# Lava fields, black beaches and cloud forest – a campervan loop around Hawaiʻi Island

> From Hilo via Kīlauea, Punaluʻu and Ka Lae to the Kona Coast, through Kohala and Waimea and back along the Hāmākua Coast: around 730 kilometres between…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-336-hawaii-big-island/

**At a glance:** 7-day road trip of about 1,564 km (972 mi) with 13 stops, from Hilo to ʻAkaka Falls. About 17 h 21 min of driving in total. Best time to go: December–February. No toll roads expected for a car. From Hilo via Kīlauea, Punaluʻu and Ka Lae to the Kona Coast, through Kohala and Waimea and back along the Hāmākua Coast: around 730 kilometres between young basalt, coffee slopes and rainforest gulches.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 1,564 km (972 mi) |
| Driving | 17 h 21 min |
| Suggested days | 7 |
| Stops | 13 |
| Route | Hilo → ʻAkaka Falls |
| States | HI |
| Best time to go | December–February |
| Tolls and vignettes | None expected |
| Updated | October 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-336-hawaii-big-island.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Driving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-driving-rules-visitors/), [Fuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-fuel-tolls-distances/), [US national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-national-park-passes/)

*From Hilo via Kīlauea, Punaluʻu and Ka Lae to the Kona Coast, through Kohala and Waimea and back along the Hāmākua Coast: around 730 kilometres between young basalt, coffee slopes and rainforest gulches.*

## The spirit of the route

On Hawaiʻi Island the land is still growing. At the edge of Kīlauea's caldera, steam rises from cracks, at night there is a glow over Halemaʻumaʻu, and the Chain of Craters Road drops over solidified lava flows to a coast that is younger than many a motorhome. A few hours later, sea turtles lie on black sand, at the southern cape the trade wind whistles across reddish grassland, and on the Kona side the sun beats down on lava fields with coconut palms and old fishponds between them. From the sliding door you look out on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in the morning, and in the evening on a horizon beyond which there is nothing but ocean. The island changes its climate every few kilometres: cloud forest in Volcano, desert near Waikōloa, pastureland in Waimea, dripping rainforest on the Hāmākua Coast. In between, one rule shapes the trip: you only sleep with a permit.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Hilo to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (approx. 50 km)

- **The drive:** On the Hawaiʻi Belt Road (Route 11), the road climbs steadily from sea level in Hilo through Puna rainforest, fern fields and the village of Volcano to around 1,200 metres. Wide and well built, no tight hairpins, driving time under an hour. The temperature drops by ten degrees on the way, and drizzle and fog are normal in the afternoon. Shop and fill up in Hilo before you leave: there is neither a petrol station nor a supermarket in the national park, and Volcano Village has only small shops and one petrol station.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Hilo: Waiānuenue waterfall (Rainbow Falls) on the edge of town, the Japanese-style Liliʻuokalani Gardens on the bay and the Pacific Tsunami Museum, which commemorates the tidal waves of 1946 and 1960. The farmers' market downtown is biggest on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
  - Kīlauea Visitor Center and Volcano House: current state of the eruption, ranger programmes, maps of closed areas. From the rim at Volcano House you can see into the caldera and onto Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
  - Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) and the Kīlauea Iki rim: a short path through tree-fern rainforest to a walk-through lava tube; parking is tight for large vehicles, so come early.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Nāmakanipaio Campground: in eucalyptus forest on Route 11, around four kilometres west of the park entrance at about 1,200 metres, run by the Volcano House concessioner. Drive-in sites, tent sites and simple cabins, toilets, drinking water, grills, no electrical hook-ups, no dump station. Campervans park on the designated sites; book through the concessioner and check the conditions for vehicles when booking. At night it can drop below 10 degrees.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the national park, overnight stays are only allowed at the two campgrounds and with a backcountry permit; viewpoints and car parks are patrolled. Hawaiʻi Island has no BLM land and no dispersed camping – sleeping in your vehicle outside approved sites is not allowed.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The park is open around the clock. During an active eruption the car parks at the caldera are fullest after dark; if you are staying at Nāmakanipaio Campground, you are better off driving to the crater rim shortly before sunrise. Fill up with water in Hilo and keep warm clothes to hand.

