Hveradalir is one of Iceland’s largest geothermal areas, but it’s tucked away in Iceland’s highlands. To access anywhere in the highlands of this country, you must drive on F-roads, which are unpaved, rough and often require you to cross rivers.I’m planning to do a whole episode on F-roads because it’s important to understand how to navigate them safely, but just know that some rivers that run across F-roads are so deep that they can drown the engine if you don’t have a snorkel and a modified vehicle to cross them.Thankfully, access to Hveradalir geothermal area does not require a large river crossing. I dare to say that it is more like a small stream that you need to drive over but it’s totally doable for a regular 4x4 vehicle.
My preferred Local Icelandic Rental Car Company - Go Car Rental Iceland
Before I get into why Hveradalir is more than worth a visit, I would like to thank the sponsor of this episode. I partnered with Go Car Rental Iceland to drive into the highlands so you can see an example of an F-road and to feature a drop-dead gorgeous place that is easy to access in this part of the country.Go Car Rental Iceland is an awesome local car rental company that has transparent pricing, great rates, unlimited mileage on their rentals, and friendly staff. They are my go-to company when I need a car for my adventures.You can use my code Iceland10 to save 10% on your entire rental cost with them, which is a good deal of savings.
The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland
If you need a guide on what car to rent in Iceland and tips on what to know before, during, and after driving around the country, check out my Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland. It’s a thorough guide that has already helped one of my listeners to save $400 on their rental. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBOWnle7PdU
Why Hveradalir Geothermal Area in Iceland is Worth Visiting
Hveradalir geothermal area is nestled in the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range in the central highlands of Iceland. I also created a YouTube video that has a lot of insanely beautiufl drone shots, so feel free to check that out too.The various colors of Hveradalir – yellow, green, orange, and red – make this place look like a painting. But what really brings it to life is the steam rising from the earth and the warm water flowing throughout the area. All of it combines in a magical way that makes you feel like you stepped onto another planet.  
How to Get to Hveradalir Geothermal Area
The most important thing to know is that you must drive a 4x4 vehicle for this adventure. The only way you can visit Hveradalir in a vehicle is if it’s a 4x4 because you must drive on the roads F-35 and F-347.Only 4x4 cars are insured for driving on F-roads in Iceland. If you drive a 2WD car there and something happens to your car, you are fully responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing it. I highly discourage you from taking that chance. F-35 road runs from north to south in the highlands, so you can access this place regardless of you drive from either of those directions.I used a lovely blue Jeep from Go Car Rental Iceland to get there from Reykjavík. In addition to the cool features in the car, I love blue, so that was a cool cherry on top.From Reykjavík to HveradalirIt takes 3.5 hours to access Hveradalir if you drive from ReykjavíkFrom Akureyri to HveradalirIt takes 4 hours from Akureyri, which is in north Iceland
Spectacular Sites Along the Way to Hveradalir, If You Travel from Reykjavík
If you are driving from Reykjavík, you take the same route for the Golden Circle, which includes Þingvellir National Park, Geysir hot spring, and Gullfoss waterfall.You can make a busy day out of it, if you have not been to the Golden Circle, and go to all these sites. Most people who drive this route stop at Gullfoss because they don’t have the appropriate car to keep going and/or they don’t know where the road that keeps going leads to.