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81 km
About 1 h 15 min
Car 1–4 · Van 5–7
Free cancellation 24 h
South coast · from KEF
About Hveragerði and the drive
Hveragerði is a small town built on a geothermal field at the foot of the Hellisheiði plateau. Steam rises from gardens and vents across town, greenhouses grow vegetables and flowers with natural heat, and there is a geothermal park in the centre where you can see hot springs up close.
Most visitors come for Reykjadalur, the "steam valley" just north of town, where a marked hiking trail leads up into the hills to a warm river you can bathe in. The walk takes roughly an hour each way, so it fits well into a first or last day in Iceland. Hveragerði also has hotels and guesthouses, and it makes a good base for both the Golden Circle and the south coast.
From Keflavík Airport the driver heads along Reykjanesbraut towards Reykjavík, turns east onto Route 1 at the edge of the city and climbs over Hellisheiði, past the steaming geothermal power station. The road then drops down the Kambar slope with a wide view over the southern lowlands, and the town appears at the bottom. It is one of the shortest transfers out of the capital region towards the south.
Seasons and roads
Hellisheiði is the main winter risk on this route: it can close temporarily in storms, and traffic is then usually diverted over the lower Þrengsli road. The Reykjadalur trail can be muddy in spring and icy in winter.
