The road Tindevegen goes from Øvre Årdal, through the Fardalen valley to the village of Turtagrø in Luster Municipality.

There is also a road which goes south past the lake Tyin to the European route E16 highway which goes through Valdres to Oslo.

Øvre Årdal is the starting point for tours into the nearby Utladalen Landscape Protection Area and Jotunheimen National Park.

There are trips to the Utladalen and Avdalen valleys, to the mountain Falketind, to the Vettisfossen waterfall, and to the historic farms of Vetti, Vettismorki, and Avdalen.

Norsk Hydro has an aluminium smelting plant which is a major employer in the area.