How long does it take to drive around the entire Big Island of Hawaii?

To circle the entire Big Island takes almost 6 hours, if you include a loop through North Kohala. When driving between Hilo and Kailua-Kona, you might consider taking the north scenic coast route in one direction and the Saddle Road route between the mountains coming back!



That’s an excellent question! The driving time around the Big Island is a classic topic because the island’s unique geography makes it more complex than just adding up miles.

The short answer is: A non-stop, direct drive on the main highways (Highways 19 & 11) that form the “ring” around the island takes roughly 6-8 hours without any stops.

However, that’s almost never how anyone does it. Here’s a detailed breakdown of why and what you should really plan for:

The Core Factors That Change the Time:

  1. The “Ring” Isn’t a Complete Circle: Highway 19 (the northern route) and Highway 11 (the southern route) do not connect around the southeastern tip of the island. The road is interrupted by the rugged lava fields and cliffs of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the remote Kau district. You cannot drive a literal lap.
  2. Traffic & Road Conditions: Traffic can be heavy around Hilo and Kailua-Kona. Parts of the Hamakua Coast (northeast) are winding and slow. Road construction or closures (especially near volcanic activity) are possible.
  3. Your Route & Stops: This is the biggest variable. The island’s highlights are the reason for the drive, not the drive itself.

Realistic Time Estimates for Different Trip Styles:

  • The “I Just Want to See the Coastline” Drive: Starting and ending in Kona, taking Highway 19 north to Waimea, then east to Hilo, down Highway 11 south through Volcano, and back to Kona. Minimum 6-8 hours of

People Also Ask

Driving around the island takes about six hours – and that's without stopping or running into any traffic. If you're looking to break up your trip a bit, try taking a self-guided tour like the one Action Tour Guide offers. Action Tour Guide's self-guided tour allows you to drive through the Big Island at your own pace.

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Driving around the island takes about six hours – and that's without stopping or running into any traffic. If you're looking to break up your trip a bit, try taking a self-guided tour like the one Action Tour Guide offers. Action Tour Guide's self-guided tour allows you to drive through the Big Island at your own pace.

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There are three routes depending on what you mean by “across” since there is no road directly across the island. To drive from Hawi in North Kohala south to South Point at the southern tip of the island would take about 5 hours . To drive from Kona to Hilo on the quickest route would take almost three hours.

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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.

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To circle the entire Big Island takes almost 6 hours, if you include a loop through North Kohala. When driving between Hilo and Kailua-Kona, you might consider taking the north scenic coast route in one direction and the Saddle Road route between the mountains coming back!

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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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The public (Hele-on) bus service is an alternative if you have plenty of time and want to avoid renting a car. The cheapest way to get around the Big Island after walking yourself is the public bus (Hele-on-Bus). This bus will get you to most places on the island, but transit times are long and connections infrequent.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is located on the island of Hawai'i. From Kailua-Kona: 95 miles southeast on Highway 11 (2 to 2.5 hour drive), or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via highways 19 and 11 (2.5 to 3 hours).

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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.

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With its magnificent geography – including secluded beaches, the world's most active volcano, epic waterfalls, lush jungles, and sprawling Volcanoes National Park (over 500 square miles in size!) – it is no surprise that the Big Island is one of the world's most-visited tourist destinations.

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