🌋 Camping · Highlands
Highlands
Campsites
Iceland's volcanic interior — wild hot springs at Landmannalaugar, the Laugavegur trail and lunar lava fields. Highland camping is only possible in summer and requires a 4WD vehicle with high clearance.
Campsites
8
Season
June–Sep
Price
€5–15/night
Top Picks
Featured Campsites in Highlands
Best-equipped and most popular sites in the region
Dreki Campsite (Askja)
Askja
1,500 ISK/person/night
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Emstrur – Botnar Tjaldsvæði (Laugavegur)
Emstrur
1,800 ISK/person/night
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Hveravellir Campsite
Kjölur Route (F35)
Approx. 2,500–3,000 ISK per person/night
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Hvítárvatn Campsite
Kjölur Route (F35)
Approx. 2,000–2,500 ISK per person/night
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All Campsites in Highlands
Search, filter and explore every campsite in the region
Dreki Campsite (Askja)
Askja
Dreki is the base camp for excursions to Askja — one of Iceland's most dramatic volcanic calderas. Here you will find Víti — a warm crater lake you can swim in — and Öskjuvatn — Iceland's deepest lake. The campsite is in the middle of the highlands and is accessible only by 4x4 vehicles on F-roads.
1,500 ISK/person/night
July–September
Emstrur – Botnar Tjaldsvæði (Laugavegur)
Emstrur
Emstrur (Botnar) is the third rest stop on the Laugavegur hiking trail, between Álftavatn and Þórsmörk. This is one of the most remote and wild campsites on the route, deep in the highlands between Mýrdalsjökull and Entujökull glaciers. Distant views of Katla volcano and unforgettable glacier scenery.
1,800 ISK/person/night
July–September
Hveravellir Campsite
Kjölur Route (F35)
A remote Highland campsite beside geothermal hot springs between Langjökull and Hofsjökull glaciers.
Approx. 2,500–3,000 ISK per person/night
June – September (depending on F-road conditions)
Hvítárvatn Campsite
Kjölur Route (F35)
A remote Highland campsite beside Hvítárvatn lake with views toward Langjökull glacier along the Kjölur Route.
Approx. 2,000–2,500 ISK per person/night
June – September (depending on F-road conditions)
Kerlingarfjöll Tjaldsvæði
Kjölur Route (F35)
A remote Highland campsite surrounded by colorful rhyolite mountains and geothermal valleys along the Kjölur Route.
Approx. 2,500–4,000 ISK per person/night
June – September (depending on F-road conditions)
Landmannalaugar Campsite
Landmannalaugar
A remote Highland campsite in Landmannalaugar surrounded by colorful rhyolite mountains and natural geothermal hot springs.
Approx. 2,500–4,000 ISK per person/night
Late June – early September (depends on F-road conditions)
Nýidalur Campsite
Sprengisandur
A remote Highland campsite in Nýidalur along the Sprengisandur Route surrounded by glaciers, rivers, and central Iceland wilderness.
Approx. 2,000–3,000 ISK per person/night
Late June – early September (depends on F26 road conditions)
Álftavatn Camsite (Laugavegur)
Álftavatn
Álftavatn is the second rest stop on the Laugavegur — Europe's most famous long-distance hiking trail. The campsite sits beside the blue waters of Lake Álftavatn in the heart of the southern highlands, surrounded by volcanoes and glaciers. Accessible only on foot or via F-roads.
1,800 ISK/person/night
July–September
Nearby
Attractions in Highlands
Natural landmarks and experiences within day-trip distance of the campsites
Hveravellir
Hveravellir is a remote geothermal oasis in the central highlands of Iceland, located along the Kjölur route (F35). Hot springs, fumaroles, and bubbling mud pools dot the landscape, with striking white mineral formations and plumes of steam rising against the rugged terrain. A natural hot pot, visually distinct with its serene blue hue, offers one of Iceland's most atmospheric bathing experiences under open skies.
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Hveradalir
Hveradalir, meaning 'Valley of Hot Springs,' is a surreal geothermal wonderland nestled within Iceland's Kerlingarfjöll mountain range. Here, vibrant steam plumes rise from the earth, painting the brown and ochre slopes with an ethereal mist, all while a winding river cuts through the dramatic landscape.
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Kerlingarfjöll Hot Spring
Kerlingarfjöll contains natural geothermal pools and hot-water features within a mountain landscape of rhyolite ridges, steam vents and snowfields. This mapped bathing spot is part of that wider geothermal environment.
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Dimmugljúfur og Hafrahvammagljúfur
Nestled in Iceland's remote eastern highlands, Dimmugljúfur and Hafrahvammagljúfur form an awe-inspiring, deep canyon system. These dramatic gorges reveal a unique geological cross-section of an ancient volcano, showcasing varied rock formations and sheer cliffs carved by immense natural forces.
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Kárahnjúkastífla
Kárahnjúkastífla is the main dam of the Kárahnjúkar hydropower system in Iceland’s eastern Highlands. The concrete-faced rockfill dam blocks Jökulsá á Dal at Fremri Kárahnjúkar and forms Hálslón, the system’s largest reservoir. Landsvirkjun lists the dam as 198 metres high and 700 metres long, containing about 8.4 million cubic metres of fill material. For visitors, the scale of the engineering is matched by the surrounding landscape. From the dam area you can look across Hálslón and into the upper reaches of Hafrahvammagljúfur. When Hálslón reaches its spill level, water is diverted to the canyon edge and creates the seasonal waterfall Hverfandi, dropping roughly 100 metres into the gorge.
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Heiðarbýlin í göngufæri
Heiðarbýlin í göngufæri is a cultural hiking and heritage project across Jökuldalsheiði and neighbouring heaths in East Iceland. Information and stamp posts connect former highland farms with the stories of the people who lived there, creating one wider historical experience instead of dozens of small standalone attractions.
ExploreGeothermal
Hot Springs Near Highlands Campsites
Pair your camping stay with a geothermal soak
Plan Your Highlands Camping Trip
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Camping Tips for Highlands
Essential knowledge before you pitch your tent
Seasonal Access
F-roads are closed October to May or June. safetravel.is lists current road conditions. Don't attempt F-roads outside the season — you risk getting stranded and fined.
Vehicle Requirements
High-clearance 4WD is mandatory. Many routes have river crossings — check depths before crossing. Regular campervan or SUV is NOT sufficient for most Highland routes.
No Signal
Phone signal is nonexistent in the interior. Download offline maps (maps.me or Garmin), tell someone your plans and carry an emergency satellite communicator.
Pack Everything
No shops, fuel stations or services in the interior. Carry extra fuel, repair kit, first aid, 3 days emergency food and enough warm clothing for sudden temperature drops.
Help
Camping FAQ — Highlands
When do F-roads to Landmannalaugar open?
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Usually late June, but it varies year to year. Check vegagerdin.is (Icelandic Road Administration) for current conditions in spring.
Can I camp at Landmannalaugar?
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Yes — there is a campsite at Landmannalaugar with toilets and showers (basic). The natural hot spring next to the huts is free for all visitors including campers.
Do I need to book Highland campsites in advance?
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Landmannalaugar campsite fills up fast in July and August — book through fi.is (Ferðafélag Íslands) as early as possible. Hveravellir also fills up — book in advance.
What is the Laugavegur trail?
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Iceland's most famous hiking trail — 55 km from Landmannalaugar to Þórsmörk, typically done in 4 days. Huts and campsites along the route must all be pre-booked.