### Stage 2: Crater Rim Drive to Kulanaokuaiki (Chain of Craters Road) (approx. 85 km)

- **The drive:** A day in the park: first the drivable section of Crater Rim Drive between Kīlauea Visitor Center, Steaming Bluff and Uēkahuna, then the Chain of Craters Road. Over around 30 kilometres (19 miles) it drops about 1,100 metres across solidified lava flows to the coast, in wide curves but with gradients that call for engine braking in a heavy vehicle. It ends at a lava flow that buried the old road; return the same way. In the evening, take the narrow Hilina Pali Road to Kulanaokuaiki campground. Since 2008, and definitively since the caldera collapse in 2018, Crater Rim Drive can no longer be driven as a loop, and since the eruptive phase began in December 2024, further sections, viewpoints and trails are closed depending on activity.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Uēkahuna: viewpoint on the escarpment above the caldera, on the site of the former Jaggar Museum; from here you can see the fountains of the episodic eruptions when Halemaʻumaʻu is active. Check the current situation with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and on nps.gov/havo.
  - Kīlauea Iki Trail: a loop of around 6.5 kilometres through rainforest down onto the floor of a crater that was a lava lake in 1959 – today a cracked, steaming plain. Ideal between two fountain episodes.
  - Puʻu Loa and Hōlei Sea Arch on the lower Chain of Craters Road: a short boardwalk to more than 20,000 petroglyphs and, at the end of the road, the sea arch where the surf pounds against young lava cliffs.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Kulanaokuaiki Campground: small NPS campground around eight kilometres down Hilina Pali Road at around 800 metres, nine sites without reservations (first come, first served; pay at the self-registration station), vault toilet, no drinking water, no electricity, no fires, no dogs. Unsuitable for large motorhomes. Alternative: a second night at Nāmakanipaio.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** The car parks along the Chain of Craters Road are for daytime visitors only; overnight stays are prohibited there and throughout the park outside the campgrounds. Entering closed areas at the crater rim is a punishable offence and dangerous – collapses, cracks and volcanic gases.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Start with a full water tank: there is neither water nor shade along the Chain of Craters Road, and down on the coast it is hot and windy. Volcanic gas (vog) can hang over the caldera when the wind is from the south – people with asthma or heart conditions should follow the advice on the warning signs. The nēnē geese on the roads are strictly protected; drive slowly and do not feed them.

### Stage 3: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to Punaluʻu (approx. 60 km)

- **The drive:** On Route 11 from Volcano down through the dry Kaʻū Desert to the south-west: long straights across Mauna Loa lava fields, then macadamia plantations and pastureland at Pāhala. Wide road, moderate gradient, driving time under an hour – leaving time for a Kīlauea Iki morning. Petrol stations in Volcano, Pāhala and Nāʻālehu, only limited shopping.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Kaʻū Desert Trail and Footprints: in the volcano's rain shadow, a desert of ash and lava where warriors died in an eruption in 1790; a short hike from Route 11, mind the wind and gas.
  - Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach: a beach of black basalt sand with coconut palms and freshwater springs in the pond behind it; green sea turtles (honu) rest on the sand almost every day. Keep at least 3 metres (10 feet) away; taking sand is prohibited.
  - Whittington Beach Park near Honuʻapo: remains of an old sugar port with a pier and views over a rocky bay.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Punaluʻu Beach Park (County of Hawaiʻi): a tent lawn behind the black beach with toilets, outdoor showers and drinking water; get a permit in advance through the County's online reservation system. Alternative: Whittington Beach Park, more basic, water not potable. Whether sleeping in a campervan on the tent site is permitted should be clarified when booking or with your rental company; County campgrounds close on certain days for maintenance.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Without a County permit, overnight stays in beach parks are prohibited; police and park staff patrol at night. Kaʻū has no tolerated free-camping spots either – pasture and plantation land is private.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The honu come ashore to rest in the late afternoon – do not touch, do not feed, do not photograph with flash. The road to the Punaluʻu car park is narrow and parking is limited. At night the sea is rough and the current strong; swim only when the sea is calm, in the sheltered part of the bay.

