Who this suits
A fit, flexible traveller who wants the whole loop
Averages 190–310 km of driving daily. Works if you're comfortable driving several hours a day and can accept skipping detours like Snæfellsnes entirely to keep the loop closed in a week.
The trade-off
Low weather slack, by design
If a storm closes a road for a day, this itinerary has almost nowhere to absorb it — a 7-day plan needs a genuine backup (skip a stop, not a whole day) built in mentally before you start, not improvised on the road.
What it skips
Snæfellsnes, and most rest time
The peninsula spur adds a day this pace doesn't have. If you want it, look at the 14-day plan instead.
Book lodging first, plan driving second
South Coast and Jökulsárlón-area guesthouses can sell out months ahead in July — lock in beds before finalizing which town you sleep in each night.