Is driving around Maui easy?

Maui is the second-largest Hawaiian island, but it is still relatively small, with a land area of about 730 miles. It's far from an impossible task to drive around the island; make sure that you've budgeted the time that it will take to do so.



People Also Ask

You don't need a jeep or SUV on Maui. But if you like to anyway, sure, SUV is more comfortable. We always rented a compact on Maui, and we like to drive and explore all over the island too, and never had a problem. Maui tend to have very good roads.

MORE DETAILS

Options to Travel Around Maui Without a Rental Car. Maui towns do not score well on walking. Only a few towns like Lahaina, Kihei, and Pa'ia are easily walkable. Even if you are staying in these towns, you will want to venture out to see other beaches, restaurants, and sites.

MORE DETAILS

The road has over 600 turns and many stops. If you were to drive straight from Ka'anapali to Hana without any stops, you could make the journey in two hours and 40 minutes. With stops, expect that you'll spend six hours getting to Hana. You likely won't stop on your way back, so the return trip should take three hours.

MORE DETAILS

We highy recommend doing a tour with large windows, an experienced local guide, and only going to safe, legal, epic spots! In order to truly experience Hana, it helps to know more about the history and legends of the area.

MORE DETAILS

Drive The Twisty Roads Of Maui For Great Views The great views along the Kahekili Highway were worth the drive on narrow winding roads. It prepared us for the narrow road with single lane bridges on the Road to Hana. The drive to the lava fields at La Perouse Bay (Keone'O'Io) was tamer and well worth the sights we got.

MORE DETAILS

You can get around Maui by shuttle, tour bus, taxi or public transportation. But to really experience Maui, you should consider reserving a rental car in advance from the Kahului or Kapalua airports.

MORE DETAILS

You need to rent a car in Maui to save money and time. A rental car will pay for itself compared to taking Uber or taxis if you visit attractions like Haleakala National Park, snorkeling, or dinner in Lahaina. Maui Bus offers an economical way to get around with $2 fares but buses leave every hour.

MORE DETAILS

Yes – as long as your rental car agreement allows it. After exploring Hana, you'll continue to the Oheo Gulch, also known as the Seven Sacred Pools, and take the intermittently unpaved southern route via Highway 31 to follow the coastline and enjoy a beautiful sunset.

MORE DETAILS

We often recommend renting an SUV for your adventurous family vacay or a two-seat convertible for awe-inspiring views while you drive the island's roads. You should always be aware that prices on particular car types vary among rental locations and Maui rental car companies.

MORE DETAILS

Maui is family friendly and also perfect for a romantic getaway. Of Maui pros and cons, Bruce says Maui requires a lot of driving, and that while it increases in popularity it is getting more “touristy” and is the most expensive island to visit. “It's getting really expensive over there.

MORE DETAILS

23 Things NOT To Do While Visiting Maui
  • Don't touch/get too close to wildlife. ...
  • Don't forget the reef-safe sunscreen. ...
  • Don't ignore ocean warning signs. ...
  • Don't leave your shoes on when entering someone else's house. ...
  • Don't call your slippers “flip flops.” ...
  • Don't over plan. ...
  • Don't stand on the reef.


MORE DETAILS

The best times to visit Maui are April through May and September through November. The spring and fall shoulder seasons provide the pleasant weather Hawaii vacationers seek without the high rates and heavy crowds that accompany the summer and winter.

MORE DETAILS

The average visitor to Maui spends 8.1 days on the island. How long you should stay depends on what you want to do, but you should plan to spend a minimum of five days on Maui.

MORE DETAILS

Q: Is the Road to Hana paved? It is all paved but on the back side of Haleakala the pavement is very bumpy and seems to be nonexistent in some spots due to earthquakes that happened in the past in this area.

MORE DETAILS

Dense rainforests, waterfalls, lava tubes, colorful tropical flowers, pristine beaches, and epic waves await along the Road to Hana. It's also where you will find some of the tastiest homemade banana bread in the world.

MORE DETAILS

Rent something reliable that gets decent gas mileage. We sometimes see massive SUV's driving the road to Hana, which is weird to us. Unless you have a really big family, choose a mid-sized car.

MORE DETAILS