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LakeHighlands

Hvítárvatn

Highlands, Iceland30 km² surface

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LakeHighlands

Hvítárvatn

Highlands, Iceland30 km² surface

About

Hvítárvatn is a lake in the Highlands of Iceland and the source of the glacial river Hvítá, Árnessýsla. It is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) northeast of Gullfoss waterfall.

A unique Icelandic experience. Worth your time.

Check local conditions before visiting. Iceland's weather changes fast.

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Plan your visit to Hvítárvatn

Build an itinerary — full days, multi-stop routes, drive times, alternatives.

Map of Hvítárvatn

Hvítárvatn is in the Highlands, Iceland at 64.6046°N, 19.8442°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Hvítárvatn on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Off the main road: 5.8 km from Route 35
Nearest town: Bláskógabyggð — 45.2 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 113 km in a straight line
What else is close: 33 mapped places within 20 km

Hvítárvatn weather and conditions

At Hvítárvatn in Highlands, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 07:15 (Iceland time): 3°C (feels like 0°C), clear, wind 3 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 45 m (sunrise 05:57, sunset 20:42). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 1 September 2026, 07:15· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

Driving conditions

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Daylight today

Visit now · Open year-round · 30 min stop · Visibility —

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Highlands Reykjavík South Coast West North East Westfjords Reykjanes

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Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation

KEF airport pickup 24/74.8

SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic

12,750 kr15,000 kr/day

Reserve −12%

Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

Tours near Hvítárvatn

Free cancellation

Small groups

Sightseeing

(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

Duration6 hours 30 minutes

HighlightsNorth Iceland

(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

Duration6 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!

Embark on a private adventure through the Golden Circle with Northern Adventurer.

Duration8 hours

HighlightsReykjavík area

Photos & videos

Hvítárvatn — photo by Smiley.toerist · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Smiley.toerist · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Hvítárvatn, no lookalikes. Search YouTube

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

How do I get to Hvítárvatn?

Hvítárvatn is in Highlands. Check live road conditions on this page before you drive — highland lakes often need a 4×4 and some access roads only open in summer.

Can I fish at Hvítárvatn?

Angling in Iceland requires a permit bought per water body from the landowner or local angling association, and gear used abroad must be disinfected first. Check the local rules for Hvítárvatn before you cast.

Can I swim in Hvítárvatn?

Icelandic lakes are cold year-round and swimming rules vary by lake — some are protected or have unstable shorelines. Check local signage at Hvítárvatn before entering the water.

When is the best time to visit Hvítárvatn?

Roadside lakes are visitable year-round, though winter access depends on conditions. Highland lakes and reservoirs are typically reachable only in summer once the F-roads open. Check live road conditions before you drive.

Nearby

km column = your drive

Waterfalls

#1.Gýgjarfoss

24 km·~29 min drive

A waterfall in the Highlands.

#2.Nýifoss

24 km·~29 min drive

A waterfall in the Highlands.

#3.Skuggafoss

33 km·~40 min drive

A waterfall in the Highlands.

#4.Gullfoss

34 km·~40 min drive

Iceland's most visited waterfall. Two massive drops cascade into a rugged canyon, with…

4 waterfalls near Highlands

Hot Springs

#1.Hveradalir

27 km·~32 min drive

Natural hot spring

#2.Baðlaug Kerlingarfjöll Hot Spring

27 km·~32 min drive

Geothermal spot

#3.Sundlaug

27 km·~33 min drive

Geothermal spot. Naturally heated, no facilities. Best with few people.

#4.Geothermal hot spring near Hrunamannahreppur

27 km·~33 min drive

Natural hot spring

4 hot springs near Highlands

Campsites

#1.Hvítárnes

4.4 km·~5 min drive

Highland campsite accessible in summer only. F-road driving required. Basic facilities…

#2.Árbúðir

6.7 km·~8 min drive

Highland campsite accessible in summer only. F-road driving required. Basic facilities…

#3.Kerlingarfjöll - Highland Base

27 km·~33 min drive

The camping site at Mountain Kerlingafjoll is in the vally of Asgard, on the north side…

#4.Hveravellir

32 km·~39 min drive

Highland campsite accessible in summer only. F-road driving required. Basic facilities…

4 campsites near Highlands

F-Roads

#1.F347 Kerlingafjallavegur

8.2 km·~10 min drive

Kerlingafjallavegur

#2.F349 Kerlingarfjöll old

12 km·~14 min drive

The long, lonely way to Kerlingarfjöll

#3.F735 Þjófadalavegur

18 km·~21 min drive

Side trip from Hveravellir into 'thief's valley

#4.F734 Svörtutungur

21 km·~25 min drive

The tough alternative to Kjölur

4 f-roads near Highlands

Supermarkets

#1.Krambúð

57 km·~69 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#2.Krambúðin

61 km·~73 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#3.Kjörbúðin

90 km·~108 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#4.Hagkaup Sérvara

92 km·~110 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near Highlands

Gas stations

#1.Geysir

39 km·~47 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#2.Húsafell

50 km·~60 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

#3.Hrauneyjar

53 km·~63 min drive

Olís · 315.8 kr/L petrol

#4.Brautarhóll

56 km·~67 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near Highlands

Tours

#1.(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

6 hours 30 minutes

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

from 25.300 ISKView tour →

#2.(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

6 hours

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

from 25.900 ISKView tour →

#3.A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!

8 hours

Embark on a private adventure through the Golden Circle with Northern Adventurer.

from 159.000 ISKView tour →

3 tours near Highlands

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Smiley.toerist · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community