It isn't possible to drive to Hawaii from the mainland United States. The only way to get your car there is by shipping it. Fortunately, it's incredibly easy and cost effective to fly to the islands and rent a car there, saving you time and money.
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Here's a quick answer: driving from Los Angeles to Honolulu would take around 40-45 hours of nonstop driving time. Driving from San Francisco would add another 6-8 hours. In this comprehensive guide, we'll go over everything you need to know about making the epic road trip from the mainland US to Hawaii.
Although it may be tempting to imagine a scenic, cross-ocean road trip from California to Hawaii, you cannot drive your car from California to Hawaii directly. The distance and the Pacific Ocean make it virtually impossible.
Yes, it is possible to ship a car to Hawaii although the process is slightly different than shipping a car across the mainland USA. Your vehicle will be picked up and then delivered to a port on the West Coast. It's then loaded onto a ship and travels across the ocean to its Hawaiin island destination.
Because of the distance, there are no roads between the mainland United States in Hawaii. Crossing the Pacific will take more than just a road trip. There are also no ferries that cross this long distance.
It is 2561 miles between the two. If you are asking about a cruise ship it takes five days to travel from CA to HI. A standard cruise is 15 days; five days to HI, five days around the HI islands, and five days back.
The cheapest way to ship a car to Hawaii is to drive it to a port on the West Coast and transport it by a RORO (roll-on, roll-off) ship. Alternatively, hire an auto transport company to organize the entire shipment from your home to a port in Hawaii.
If you're eyeing a move to Hawaii from the continental United States, you obviously can't just drive the car to your new address. You'll likely need to rely on a car shipping company to safely transport your vehicle from the U.S. mainland to a port on one of the Hawaiian Islands.
The closest major city is San Francisco, California, at 2,397 miles (3,858 km). Some islands off the Mexican coast and part of the Aleutian Islands of Alaska are slightly closer to Honolulu than the mainland.
It is not necessary to present a passport if you're traveling from the United States as a U.S. citizen. You are only required to show proof of identification when traveling to the beautiful Aloha State.
Planning a trip to the Hawaiian Islands from California? The Big Island is the closest Hawaiian Island, only 2,486 miles away! Direct flights between San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and the two international airports on the Big Island: Kona (KOA) and Hilo (ITO), average about 5 hours in length.
Drive the Alaska-Canada HighwayThe most direct route to Alaska is to get on the Alaska-Canada Highway (AlCan) in Dawson Creek, BC. If you're coming from the middle or Eastern half of the lower 48 and you want to get there as fast as possible, head west in the US before going north to hop on the AlCan.
The Gist: While it can cost anywhere from $950 to $3,000 to ship a car to Hawaii, top provider Montway Auto Transport shared an estimate of between $1,500 and $2,100 for their services.
In the past, most people came to Hawaii by ship. And apparently there are still cruises that call on Hawaii ports from the mainland. One can also come via their own boat, if they really know what they're doing. The vast majority of visitors, however, will pass through Hawaii's airports.
At present, there are no public ferry services that operate directly between California and Hawaii. This is mainly due to the long distance and logistical challenges involved in such a voyage.
What condition does my vehicle need to be in when I ship it? Vehicles must delivered clean inside and out. No more than a ¼ tank of gas and NO personal belongings.
While sailing from California to Hawaii, there is always the risk of encountering storms. The Pacific Ocean is known for its powerful storms, such as tropical cyclones and Pacific hurricanes. These storms can bring strong winds, heavy rain, and rough seas, posing significant dangers to sailors.
If you're short on time, here's a quick answer to your question: The cost to take a boat from California to Hawaii can range anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 or more, depending largely on the size and type of vessel, fuel costs, supplies, insurance, maintenance, harborage fees and other expenses.