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VolcanoHighlands

Esjufjöll

Highlands, IcelandDormant1760 m

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VolcanoHighlands

Esjufjöll

Highlands, IcelandDormant1760 m

About

The subglacial Esjufjöll volcano is located in the south-east part of the Vatnajökull icecap. Esjufjöll is a strict nature reserve.

Standing on a volcano puts things in perspective. The earth beneath your feet is alive and restless.

Check road conditions before heading to volcanic areas. Some roads close seasonally or after weather events.

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Plan your visit to Esjufjöll

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

Map of Esjufjöll

Esjufjöll is in the Highlands, Iceland at 64.2544°N, 16.5381°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Esjufjöll on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Elevation: 1,760 m above sea level
Off the main road: 27.2 km from Route 1
Nearest town: Nesjahverfi — 63.7 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 262 km in a straight line
What else is close: 11 mapped places within 20 km

Esjufjöll weather and conditions

At Esjufjöll in Highlands, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 07:15 (Iceland time): -4°C (feels like -13°C), overcast, wind 11 m/s gusting to 15 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 42 m (sunrise 05:45, sunset 20:28). 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

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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 Esjufjöll

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

Esjufjöll — photo by rheins · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

Photo: rheins · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

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

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

Is it safe to visit Esjufjöll?

Esjufjöll is not currently erupting, and the surrounding area is generally safe to visit on marked trails. Volcanic and geothermal ground can still be unstable or hide gas — stay on the path, and check safetravel.is for any local closures before you drive.

How do I get to Esjufjöll?

Esjufjöll is in Highlands. Check live road conditions on this page before you drive — highland access often needs a 4×4 and some routes only open in summer.

Can I hike Esjufjöll?

It depends on the volcano and current activity. Some Icelandic cones have short marked trails to the rim; others sit under glaciers or in closed areas and cannot be climbed without a guide. Never approach an active eruption unless the official viewing area is open — conditions change fast.

What should I know about volcanic gas near Esjufjöll?

Volcanic and geothermal areas can release sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, which are toxic in high concentrations and collect in low-lying spots. Stay on marked paths, leave immediately if you smell strong sulphur or feel unwell, and check the Met Office gas forecasts during any eruption.

Nearby

km column = your drive

Waterfalls

#1.Draugagilsfoss

17 km·~20 min drive

A waterfall in South Coast.

#2.Morsárfoss

23 km·~28 min drive

Morsárfoss is a waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland. Measurements showed that…

#3.Fellsfoss

25 km·~30 min drive

A waterfall in South Coast.

#4.Hangandifoss

30 km·~36 min drive

The fall comes off the rim of Múlagljúfur, the mossy canyon that opens above the…

4 waterfalls near Highlands

Hot Springs

#1.Guðlaug

47 km·~57 min drive

New seaside hot pot on Langisandur beach in Akranes. Ocean views.

#2.Hoffell Hot Tubs

58 km·~70 min drive

Hot tubs with Vatnajökull glacier views near Höfn. Run by local farm.

#3.Geothermal hot spring near Hornafjörður

60 km·~71 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

#4.Geothermal hot spring near Höfn

64 km·~77 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

4 hot springs near Highlands

Campsites

#1.Skaftafell

34 km·~41 min drive

The camp site is spacious with trees as shelter. The camp site is divided into several…

#2.Campsite Reception

34 km·~41 min drive

Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Iceland's…

#3.Ferðaþjónustan Svínafelli

34 km·~41 min drive

We are located in Öræfi, just underneath the highest peak of Iceland.

#4.Svinafell

34 km·~41 min drive

Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Facilities…

4 campsites near Highlands

Supermarkets

#1.Nettó

64 km·~77 min drive

Nettó supermarket — supplies

#2.Gvendarkjör

90 km·~108 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#3.Kjörbúðin

117 km·~140 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#4.Kaupfjelagið

135 km·~162 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near Highlands

Gas stations

#1.Freysnes

34 km·~41 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

#2.Fagurhólsmýri

42 km·~50 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#3.Nesjar

63 km·~76 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#4.Höfn

64 km·~77 min drive

Olís · 310.8 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 · rheins · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
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