### Stage 4: Punaluʻu to Kailua-Kona (approx. 185 km)

- **The drive:** Via Nāʻālehu to South Point Road: around 19 kilometres (12 miles) of narrow, partly single-lane tarmac with passing places, through grassland and past wind turbines to Ka Lae, then back the same way. Then north on Route 11 through the Manukā lava field and the South Kona coffee belt; winding on the slopes, with many driveways, 35–45 mph. Total driving time around 3.5 hours. Fill up in Nāʻālehu, Ocean View and Captain Cook.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Ka Lae (South Point): the southernmost point of the United States, a basalt cliff with old mooring holes in the rock where fishermen have tied up their canoes for centuries. Strong wind, no barriers at the cliff edge.
  - Papakōlea (Green Sand Beach): a beach of olive-green olivine sand in a tuff cone, around 4 kilometres each way on foot along an open track from the car park. Do not drive any further in a motorhome; the 4x4 rides offered on site are not official and churn up the land.
  - Manukā State Wayside and the coffee belt: a short nature trail through dry forest on old lava ground, then coffee farms with tastings on Route 11 and the Old Māmalahoa Highway near Hōlualoa.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Kohanaiki Beach Park (County of Hawaiʻi): a beach park north of Kailua-Kona with drinking water, toilets and showers; permit in advance from the County; check camping days and conditions for vehicles when booking. Alternative in the south: Hoʻokena Beach Park, run by a community organisation, with its own booking system.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Kailua-Kona and the Kona Coast prohibit sleeping in vehicles on streets, at beaches and in car parks; police patrol at night. At the southern cape the land is Hawaiian Home Land and private property – do not stay overnight.
- **Insider tip for campers:** On South Point Road, slow down before crests; single-lane sections have oncoming traffic you cannot see. Campervan rental agreements exclude unpaved tracks – the route to Green Sand Beach is one of them. Locals keep away from cliff jumping at the Ka Lae platform when the surf is high; the current and the climb back up a ladder are treacherous.

### Stage 5: Kailua-Kona to Hāpuna / Spencer Beach (approx. 120 km)

- **The drive:** First around 35 kilometres south on Route 11 and down the steep Napoʻopoʻo Road to Kealakekua Bay and Hōnaunau, then back and north on the Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway (Route 19): four lanes as far as the airport, then two lanes through black lava fields with white coral stones at the roadside. The access roads to Kealakekua and Hōnaunau are narrow and steep; take it slowly with large vehicles. Driving time around 2.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park: an ancient place of refuge where lawbreakers found forgiveness; with the rebuilt Hale o Keawe temple platform, carved kiʻi and the great wall. Right next to it, you can snorkel over coral at Two Step.
  - Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park: a protected bay with spinner dolphins and the white obelisk commemorating Captain Cook, who was killed here in 1779. Keep 45 metres (50 yards) away from the dolphins; kayaks and landing on the Kaʻawaloa side require a permit.
  - Hāpuna Beach and Puʻukoholā Heiau: one of the widest white-sand beaches on the island, with powerful surf in winter; to the north, the temple complex that Kamehameha I had built around 1790 (National Historic Site).
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Samuel M. Spencer Beach Park (County of Hawaiʻi): a sheltered beach below Puʻukoholā Heiau with toilets, showers and a lifeguard, tent sites under kiawe trees. Permit from the County; the gate is locked at night, with no entry or exit except in emergencies, and camping is not possible on maintenance days. The A-frame shelters at Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area are currently closed.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** On the Kohala Coast, many beaches lie within resort areas with public access points that close at night. Free camping is not allowed here; the campsites at Kīholo Bay (State Park Reserve) are currently closed and would not be meant for vehicles anyway.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In Kona, the big supermarkets and hardware stores are the last before Kohala; stock up on water and supplies. Reach the Spencer access road before the gate closes, or you will be left outside with nowhere to stay. At midday the lava desert along Route 19 is very hot – take breaks at beaches with shade.

