What do I need to know before going to Volcano National Park?

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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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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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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At 1,219 meters, (4,000 feet), the summit of Kilauea can be chilly at any time. Bring a rain jacket, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

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Make sure you've got strong swimmers if you plan to do the Ohno and Ohyah drop slides. These two body slides plunge into a 10-foot-deep pool! Volcano Bay does not provide any free towels, so be sure to bring your own if you do not want to rent them (it costs $7).

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The best time to observe the glow from Halema'uma'u is before sunrise, or after 9 p.m., when most visitors have left. The park is open 24 hours a day.

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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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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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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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Food and Water Pack high-protein snacks like energy bars, jerky, and nuts. Some people like to bring a sandwich and fruit too. For water, you can usually start with about two liters per person per day. However, it's a good idea to adjust the amount based on hike intensity, weather conditions, age, and body type.

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IF YOU ARE UNDER A VOLCANO WARNING:
  1. Limit your time outdoors and use a dust mask or cloth mask as a last resort if you must be outside.
  2. Avoid areas downwind and river valleys downstream of the volcano.
  3. Take temporary shelter from volcanic ash in the location where you are.


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Self tour it is! Just allow plenty of time - there is so much to see there! Our first visit to the Big island we spent part of 2 days, and it really wasn't enough, so our next visit, we stayed in Volcano for 2 nights, so had almost 3 days to explore - was great! :) Good decision !

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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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The temperatures in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park only range about 10 degrees from summer to winter, but the winters are cooler and rainier than the summers at the park. On average, the warmest month of the year is August, and the coolest is February.

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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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At 1,219 meters, (4,000 feet), the summit of Kilauea can be chilly at any time. Bring a rain jacket, wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

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Sneakers or water like sneakers would be the most appropriate. DO NOT wear heels or sandals. I saw a lot of sandals break and feet slipping around in them. Being on your feet all day you really need to be smart for your feet.

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