Flights to Reykjavik from the US: Nonstop Routes, Flight Times and When to Go

Quick answer: Flights to Reykjavik land at Keflavík (KEF), about 45 minutes from the city. Icelandair flies nonstop from about a dozen US cities as its regular routes, with more cities and airlines in summer. From Boston the flight takes about 4.5 to 5.5 hours, from New York about 5 to 6. US citizens need no visa for short stays.

Reykjavik flights at a glance

Nonstop flights to Reykjavik from US cities

Airlines are as of recent schedules (November 2026); Icelandair lists these cities as its regular US routes, but frequencies drop in winter, so check with the airline for your dates. Times are eastbound and approximate. In summer Icelandair adds Miami, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Portland, Oregon, and plans St. Louis from May 2027; Delta flies seasonally from Detroit as well and plans Boston from April 2027, and American plans a Philadelphia flight from May 2027. PLAY, the Icelandic low-cost airline, stopped flying on 29 September 2025.

Nonstop flights to Iceland from the US

Icelandair flies nonstop to Keflavík from Boston, New York JFK, Newark, Baltimore/Washington, Washington Dulles, Raleigh-Durham, Chicago, Minneapolis, Orlando, Denver and Seattle as its regular routes, as of recent schedules; some run less often in winter, so check with the airline. In summer it adds Miami, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Portland, Oregon, and US airlines join in: Delta from New York JFK, Minneapolis and Detroit, United from Newark, Chicago and Washington Dulles, and Alaska Airlines from Seattle.

Icelandair also connects Keflavík with many European cities, and it lets transatlantic passengers add a stopover in Iceland on the way to or from Europe. PLAY, the low-cost airline that used to fly several US routes, ceased operations in September 2025.

Best time to visit Iceland

June to August is the warmest and busiest season, with mild days and daylight late into the night; around the June solstice the sun barely sets. This is the best time for driving the Ring Road and reaching the highlands, whose mountain roads open only in summer.

The northern lights appear from roughly September to March, when nights are dark enough; clear skies and solar activity both matter, so no date is guaranteed. Winter days are short, around four to five hours of daylight in December, and storms can close roads and delay flights. Shoulder months like May and September balance daylight, weather and crowds.

Keflavík airport and getting to Reykjavik

Keflavík International sits on the Reykjanes peninsula, about 30 miles southwest of Reykjavik, and has a single terminal. Flybus and Airport Direct coaches meet arriving flights and run to central bus terminals in about 45 minutes, with transfers to many hotels; Strætó bus 55 is the public alternative. Taxis are available but the distance makes them expensive.

Many visitors rent a car at the airport. The Blue Lagoon is about 20 minutes from Keflavík, so some travelers stop there on the way into or out of the city. Reykjavik also has a small domestic airport near the center, used mainly for flights within Iceland.

Entry rules: Schengen, EES and ETIAS

Iceland is not in the EU but is in the Schengen Area. US citizens can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together. Your passport should be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen Area and should have been issued within the past ten years.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) has been in operation since October 2025. On your first entry the border officer registers your fingerprints and a photo, which can make the first passport check slower. ETIAS, the EU's planned travel authorization, is not yet required as of November 2026; check the official EU travel site before you fly.

Time difference and jet lag

Iceland keeps UTC+0 all year and does not use daylight saving time. That puts Reykjavik 5 hours ahead of New York in the US winter and 4 hours ahead in summer, and 8 or 7 hours ahead of Los Angeles.

Most flights from the US leave in the evening and land at Keflavík early in the morning. The flight is short, so sleep is limited; a nap and daylight on arrival help, and in midsummer blackout curtains or an eye mask are worth packing.

Frequently asked questions

Travel guide

June to August brings the mildest weather and near-endless daylight, and it is the busiest season. September to March is the time for the northern lights, with dark skies but short days and weather that can close roads.

Lounge access

• Icelandair Saga Lounge, Keflavík

Airport transfers

Keflavík is about 30 miles from Reykjavik, roughly a 45-minute drive. Flybus and Airport Direct coaches meet arriving flights and run to central bus terminals with hotel drop-off options, Strætó bus 55 is the public option, and taxis and rental cars wait outside arrivals.

Flight route guides to Reykjavik

Each guide covers the airlines on that route, typical connections, the best months to fly and baggage rules, with live fares fetched when the page loads.

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