### Stage 6: Spencer Beach to Kalōpā (via Hāwī and Waimea) (approx. 120 km)

- **The drive:** On the Akoni Pule Highway (Route 270) along the windy north-west coast to Hāwī and Kapaʻau as far as the end of the road at Pololū Lookout, back to Hāwī and up the Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) to Waimea: winding, with crosswinds, pastures and views of Maui. From Waimea on Route 19 through pastureland to Honokaʻa and up to Kalōpā State Recreation Area. Driving time around 3 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Hāwī and Kapaʻau: old plantation towns with wooden shops; in Kapaʻau the original bronze statue of Kamehameha I stands in front of the courthouse.
  - Pololū Lookout: a view from the escarpment into a green valley with a black pebble beach. The path down is steep and slippery in the rain, and parking at the end of the road is very limited; leave large vehicles in Kapaʻau or come early. Trail stewards provide information on the path; the state is planning a reservation system – check the current rules with the DLNR.
  - Waimea: ranch town of the paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys) at around 800 metres, with Parker Ranch, farmers' markets on Saturdays and views of Mauna Kea.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Kalōpā State Recreation Area: native forest above Honokaʻa at around 600 metres, cool and quiet. Tent sites and cabins; book through the Hawaiʻi State Parks permit system, up to 90 days in advance. Important: State Parks do not allow sleeping in vehicles at their campgrounds, not even in the car park – so Kalōpā only works with a tent or cabin. With a campervan, carry on to Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park (County, see stage 7).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the pastureland around Waimea almost everything belongs to ranches; the side roads are not places to park up. Māhukona Beach Park on the Kohala Coast is currently open for day use only.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The Kohala Mountain Road is demanding for tall campervans in gusty conditions; when there is a high wind warning, take the lower Routes 270 and 19. Waimea has supermarkets and petrol stations – the last big ones before the Hāmākua Coast. Waimea is often foggy and cool, so keep a jumper to hand.

