Can you drive around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

Visiting the park by car is easy to do. The two main roads visitors will travel are Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road. All roads in the park are two-wheel drive roadways and do not require four-wheel drive vehicles.



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Yes, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has several trails that will let you hike on an active volcano.

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Self tour it is! Just allow plenty of time - there is so much to see there! Our first visit to the Big island we spent part of 2 days, and it really wasn't enough, so our next visit, we stayed in Volcano for 2 nights, so had almost 3 days to explore - was great! :) Good decision !

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But even without an active volcanic eruption, this is still a great park to visit. If you are planning to visit Hawaii, it's still worth visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, even without an active lava flow.

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This is a truly unique place that is unquestionably worth visiting. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park preserves some of the most unique and distinctive global geological, biological, and revered cultural landscapes. This national park is home to a couple of the most active volcanoes in the world: Mauna Loa and Kilauea.

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It is illegal to take lava rocks from Volcano National Park. Not only that it can bring very bad luck as its an insult to Pele. Hundreds of lava rocks get sent back to Hawaii because of this well known kapu(taboo) on snatching parts of Pele the Goddess of the Volcanos!

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This 38-mile (61 km) round-trip drive descends 3,700 feet (1,128 m) to the coast and ends where lava has covered 10 miles of road since 1986. Allow 90 minutes to two hours round-trip, depending on how often you stop and how far you hike.

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Make sure you have enough protection from the sun and unexpected rain showers. For footwear, decide what to bring based on the terrain. Easy and smooth hikes require less support so trail runners may work great. For treks on rugged trails, boots will likely be a better option.

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Just because you're staying in Waikiki doesn't mean you can't enjoy the thrills of the Big Island. Volcano tours from Oahu include round-trip air travel from Honolulu to Hilo and fully guided experiences in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

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Entrance to Volcanoes National Park costs $30 per car. There are limited spots for food and drink in the park; be sure to pack water and snacks. Wear layers and bring a jacket, temperatures vary drastically in the park. The park is constantly changing.

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Common Items from Hawaii NOT ALLOWED into the U.S. Mainland or Alaska
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables, some exceptions are those listed below as permitted.
  • Berries of any kind, including fresh coffee berries and sea grapes.
  • Cactus plants or cactus plant parts.
  • Cotton and cotton bolls.
  • Fresh flowers of jade vine, and Mauna Loa.


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Private Vehicle Pass ($30, valid for seven days) Motorcycle Pass ($25, valid for seven days) Pedestrian/Cyclist Pass ($15, valid for seven days)

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Most of the hike is on a steep incline which becomes tougher the higher you hike. Total elevation gain is 5150 ft./ 1500 m. The final hour of the hike is the toughest because by that point, you are so high up that you're climbing through volcanic sand instead of solid ground. Combined with the altitude, it's strenuous.

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