bus is the only vehicle with permission to do so. 

The Iceland plane wreck shuttle costs around $23 per person. Moreover, the shuttle ride lasts 15 minutes (one-way) to the plane wreckage and back.

Link to tour booking: Guide to Iceland; Mountain Guides

Exploring the DC-3 Plane Wreck in Iceland

7) Recommended Items to Bring

For additional packing recommendations for Iceland, check out my list of Iceland hiking essentials as well as my summer road trip packing list.

1. Water bottle: Please please please be sure to bring water if you plan to hike to the plane wreck. Even though Iceland has cooler temperatures, you still need to drink water to stay hydrated. I brought my Yeti water bottle with me everywhere in Iceland.

Waterproof Items

2. Waterproof backpack rain covers: You never know when it might just start pouring rain in Iceland. Better to be safe than sorry, especially if you are carrying valuable items like a camera. 

3. Waterproof jacket: As mentioned above, Iceland can have unpredictable weather. I kept my rain jacket with me at all times so that I was prepared for any unexpected showers. 

Hiking Items

4. Hiking shoes: A pair of hiking shoes is incredibly helpful for walking along the rocky path to the wrecked plane in Iceland. It is 4.6 miles (~7.4 kilometers) round trip and will likely take around one and a half hours to complete.

5. Hiking poles: Hiking poles are not a necessity simply due to the fact the trail is flat for the vast majority of the time. However, bring them along if you want a bit of extra support.

6. Optional – crampons: These are only necessary in the winter months if there is snow or ice on the trail. Crampons are spikes that attach to the bottom of your shoes.

Plane wreckage on the black sand beach

8) Nearby Attractions to the Iceland Plane Wreck

Due to the fact the DC-3 plane wreck is right off the Ring Road in southern Iceland, there are plenty of nearby attractions. What is even better is that you can fit multiple of these attractions within just one day of your itinerary. In addition to the below, I recommend you check out the Yoda Cave and Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon if you have extra time. 

Seljavallalaug Pool

What is better than relaxing at a geothermal pool after a day full of hiking and exploring? Nothing. Drive only 20 minutes west from the plane wreck to reach Seljavallalaug. I recommend you plan at least one hour in your itinerary (if not more) to truly relax and enjoy the geothermal waters.

The Seljavallalaug Bílastæði parking lot is the second of two parking lots located in the area. Park at this second lot to cut your walking time in almost half. After parking at Seljavallalaug Bílastæði, simply walk along the river for about 20 minutes until you reach Seljavallalaug Pool. Looking for even more privacy and adventure? Continue walking five minutes past Seljavallalaug Pool to reach two hidden hot springs.

For more information: What to Know Before Visiting Seljavallalaug Pool in Iceland and Best Hidden Hot Springs in Southern Iceland.

Seljavallalaug Pool with the changing rooms in the background

Skógafoss Waterfall

Skógafoss is one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Iceland, often with a rainbow right in front of it. If you have time for a longer visit, definitely hike the stairs next to the falls for a view from above. You can then continue on Fimmvorduhals Pass, which is approximately 15.5 miles (~25 kilometers) long. Hike as far as you want – you can do the entire hike or turn around after 15 minutes. You will not be disappointed with the views, for the beginning of the hike is called Waterfall Way.  

Skógafoss is only 10 minutes west from the plane wreck. You can plan to stop here even if you only have a few minutes, for the falls are just a short walk from the parking lot.

For more information: Hiking Skógafoss (Fimmvorduhals Pass) in Iceland.

Rainbow at the base of Skógafoss

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Vík

You can spend as little or as much time exploring the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Vík as you wish. Why? The area has so much more to offer than just the beach. For example, you can also see basalt caves, sea arches, a lighthouse, and maybe even puffins.

If you have extra time to spare, walk around the black sand beach AND hike up to the lighthouse. The lighthouse hike is approximately 45 minutes each way, but the view is well worth it. And did I mention we saw so many puffins flying around? 

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is 25 minutes east from the plane wreck.

For more information: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Vík, Iceland.

Taking in the views of Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

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