### Stage 7: Kalōpā to Hilo (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** First to Kukuihaele and Waipiʻo Lookout (a short detour, with room to turn at the car park), then south-east on Route 19 along the Hāmākua Coast: the road crosses deep gulches with waterfalls on high bridges, with former sugar cane fields and eucalyptus in between. Detours via Honomū to ʻAkaka Falls and along the Four Mile Scenic Drive (Old Māmalahoa Highway) with single-lane bridges. Driving time around 2.5 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Waipiʻo Lookout: a view into the Valley of the Kings with taro fields, a black beach and sheer walls. The road into the valley has been closed to visitors since 2022, including on foot; access to the valley only on authorised tours.
  - Laupāhoehoe Point: a flat tongue of lava with a memorial to the schoolchildren and teachers swept away by a tsunami in 1946; surf against black rocks.
  - ʻAkaka Falls State Park: a short loop through bamboo and ginger to a waterfall around 135 metres (442 feet) high and Kahūnā Falls. Entry and parking fees for visitors not resident in Hawaiʻi; amounts on site.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park (County of Hawaiʻi): tent sites on the peninsula with toilets, outdoor showers and drinking water, permit from the County. If you are returning your vehicle in Hilo at the end, plan your last night here or back at Nāmakanipaio.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Hilo, sleeping in vehicles at beaches and in car parks is prohibited. Waipiʻo and the car park at the lookout in Kukuihaele are not places to stay overnight.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Route 19 along the Hāmākua Coast is affected by rockfall during heavy rain; heed the warnings. At Waipiʻo Lookout the car park is full at weekends from late morning – go early. On the Four Mile Scenic Drive, give way before the single-lane bridges; with large vehicles, take the direct route on Route 19.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Hawaiʻi has no BLM land and no dispersed camping. Overnight stays are only allowed with a permit at designated sites: County beach parks (County of Hawaiʻi online reservation system), State Parks such as Kalōpā (Hawaiʻi State Parks permit system, Department of Land and Natural Resources; tent or cabin only there, no sleeping in vehicles) and the NPS campgrounds Nāmakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki in the national park.
- Sleeping in vehicles at beaches, on streets and in car parks is not allowed; police and park staff patrol at night. Permits must be shown on request.
- County rules: minimum age 18, maximum stay of one week between 1 June and 31 August, otherwise two weeks. Individual parks are closed on certain weekdays or for maintenance, and visitors not resident in Hawaiʻi pay higher fees – check current conditions when booking.
- Rental campervans: rental companies only allow overnight stays at approved sites with a County or State permit, and exclude unpaved tracks, the Mauna Kea Access Road above the Visitor Information Station and the Waipiʻo Valley road. Read your rental agreement; violations cost you your insurance cover.
- National park: for visitors not resident in the US, the NPS introduced higher prices and surcharges in 2026; check what applies at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on nps.gov. Follow the eruption status daily with the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and on nps.gov/havo.
- Cultural sites: heiau, petroglyphs and places of refuge are sacred – do not enter where it is prohibited, and do not stack or take stones. Taking lava rock and black sand is prohibited.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium and The Dyrt; Park4Night plays practically no role on Hawaiʻi.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Public dump stations are almost non-existent on the island; rental campervans usually have no built-in toilet, so empty grey water and cassettes as your rental company instructs. Draining onto beaches, lava or into storm drains is prohibited.
- Drinking water: not available at every site. Kulanaokuaiki has no drinking water, Whittington only non-potable water. Fill up at supermarkets and water vending machines in Hilo, Kona and Waimea.
- Gas: campervans usually cook with butane canisters or small propane bottles; canisters cannot travel by plane and are bought on the island. Larger propane refills from gas suppliers in Hilo and Kona.
- Shopping and fuel: big supermarkets only in Hilo, Kailua-Kona and Waimea; in Kaʻū, on the Saddle Road and in the national park there are long stretches without a petrol station. Petrol is considerably more expensive than on the mainland.
- Electricity: County and NPS campgrounds have no electrical hook-ups; plan to run your cool box and devices off the vehicle battery or a solar panel.
- Rubbish: take your waste with you where there are no bins. Clean shoes and gear before moving into forest areas so as not to spread the fungal disease Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Speed limits: on Hawaiʻi Island mostly 35–55 mph, 25–35 mph in towns; on the Saddle Road (Daniel K. Inouye Highway) 60 mph on some sections, 40 mph at the Pōhakuloa Training Area. Roads are often two-lane without a hard shoulder – overtaking is rarely possible.
- In Hawaiʻi, phones may only be used hands-free while driving, and seat belts are compulsory in all seats. There are no tolls, vignettes or low-emission zones.
- Saddle Road (Route 200): the direct link between Hilo and Waimea/Kona at around 2,000 metres, well built but with fog, cold and climbs, and no petrol station. Fill up beforehand.
- Mauna Kea: the Visitor Information Station is at around 2,800 metres on a paved road. Above it the road is unpaved and steep; four-wheel drive is required and low range (4WD low) recommended; rental campervans are contractually excluded there. Children under 13, pregnant women and people with health problems should not go beyond the station; summit access only from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
- Marine wildlife: keep at least 3 metres (10 feet) from sea turtles, around 15 metres (50 feet) from monk seals and 45 metres (50 yards) from spinner dolphins. Harassment is prosecuted under federal law.
- Sea and weather: strong currents and surf, especially in winter on the north and west coasts; swim only at lifeguarded beaches or when the sea is calm. Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November; heed tsunami sirens and evacuation zones. Fresh water in streams and ponds can transmit leptospirosis – do not drink it, and protect open wounds.
- Sun protection: Hawaiʻi bans the sale of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate; use mineral sunscreen.
- Emergency: 911. Mobile coverage is mostly good on the coasts, with patchy or no signal in Kaʻū, on the Saddle Road and in the gulches of the Hāmākua Coast.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- Warm sleeping bag and fleece jacket: in Volcano and Waimea night temperatures fall well below 10 degrees, while at the same time it is tropically hot on the Kona Coast.
- Rain jacket and quick-drying clothes: Hilo and the Hāmākua Coast are among the rainiest places in the US; in the national park there is misty rain as well.
- Mineral sunscreen, sun hat and rash guard: the lava fields reflect heat, and the coral reefs cannot tolerate chemical filters.
- Snorkelling gear and water shoes: for Two Step at Hōnaunau and for getting in over sharp lava.
- 20-litre water container: several sites have no drinking water, and there is no resupply on the Chain of Craters Road.
- Head torch and sturdy hiking boots: for the crater rim before sunrise, the Kīlauea Iki Trail and the walk to Green Sand Beach over lava ground.

