Most people drive the Road to Hana starting in Kahului and finishing up in the town of Hana. However, the Road to Hana can also be driven in reverse, going from Hana backwards to Kahulu. Some people choose to do this based on proximity.
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The 64.4 mile Road to Hana starts officially in the town of Kahului. From there, it winds along the northeastern edge of Maui, where it concludes in the village of Hana. Cutting through high-speed urban areas and rural mountain passes, the Road to Hana offers stunning views.
On the beautiful island of Maui, the gorgeous and winding road to Hana,Maui is one road you will never forget. Shortly past mile marker 17 you will see the HALFWAY TO HANA sign on your right. You probably have been traveling for about two hours at this time, so it might be a good time to stop for a great treat.
Sundays and Thursdays are heavy travel days (arriving and leaving the island) so the road to Hana may be less crowded. Start early to get the most out of your day. This is one of the best things to do in Maui on a budget.
It is a beautiful adventure if you're up for the drive. It's possible to do the Road to Hana in one day but it takes an early wakeup and some prep work to maximize your day of driving.
Most all rental car companies on Maui will allow you to drive to Hana. Driving the backside of Haleakala, past Oheo Gulch is not recommended for the faint of heart. Access to the ROAD TO HANA is Limited (learn more): The best parts of driving to Hana are between Paia and Seven Sacred Pools.
Sundays and Thursdays are heavy travel days (arriving and leaving the island) so the road to Hana may be less crowded. Start early to get the most out of your day. This is one of the best things to do in Maui on a budget.
It's best to be on the road, leaving your resort by at least 7:30 am. If you start late, the Road to Hana can be crowded with other drivers. That can mean that you might find yourself crawling along behind slower drivers at time.
Make sure to leave Hana area at least a few hours before sunset. If the roads are open, and your rental car agreement allows, consider driving the backside of Haleakala. You'll watch sunset either from the back of the island or Upcountry near Kula and Makawao, which is pretty amazing.
There are over 600 hairpin curves and 59 one-lane bridges to cross. With all of those, numerous blind-spots and the 25mph speed limit (or slower), those 52 miles will take about two and a half hours if you don't run into any distractions. However, this road is FILLED with one incredible distraction after another!
Most of the stops on the Road to Hana are free (e.g., hikes and views) or low-cost (e.g., banana bread stops and black sand beach reservations). Overall, the Road to Hana is a good value for all you get to see and do in one day compared to loading a day of things to do on Maui with kids.
You can turn around at Kaumahina State Wayside park and head back to where you came from. Better yet, your tour from Action Tour Guide will still work even if you only choose to do a portion of the trip as it senses your location via GPS. Essential Travel Guide: What time should you leave for the Road to Hana?
The best road trips are those where you can cruise around on the open road at your leisure, playing road trip songs or just enjoying the sounds of nature, stress-free. The Road to Hana is the opposite. It's crowded, fairly dangerous, and definitely stressful.
Some call it the “Road to Hell” or the “Road to Divorce” because you will have to journey across 52 miles of winding road, hairpin turns and numerous one lane bridges to experience all of Hana. This treacherous drive causes couples to argue. Don't worry, it's not that bad. Just take your time and drive carefully.