How far apart are Kona and Hilo?

Driving along Hawaii Belt Road and Mamalahoa Highway would be considered the scenic route—the 125-mile trip takes about three hours. Fortunately, there's a lot to see on the way from Kailua-Kona to Hilo, so if you've got the time—and gas—to spare, here's a guide on what to look out for on your journey.



People Also Ask

If there's no traffic it will take approximately one and a half hours to to drive from downtown Kona to downtown Hilo without traffic. This is a great way to go if you don't intend to stop for food and you just want to get there.

MORE DETAILS

Bus from Kona Airport to Hilo To take the Hele-On Bus, you will need to first take the airport shuttle from the terminal to the Kona International Market bus stop, which is about a 5-minute ride away. From there, you can catch the Hele-On Bus Route 1, which runs between Kona and Hilo.

MORE DETAILS

Kona offers better weather, the best beaches and snorkeling, newer resorts, more vacation rentals, and more nightlife compared to Hilo Town. Hilo is worth a visit but may not be worth staying for more than a night. Erica and I make Kailua-Kona our launching pad during our Big Island vacations.

MORE DETAILS

Lower Tourist Population = Lower Prices This means greater room availability and lower prices for accommodations in and around Hilo, making a Hawaii vacation within easier reach for those traveling on a budget.

MORE DETAILS

In West Hawaii, Kailua-Kona is typically a few degrees warmer and quite a bit more arid than tropical Hilo. It can stay warmer in the evening (unless you are higher up in the Kona hills.) It's typically warm and sunny near the ocean, and partly cloudy in the hills.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Hilo is more pedestrian-friendly, with more of a proper downtown area, whereas Kona isn't very walkable. Recommended Hilo Tours: What is this?

MORE DETAILS

Hilo is a very supportive town and a fun community to be a part of. a city but not a city. hilo has such a homey feel for the so called big city of the bis island. its such a green place because of all of the rain but its beautiful and the community is filled with amazing people.

MORE DETAILS

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. Some call these Hawaii Island's 'off-season periods' or the 'shoulder months.

MORE DETAILS

Hilo weather is rarely dry for days at a time. The driest month is June, with just over 7 inches of rainfall on average. The wettest month is November with an average rainfall of nearly 16 inches.

MORE DETAILS