_As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [National Park Service – Hawaiʻi Volcanoes NP: Camping](https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/camp.htm)
- [Recreation.gov – Kulanaokuaiki (keine Reservierung)](https://recreation.gov/camping/poi/258874)
- [Hawaiʻi DLNR State Parks – Camping & Lodging Hawaiʻi Island / Park Notices](https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/camping-lodging/hawaii/)
- [Hawaiʻi DLNR State Parks – Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area](https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/hawaii/hapuna-beach-state-recreation-area/)
- [Hawaiʻi DLNR State Parks – Permits & Fees](https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/camping-lodging/permits-fees/)
- [Hawaiʻi Office of Planning – Draft EA Pololū Trailhead Management Plan (2025)](https://files.hawaii.gov/dbedt/erp/Doc_Library/2025-03-23-HA-DEA-Pololu-Trailhead-Management-Plan.pdf)
- [Hawaiʻi Public Radio – Pololū: Kapazität und Kulturerhalt (2025)](https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2025-03-25/popular-big-island-trail-focuses-on-capacity-cultural-preservation)
- [Hawaiʻi DOT – Tempolimit Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) 60 mph](https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/?p=10577)
- [University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo – Maunakea Visitor Information Station](https://hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea/visitor-information/station)
- [County of Hawaiʻi Parks – Whittington Beach Park](https://www.parks.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/653/1912)

## Which stops are on the route from Hilo to ʻAkaka Falls?

1. **Hilo** (HI)
2. **Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park** (HI)
3. **Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach** (Nāʻālehu, HI): A beach of black volcanic sand on the Big Island's south coast, where green sea turtles often rest on the shore. Keep a respectful distance from the turtles and leave the sand where it is.
4. **Ka Lae** (HI)
5. **Kailua-Kona** (HI)
6. **Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau** (HI)
7. **Kealakekua Bay** (HI)
8. **Hāpuna Beach** (HI)
9. **Hāwī** (HI)
10. **Pololū Lookout** (HI)
11. **Waimea** (HI)
12. **Waipiʻo Lookout** (HI)
13. **ʻAkaka Falls** (HI)

## When is the best time for the route from Hilo to ʻAkaka Falls?

The most pleasant months are usually December–February. Still fine, with some compromises, in March–June and September–November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is Lava fields, black beaches and cloud forest – a campervan loop around Hawaiʻi Island?**
7-day road trip of about 1,564 km (972 mi) with 13 stops, from Hilo to ʻAkaka Falls. About 17 h 21 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Lava fields, black beaches and cloud forest – a campervan loop around Hawaiʻi Island?**
We suggest 7 days: about 17 h 21 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Lava fields, black beaches and cloud forest – a campervan loop around Hawaiʻi Island start and end?**
It starts in Hilo and ends in ʻAkaka Falls.

**Which states does Lava fields, black beaches and cloud forest – a campervan loop around Hawaiʻi Island pass through?**
Hawaii.

**Where can you camp along Lava fields, black beaches and cloud forest – a campervan loop around Hawaiʻi Island?**
OpenStreetMap lists 24 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Black Sand Beach Park Camp, Sugi Grove and Kawaikoi.