Hveravellir

About Hveravellir

Hveravellir is a geothermal area and nature reserve in the central highlands of Iceland, on the Kjölur route between the Langjökull and Hofsjökull ice caps. It lies roughly halfway along the Kjölur highland road (F35), which crosses about 200 km of the interior between the Gullfoss area in the south and the north of the country.

The site is a field of hot springs, steam vents and pale mineral crusts set in an open, windswept landscape with glaciers on the horizon. Paths lead between the springs, and the water in many of them is boiling, so keep to the paths. The big draw is the natural bathing pool, where you can soak in warm water in the middle of the highlands, and walking trails lead out from the geothermal field into the surrounding country.

Hveravellir is also one of the few places with services on Kjölur. The operator runs a restaurant serving Icelandic dishes, soups and baked goods, a guest kitchen, a campsite, dormitory beds and private rooms. For 2026 the listed prices are 10,900 ISK per person for sleeping-bag accommodation and 36,900 ISK for a private room in the new hut with breakfast for two. Travellers just stopping for a break pay a service fee of 500 ISK per person, which covers toilets, the pool and showers. The camping price is not published on the price list, so ask the operator.

Access depends on the highland road season. Kjölur is unpaved and closed in winter; in recent years the southern stretch to Hveravellir has usually opened around early June, and the road generally stays open until about mid-September. Check the road status on the Icelandic Road Administration website before setting out, drive a vehicle suited to highland gravel roads, and bring warm clothes, as the weather at this altitude can change quickly even in summer.