It was located in the Jostedalen valley in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Luster, in Vestland county, north of the village of Gaupne.

The administrative centre was also located near the Jostedal Church in the central part of the valley.

[4] The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the Jostedalen valley (Old Norse: Jǫstrudalr) since the first Jostedal Church was built there.

On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Jostedal, removing the definite form ending -en.

[6] The former municipality consisted of Jostedalen valley which empties into the Gaupnefjord at the village of Gaupne.