The village is located in the Stjørdalen valley, about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) east of the town of Stjørdalshalsen along the Stjørdalselva river.

The European route E14 highway also runs through the village, just south of Hegra Church.

Hegra has its own grocery store, gas station, kindergarten, school and a local bank.

Hegra is also one of the centers for the resurgence of the Dole Gudbrandsdal horse in Norway.

The fortress was the site of the Battle of Hegra Fortress where the invading German army fought from 10 April to 5 May 1940, not surrendering before all other Norwegian units in Southern Norway and Central Norway had capitulated.