Árnes camping ground

About Árnes camping ground

Árnes camping ground is a summer campsite in the small village of Árnes on Route 32 in South Iceland, about 1 hour 20 minutes' drive east of Reykjavík. It sits at the mouth of Þjórsárdalur, so it is the last easy place to pitch a tent with a pool next door before heading up the valley toward Hjálparfoss and Háifoss.

The Árnes campsite is a broad, grassy field beside the Kálfá river, with around 60 electricity points for campervans and caravans. You'll find toilets, indoor showers, hot and cold water, a washer and dryer and a playground, and dogs are allowed. The Neslaug village pool is a couple of minutes' walk away, handy after a long day in the valley.

Few people come for the village itself. Hjálparfoss, a two-tiered waterfall framed by basalt columns, is about 20 minutes up Route 32, and the Gjáin gorge and the Stöng farm ruins are a little farther along. Háifoss, one of Iceland's tallest waterfalls, sits at the end of a rough gravel road, so check the official road-conditions map before taking a small car up. On clear days Hekla fills the view to the east.

Going the other way, the Secret Lagoon at Flúðir is roughly 15 minutes' drive, and the Golden Circle stops are within an hour. That central position makes Árnes a quieter alternative to the busier campsite at Flúðir.

Camping in Árnes is possible in summer only, and the season dates can shift from year to year, so confirm them with the operator before you travel. Pitches are taken on arrival, so there's usually no need to book. Nightly rates and electricity fees also change from season to season, so ask for the current prices at the same time.