UPDATED FEB 2020. There is a lot you can do at the Volcanoes National Park so it is very easy to fill up a day. During my visit, we were able to drive the two main roads – the Crater Rim Drive which is a loop road, and the Chain of Craters road which is a point to point road, and stop at the marked sights along the way. Here’s a practical guide on how to plan a day trip to Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. I hope it can help you plan a full day to experience this must-see park.
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How To Plan A Day Trip To Volcanoes National Park On The Big Island
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FAQ for visiting Volcanoes National Park
Where is it located?
Big Island of Hawaii about 2 hours drive from Kona or 45 minutes from Hilo.
How much does it cost?
$25 per vehicle.
What skill level is needed?
Beginner – many trails are simple and everything is well marked and easy to navigate.
How can I check for updates?
The landscape is always changing- check at the visitors center for current updates of closures and safety updates.
What should you bring with you?
- Hat
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
- Snacks and lunch
- Good walking shoes (I use the New Balance Minimus
) - Sweatshirt or jacket (it can get cold up there)
- Camera (I use a GoPro with this selfie stick & tripod combo, and if you are looking for something other than an action camera I use the Sony Alpha a6000). Drones are prohibited.
- Swimwear if you want to go to the beach afterward
)
, and if you are looking for something other than an action camera I use the 
). Drones are prohibited.
How to plan a day trip to Volcanoes National Park
1. Visitors center
I recommend starting your day at the visitors center.
Here you can learn about the volcanoes, geology, and Pele, the hot-tempered Hawaiian goddess of fire.
You’ll also get a good look at everything the park has to offer to help you plan your must see’s for the day in case there’s anything else you’d like to add.
You’ll also be able to check what’s open at the time of your visit.
You can also check for guided tours if that is something you would prefer to do.
I found that starting the day here was both interesting and helpful. From here you can take the Rim Drive clockwise or counterclockwise.
I have based this itinerary around doing the hiking earlier in the day and getting to Kilauea later in the day so that you can see it when the light is lower – hopefully, it will be dark enough to really see the glow of the lava.
Feel free to rearrange the itinerary to make sure you get to see the spots that interest you the most.
2. Thurston Lava Tube
This is a popular feature of the park and is a cool trail that walks you inside an actual lava tube.
It’s an easy walk, though it can be a little wet and slippery so I recommend some good walking shoes.
It can be a little dark so you’ll probably need to use your phone for light.
Update: This seems to be closed due to safety issues currently. Check-in with the visitors center to ask a ranger if it has been reopened or for an alternative activity.
3. Kilauea Iki Trail
An easy and very cool trail where you can walk on the actual crater.
This was a real highlight. It was absolutely fascinating to see the landscape of the crater up close and feel very small in the process.
View this post on Instagram
4. Pu’u Pua’i
Really cool lookout point that offers up a great view of the crater.
You could even go to the devastation trail and walk to Pu’u Pua’i lookout and back to your car. This is what I did.
5. Chain of Craters road
On this road, you will get a scenic display of a volcano’s destruction.
The lava flow just seems to go on forever and, believe it or not, there is beauty in the destruction.
The ripples in the dried lava gave it character and the plants growing through showed a resilient new life.
We drove this road straight to the end to the sea arch and then stopped at sights on the way back up but you could manage the stops however works for you.
6. Hōlei Sea Arch
The huge waves crashing up against the rocks are impressive in their own right, then to see the arch that these powerful waves have created over time is even more impressive in my opinion.
It was in this area that I also got to see my first Nene, the rare Hawaiian state bird.
7. Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs
Perhaps my favorite spot of the day was the Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs which is a short walk out to a sacred place where you can walk along a boardwalk and observe symbols and images carved into the hard lava.
Along the way back up, there are a number of other stops to check out from lookout points on the side of the road that are good places to stop and take some pictures, to other hiking trails including the Keauhou trail, and a couple of smaller craters including the Puhimau Crater and Luamanu Crater.
We could fit in all the stops but didn’t complete all the trails fully in the time we were there.
8. Keanakako’i Crater
Lookout point if you just want to stop and take some photos, or if you have the time, you can park at the Devastation Trail parking lot and take the short hike to the crater.
9. Steam vents
Depending on timing, it might be worth visiting the steam vents quickly then backtracking to the next stop.
They are very cool to see but won’t take up too much time.
10. Hawaii Volcano Observatory (former Jagger Museum area)
Check if the Jagger Museum has been reopened (currently it is closed) and if it is open, it’s an interesting museum to visit.
Perhaps they will replace it with something similar so just check for updates on that.
Either way, there is a good lookout spot there where you can see Mt Kilauea and it’s best to see later in the day because it gives you the best chance to see the red glow of lava.
Make sure you have a jacket too because it does get chilly.
Where to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii
I stayed with family when I visited the Big Island, but I recommend staying on the Kona side of the island around the Waikoloa Village area. I spent some time down there and it has that ‘Hawaii vacation’ feel.
If I wasn’t staying with family, I’d stay at either the Hilton Waikoloa Village or the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
Make sure you visit the Lava Lava Beach Club for a cocktail on the beach and maybe a meal while you’re there.
Other guides to help you plan a visit to the Big Island
- Pololu Valley Lookout And Hike To Black Sand Beach – Big Island, Hawaii
- Punaluu Beach – How To Get To This Black Sand Beach On The Big Island
- How To Get To The Green Sand Beach On The Big Island Of Hawaii
If you have been trying to figure out how to plan a day trip to Volcanoes National Park and wondering what to do, I hope this guide has been helpful for you.
If you found it useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!
On our list for later on this year. I can’t wait to go there!
I hope you love it as much as I did, it really was a fantastic day out!