# Road trips in Hawaii > 5 road trips and 18 hand-picked places in Hawaii, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. Source: https://camping-spirit.com/roadtrips/hawaii/ 5 road trips and 18 hand-picked places in Hawaii, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping. ## Road trips through Hawaii - [Road to Hana, Maui](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/road-to-hana/): 620 curves and 59 bridges through rainforest, past waterfalls to black sand at Waiʻānapanapa. - [Hawaiʻi Island: Kona to the volcano](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/big-island/): Coffee country, black sand beaches and the steaming summit of Kīlauea. - [Kauaʻi from Hanalei to Waimea Canyon](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b8-kauai-loop/): From the green north shore past a seabird lighthouse and waterfalls, around the south shore to the red walls of Waimea Canyon and the Nā Pali cliffs. - [Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b17-oahu-circle/): Around the east end of Oʻahu from Honolulu, past a crater, a snorkelling bay and a blowhole to the Windward coast and the North Shore surf towns. - [Kohala and the Hāmākua Coast: Kona to Hilo the northern way](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b17-kohala-hamakua/): From Kona to a royal temple, valley lookouts at the ends of the road and the waterfalls of the Hāmākua Coast to Hilo. ## Places worth the detour in Hawaii - [Waiʻānapanapa State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/waianapanapa/): A black sand beach, sea caves and lava arches on the Road to Hana. Entry and parking must be reserved. - [Kīlauea caldera](https://camping-spirit.com/places/kilauea/): The summit of one of the world’s most active volcanoes, with steam vents and lava fields along Crater Rim Drive. - [Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-kilauea-point/): A 1913 lighthouse on a cliff above nesting seabirds, with whales offshore in winter. A reservation is required. - [Waimea Canyon Lookout](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-waimea-canyon/): The main viewpoint over a red and green canyon about 3,600 feet deep, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. - [Kalalau Lookout](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-kalalau-lookout/): A viewpoint at about 4,000 feet over the fluted cliffs of the Nā Pali Coast. Come early, before the clouds fill the valley. - [Diamond Head State Monument](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-diamond-head/): The tuff crater behind Waikīkī, climbed on a steep trail of 1.6 miles round trip with stairs and old bunkers. Out-of-state visitors must reserve entry and parking online; start early to avoid the heat. - [Pololū Valley Lookout](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-pololu/): The end of Highway 270, where cliffs drop into a green valley with a black boulder beach. The trail down is short but steep and muddy; parking along the road is very limited. - [ʻAkaka Falls State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-akaka-falls/): A 442-foot waterfall seen from a paved loop of under half a mile through rain forest with bamboo and ginger. Non-residents pay an entry and parking fee; the loop has steps. - [Wailua Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-wailua-falls/): A twin waterfall about 80 feet high, seen from a roadside viewpoint just above Lihue. Morning light is best. - [Spouting Horn](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b8-spouting-horn/): A lava-tube blowhole on the south shore that shoots sea spray into the air with a loud hiss, strongest at high tide. - [Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-hanauma-bay/): A sheltered bay in a volcanic crater with reef fish and green turtles, popular for snorkelling. Visitors need an online reservation and watch a short film first; it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. - [Hālona Blowhole](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-halona-blowhole/): A lava tube in the sea cliff that shoots spray skyward when swells run, at a lookout on Kalanianaʻole Highway. Whales pass in winter; the small car park turns over quickly. - [Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-makapuu/): A paved path of about two miles round trip to lookouts above a red-roofed lighthouse and the Windward coast. It is exposed with no shade; go in the morning, and look for humpbacks in winter. - [Kualoa Regional Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-kualoa-park/): A beach park facing the islet of Mokoliʻi, with the fluted Koʻolau cliffs behind. It has picnic lawns and permitted camping; park along the grass and watch the currents offshore. - [Waimea Bay Beach Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-waimea-bay/): A wide bay on the North Shore, calm for swimming in summer and home to huge surf in winter. The car park is small and fills quickly; do not enter the water when the waves are big. - [Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-puukohola/): A large stone temple built by Kamehameha I in 1790–91 on a hill above Kawaihae Bay. Visitors view it from a short trail, as entry to the heiau is not allowed; sharks often cruise the bay below. - [Waipiʻo Valley Lookout](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-waipio-lookout/): A viewpoint at the end of Highway 240 over a deep valley and black-sand beach of cultural importance to Hawaiians. The steep road into the valley is restricted to residents and permitted tours. - [Rainbow Falls, Hilo](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b17-rainbow-falls-hilo/): An 80-foot waterfall on the Wailuku River in Hilo, falling over a lava cave. Come on a sunny morning to see a rainbow in the spray; the lookout is steps from the free car park. ## FAQs **What are the best road trips in Hawaii?** Popular routes include Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaiʻi Island: Kona to the volcano, Kauaʻi from Hanalei to Waimea Canyon and Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore. CampingSpirit has 5 trip guides that pass through Hawaii, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map. **Which places in Hawaii are worth a detour?** Our editors recommend Waiʻānapanapa State Park, Kīlauea caldera, Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Waimea Canyon Lookout, Kalalau Lookout and Diamond Head State Monument.