Can you go up Mauna Kea with all wheel drive?

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.



People Also Ask

You are welcome to drive your vehicle on the Mauna Kea Summit Rd. to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. Driving is not allowed in the restricted area beyond the visitor center. Albeit, there are a handful of hikes you can take from the parking area.

MORE DETAILS

Depends where you are coming from. From Kona allow for about 1.5hrs. The trip from the visitor centre takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic.

MORE DETAILS

There is plenty to do on the island that does not require a 4x4. Unless you have specific plans to go to the top of Mauna Kea (and since you will already be on a guided tour of Waipio), you likely will not need a 4x4.

MORE DETAILS

All-wheel drive can be used on pavement with no ill effect because it is engineered to enable each tire to rotate at its own speed in turns—inboard tires rotate slower in corners—so all-wheel drive is a better system than four-wheel drive for the average driver seeking bad-weather security.

MORE DETAILS

Is AWD Worth It? It depends. If you live somewhere where there is a lot of snow, mud, or other precipitation, then yes, you should get an AWD vehicle. However, if you have a FWD vehicle with the proper tires and mainly do city and highway driving, then you'll most likely be just fine.

MORE DETAILS