Can you visit volcano National Park on your own?

I often heard tourists, including myself, inquiring about arranging paid tours of the park. There is no need. At least not while the lava is not actively and excessively flowing. The park rangers and the locals will tell you that you are just paying $100 plus dollars for someone to keep you company.



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If you want to visit lava up close and personal, then you should allow at least TWO full days for visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

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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 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. Note: There are no services (water, gasoline, or food) on Chain of Craters road.

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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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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, so your chance to see glowing lava (from near or far) is pretty good when the volcano is actively erupting (it's periodically erupting only at the summit in Halemaumau currently), especially when it's dark.

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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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Visit a Volcano Hawaii National Park to see the iconic sights of the park: Kilauea Volcano, steam vents, lava tubes, and multiple volcanic craters! The tour also takes you to Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls, two of the most famous waterfalls in Hilo.

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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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A 4WD vehicle is a must for this Big Island adventure! 4WD is the only way you'll be able to access all the best “off the grid” spots. Besides taking a day for Hawaii Volcanoes National park or a few in Kona/Kohala, here are some of our other favorite places to go, with Volcano Village as your home base…

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The 600-foot-long cave is a great introduction to lava tube geology. The solidified drips and waves of once-liquid lava rock clearly show the molten forces that created this cave. Your flashlight reveals beautiful shapes and colors of minerals leeching from the rock.

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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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Volcanic eruptions can cause toxic gases and unstable grounds. Don't book a trip with an unregistered tour guide. In some places, helicopter and plane tours will still take tourists out to see active volcanoes, despite authority warnings. Do not put yourself in danger.

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