Because of its size, navigating around the Big Island can be daunting, and driving around the entire island will take around eight hours.
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Considering how big the Big Island is, it's really very easy to navigate. The two main roads are Highways 11 and 19, creating one big loop around the entire island.
However, driving in Hawaii does come with its own set of challenges that you should be prepared for, including poor road conditions. While the more populated islands like O'ahu or the Big Island have decent roads, the more rural isles like Kaua'i have roads that are often unpaved and difficult to drive on.
To discover Big Island as a whole, we recommend staying ideally 8 to 10 days so that you have time to explore it at your own pace, as the island is quite large.
If you really want to hit the most isolated bit of beach or waterfall, you might use 4wd (or rather the extra ground clearance), but most people will find far more than enough to occupy a week without getting off the paved or graded roads.
But, that said, some months are still better when considering things like weather and your budget. The best times to visit the Big Island of Hawaii, taking into consideration the weather, how crowded, or not, the island is, and demand for accommodations are the month(s) of April, May, August, September, and October.
Yes. It's illegal to sleep in your car in Hawaii. On Oahu, there is one campground that allows vehicle camping. Malaekahana Beach Campground And some Hipcamp sites likely allow this but if you park your car somewhere without permission, neighbors may call the cops.
We suggest splitting your stay between Kailua-Kona on the west side and Hilo (or Volcano) on the east side during your trip. This will ease a lot of extra driving and allow you to experience both sides of the island.
Drive from Waimea/Hilo to Volcano. From the Saddle Road, North Big Island, or Hilo Airport, you can arrive at Aloha Junction via Route 11 on the Eastern shore of the Big Island to Volcano (45 Minutes).
Kona is a walkable seaside village, so allocate the early hours to exploring every inch of the town on foot. There's plenty of shopping opportunities, an excellent farmer's market and key attractions such as Moku?aikaua Church, the oldest Christian church in the Hawaiian Islands.
If you do decide to rent a car, Shaka Guide's driving tours will make sure you don't miss any of the important attractions. Oahu is the easiest island to get around. There are several car rental companies at the Honolulu Airport if you'd like to drive the island.
The drive to the summit of Mauna Kea is very dangerous and must only be undertaken by experienced drivers. Four-wheel drive vehicles are required above the Visitor Information Station located at the 9,000 ft.level. Individuals with certain health conditions should not travel to high altitude.
Pros of Renting a Jeep in HawaiiFeel the wind in your hair as your cruise alongside the beaches. If you do a little off-roading, your vehicle can handle it. You won't have to use air-conditioning as the wind will handle that for you.