Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Walk along the crater ridge, explore the inside of a lava tube and drive down to the coast to see the ancient petroglyphs. Hawaii Volcano National Park is full on interesting and unique experiences that make the perfect day trip while in Hawaii. This Volcano National Park itinerary will tell you exactly how to plan your trip including general information as well as suggestions of how to organize your time in the park.
We spent a day exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and were blown away by the scenery and experience. You can see more about planning a your visit to this national park on our Hawaii Volcanoes page or check out our 2 day itinerary to the Big Island of Hawaii.
You can find the itinerary for this park in the first section below. If you are looking for more information on planning your visit, continue scrolling to the bottom of this post.
Want to take a tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? Taking a tour is a great way to make the most of your time in the park. Most tours will hit the highlights of the park and provide transportation. If you don't have a car, this is a great choice. Here are some of the top rated tours in Hawaii Volcano National Park: BIG ISLAND IN A DAY: This highly rated tour is a great all in one tour, especially if you are short on time. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK DRIVING TOUR: This self guided tour is great way to make the most of your drive in the park. The tour includes history, legends, stories and more. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK ECO TOUR: Explore the park on this ecotour that includes the top sites and some hiking. Explore more tours in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
An Overview of the Park
In this Hawaii Volcano National Park itinerary, you will see the highlights of the park including exploring the region around the crater as well as the sites down Chain of Craters Road. You can easily spend a half day exploring the park just around the crater and then take the afternoon to drive down to the coast.
The drive down Chain of Craters Rd to the coast takes about 1.5 hours and offers incredible views and a different perspective on the park. Most of the hikes throughout the park are short and easy so you can do several short hikes throughout the day.
With just one day, you won’t have quite enough time to visit Mauna Loa unless you are up for a longer day of driving.
See the Best Hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Top Volcano National Park Tips
- Follow all safety signs and note that the area is unstable. To get up to date safety information, visit the National Park Service page on the park.
- Start your day early. To fully see the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in one day you should plan to enter the park as early as possible and at least by 9 am. We arrived just before the visitor center opened at 9 and go a jump start on the crowds. By the time we finished our morning hikes, the parking lot was full.
- Dress appropriately. The weather in the park around the crater is much cooler than the coast. In addition, many of the trails don’t have shade, so bring plenty of layers and bring water, sunscreen and snacks.
- Stay on the trails and practice leave no trace. Walking off the trails can damage the fragile ecosystem AND can be dangerous.
1 Day Ultimate Volcano National Park Itinerary
Start your morning as early as possible. The entrance gate is open 24 hours a day, but the visitor center doesn’t open until 9. Note that this itinerary has a lot of hiking involved but you can easily skip a few of the hikes.
Stop at the Visitor Center
Even if you arrive before 9 you can stop at the visitor center to see any park updates that may be posted or use the bathroom. We enjoyed the visitors center and learn lots about the history and plants and animals in the park. The exhibits were interesting and we enjoyed looking at the maps and doing some last minute planning.
If you arrive really early – skip to the morning hike first and then stop at the visitor center after your hike.
Hike the Kīlauea Iki Trail as a Loop (including a stop at Thurston Lava Tube)
To do this hike, you can park at several locations. We left our car at the visitor center since it was early, but you can also drive to the Kīlauea Iki Trail. This route is slightly different from others you see and includes the Thurston Lava Tube and the Sulpher Banks Trail. The NPS service has a similar hiking route that is helpful to follow. You can hike this loop in either direction – we chose to go counterclockwise.
* If you don’t want to walk down into the crater, you can also skip that part of the hike and simply hike the Sulphur Banks Trail and Crater Rim Trail as an out and back. This avoid almost all the elevation gain.
Distance: 3.8 miles Elevation Gain: 725 feet Difficulty: Moderate Timing: 2-3 hours
From the visitor center, hike the Sulphur Banks Trail. We really enjoyed this trail and it is generally short and easy. Make sure to stay on the trail in this area and follow posted signs.
The Sulphur Banks Trail ends at an overlook of the crater. From here follow the Crater Rim Trail along the edge of the Crater. This part of the trail is paved and very easy walking. Most of the trail is right along the crater edge with a small section that goes through some forest.
At the viewing area at the end of the Crater Rim Trail, descend into the crater on the Kīlauea Iki Trail. The trail descends some stairs until it reaches the bottom of the crater. This part of the hike is really interesting as you are walking right across a lava bed and there are some vents with steam coming up around you. Follow the stacked rocks to find your way.
At the far and of the crater ascend up a series of switchbacks that may be muddy if there has been rain. It was dry when we were here so not really an issue. At the crater rim, walk to the Thurston Lava Tube.
The Thurston Lava Tube formed when flowing lava began to cool forming a hard outer shell. When the lava stopped flowing and drained away the tube was left. The Thurston Lava Tube is paved, well lit and easy to explore.
After enjoying the Lava tube, finish your hike by walking the connector trail back to the visitor center.
This entire hike took us about 2.5 hours including some time with a ranger who told us more about the crater. The hike really covers the best and most interesting things to see in this part of the park.
Before heading down to the coast, use the bathroom if needed.
Start the Drive Down Chain of Craters Road and Stop for a Picnic Lunch at the Devastation Trail
Depending on your timing, it is likely close to lunch. Drive the short distance down the Chain of Craters Road and stop for a picnic lunch at the Devastation Trail Parking lot. This gets you away from the bustle of the visitor center. Take the very short walk for just the start of the Devastation Trail. This is a large pile of cinder left behind after an eruption. It’s interesting to see the plant life trying to get a hold in this challenging environment.
