Drive The Road To Hana Like A Pro With These Must Know Tips
Key Takeaways:
- Start your Road to Hana journey early, ideally by 8 a.m., to maximize your experience.
- Prioritize the best stops and skip mediocre ones to make the most of your time.
- Focus on enjoying the overall experience rather than trying to see everything in one day.
- Avoid driving in the dark due to the road's numerous twists and turns for safety.
- Be respectful to local residents by allowing them to pass and adhering to designated areas.
Table of Contents:
The Hana Highway (State Highway 360) begins in Kahului, but the scenic portion really starts near Pa‘ia Town on Maui’s north shore. From Pa‘ia to the turnaround point at Kipahulu, the drive takes about 2½ hours one way without stops, or roughly 5 hours round trip.
Once you factor in waterfalls, viewpoints, hikes, and other stops, a full Road to Hana day can easily take 8–12 hours.
Here are our top Road to Hana tips to help you make the most of the drive in one day.
Road to Hana Tip #1: Start Early (seriously, get out of bed early!)
Good to Know: The better stops on the Road to Hana are located towards the turnaround point at Kipahulu. Therefore, it’s important that you start your day early to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the drive and explore the wonderful stops along the way.
Rule of Thumb: Ideally, you will want to reach Pa'ia Town by 8 a.m. That way you’ll have the good part of your day to enjoy the drive.
If your hotel or condo is located in West Maui (Ka'anapali, Lahaina, or areas nearby), remember that it takes an hour or so to get to Pa'ia (and you might run into some commuting traffic). So you should try to leave at least by 7 a.m. from West Maui.
Road to Hana Tip #2: Skip the So-So Stops
Good to Know: There are so many places to stop on the Road to Hana, you just can’t do it all. Also, some of the stops on the Road to Hana are either like the others down the road, or are mediocre in comparison to the really good ones.
Rule of Thumb: Plan for your trip. Know the best stops on the Road to Hana if you are visiting for the first time. To help you maximize your time and experience, take Shaka Guide's GPS driving tour that guides you to all the best stops and things to do.
And remember, do NOT visit stops with no trespassing signs. You might have seen them on Instagram or in a guidebook, but there are no trespassing signs for a reason!
Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
Road to Hana Tip #3: Focus on the Whole Experience
Good to Know: You can get a taste of many Road to Hana stops without going very far. So instead of spending a lot of time at a few stops, focus your experience on what you will see and do throughout the entire day.
Rule of Thumb: Remember that there are a number of waterfalls, viewpoints, hikes, and beaches to visit on the Road to Hana. It’s okay if you don’t do them all. And it’s okay if you only hike the first mile of a 5-mile hike.
The point is not to conquer--but to enjoy.
Road to Hana Tip #4: Avoid Driving in the Dark
Good to Know: The Road to Hana has hundreds - literally hundreds - of twists and turns. Driving the road can be a daunting task once the sun goes down.
In the winter, the sun sets at about 5:30 p.m. In the summer, it's closer to 7:30 p.m. Be sure to check what time the sun sets so you can plan your visit accordingly.
Rule of Thumb: For your safety, avoid driving in the dark on Road to Hana. Ever ride on a roller coaster in the dark? The experience is comparable, except you are driving the roller coaster this time! To avoid driving in the dark, try to leave Kipahulu by at least 4 p.m.
This way, you can enjoy a relaxing return drive with the possibility of stopping at a few places that you might have missed earlier.
Road to Hana Tip #5: Be Respectful
Good to Know: Hana and the surrounding communities are home to thousands of residents who must drive this road every day. You might be on vacation, but their daily lives are greatly impacted by tourism.
Rule of Thumb: Please be respectful by letting locals pass on the road, picking up your trash, and sticking to sanctioned spots only.
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RELATED: 10 Ways to Be a Safe and Responsible Traveler in Hawaii
Shaka Guide has three Road to Hana driving tours. Download our Maui app to explore the Road to Hana on your own terms.
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