Drive to the Sea Arch
After lunch continue driving down to the coast on Chain of Craters Road. This is a fascinating drive that gives you a fresh perspective of the park. You will drive through lava fields and be able to see the paths of many different eruptions over time. The road is well paved with long switchbacks.
At the base of the hill, the lava field extends in a plain our towards the coast where to plunges into the see. Once you reach the base of the hill continue on to the end of the road. At one point, this road continued along the coast but recent eruptions covered the road. To see the sea arch, park right at the end of the road and walk a very short distance down to the overlook. The sea arch is ok, but it was even more interesting to see where the dramatic lava coastline meets the crashing waves of the Pacific.
Stop to See the Petroglyphs
Retrace your drive back up Chain of Crater Road. Just before you begin ascending, you will see the pull off for the Pu’u Loa Petrogpyh Trail. This 1.5 mile trail goes through the lava field to a boardwalk area where you can see several well preserved and interesting petroglyphs.
If you are too tired (and hot) to hike out this far, cross the road and walk on the trail here for about 7 minutes to see some petroglyphs. Enjoy the heat before heading back up Chain of Craters Road towards the visitor center. At this point it is likely late afternoon and time to head back to your hotel.
Optional: Visit Mauna Loa
If you go an early start or just want some more time in the park, you can also drive up to Mauna Loa.
This drive is about 17 miles each way and goes along the side of Mauna Loa – The start of this scenic drive is just outside the main entrance of the park. We did not do this drive on our Volcano National Park itinerary because we were tired after a long day in the park and still had a drive back to our hotel.
General Things to Know About Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Best Time to Visit the Park
You can visit Hawaii and do this Volcano National Park itinerary at any time through the year. The temperature is very consistent although much cooler at the altitude. If you drive down to the coast on Chain of Craters Rd, the temperature will increase by about 30 degrees. Be prepared for a range of conditions.
Is 1 Day Enough?
In our opinion, one day in Volcano National Park is the perfect amount of time to spend in this park. If you plan to explore every corner of the park, you can easily spend 2 days. It is also possible to see the park in 1/2 day although you will either spend all your time driving or only have time to visit the crater area of the park. Below are some suggestions on how to adjust your itinerary:
Half Day Hawaii Volcano National Park Itinerary
If you only have time for a half day Volcano National Park itinerary, I would do just the first half of the itinerary described below. Basically you will hike the Kīlauea Iki Trail as a Loop. This gives you the highlights in this part of the park. With just a half day you won’t have time to drive down Chain of Craters Road to the coast.
Volcanoes National Park 2 Day Itinerary
If you are planning a 2 day Volcano National Park itinerary, you can easily spread out the activities. For day 1 – I would recommend the Kīlauea Iki Trail as a Loop. In the afternoon drive up to Mauna Loa to explore this less visited part of the park.
On your 2nd day, take your time and drive down Chain of Craters Road to the sea arch on the coast. Stop at the Petroglyphs and then enjoy stopping at some of the less visited craters and hikes along this route. The National Park service has a good overview of the route with some addition suggestions on places to stop.
Entrance Fees and Logistics
In order to enter the park, you will need to pay the park entrance fee of $30 or use an annual park pass. The park is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week with some exceptions on holidays. You can see the most updated schedule on the NPS website.
How to Get to the Park
The park is easy to get to on a well paved road and is under 3 hours from almost anywhere on the island of Hawaii. To get to the park itself, you can take Highway 11 (Hawaii Belt Road) southbound, which leads directly to the park entrance. If you’re arriving in Kona, the drive to the park takes around 2.5 to 3 hours. Take Highway 11 eastbound, passing through beautiful landscapes and scenic views until you reach the park entrance. It’s advisable to rent a car to have flexibility and convenience in exploring the park and its various attractions. Alternatively, guided tours and transportation services are available from nearby towns, providing organized trips to the park if you prefer not to drive yourself.
You can rent a car directly from the airport and search for the best rate on Discover Cars.
What to Wear and Pack for your Itinerary
It’s important to pack right for your day in the park. In addition to the clothing and supplies below, you should plan to pack a picnic lunch and fully gas up your car. Once you get in the park, there are no places to stop to eat or get gas. Below is a general packing list for the park and if you are planning to do some of the hikes in the region, make sure you pack the top essential hiking items.
In general we recommend hiking in short or lightweight pants and a t-shirt with layers to add on top if needed.
In general for a day in Volcanoes National Park that includes sightseeing, drives and hiking, we recommend:
- Hiking boots/shoes
- 2 full water bottles
- Raincoat
- Warm Top Layer
- Plenty of Snacks and a picnic Lunch
- Camera/phone
- Map (grab one in the visitor center)
- Day pack
- Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
Common Questions about a Volcano National Park Itinerary
Can I see flowing lava in the park? The availability of flowing lava varies and is dependent on volcanic activity at the time of your visit.
Are pets allowed in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
Pets are generally not allowed on trails or in most areas of the park. However, they are permitted in designated areas such as campgrounds and parking lots, as long as they are kept on a leash.
Can I camp in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
Yes, camping is allowed in designated campgrounds within the park. Namakanipaio Campground is the only established campground within the park boundaries, offering tent and cabin camping options. Permits and reservations may be required, so it’s advisable to plan ahead and check the park’s official website for details.
More Information About Hawaii and Other National Parks
If you have more time on the big island, one of the top activities is to hike and explore Mahaiula and Makalawena Beach
Maui: Check out our 5 day itinerary to Maui. Make sure to visit Haleakala National Park and explore the northeast part of the island.
Looking more more information on US National Parks, see how we plan a National Parks Trip and find all our guides to the parks we’ve visited.
