The afternoon light gives the more barren landscape of lava fields a surreal feel, and the views of the ocean from high up on the volcano face are amazing.
I agree with previous poster Dave. Use your horn around corners, and take it slow. And the unpaved section does not last the entire way around. You come back to pavement after only a few miles. I went to sacred pools from the standard north East and then returned back via the back side.
I was nervous a bit for the initial miles where the road is narrow and un-paved sometimes, however the road improved to a brand new looking one after that pillani Hwy and my gosh the scenery and views were from the another world. Watching the mix of ocean, lava rock structures and lush greens from a great hight was a serene experience. I was driving a Jeep Cherokee and it was no fuss at all. My wife and I just completed the Hana loop literally two hours ago.
The road to Hana, while a lot of fun, was a bit of a letdown to me. I also feel that highway on Kauai west of Hanalei ending at Haena state park were more scenic. We continued past Hana in our Jeep in flagrant violation of our rental contract. Past Hana, there are a lot of sections that are narrow and required very cautious driving.
Dealing with oncoming traffic was a pain in some places. The hilight was the section between mileposts 40 and The maps say that section is narrow, and they are not kidding. We were lucky enough to not hit oncoming traffic, but if we had, it would have been tough.
The road is a single lane hugging the side of the cliffs with a steep drop down. It is not for the faint of heart! However, the scenery is spectacualr and is what makes it worth it. They are occasionally interrupted by paved sections.
The biggest surprise is that the section between MP is, while paved, bumpy as all hell. Overall, I think the drive around the south-side was worth it — the scenery is spectacular, and the driving is exciting. We are going back in September and I really want to do the whole thing this time.
Last time not everyone was in agreement. This time I think they will be! Thanks, guys, for sharing your experiences of driving the back side of the road to Hana. Experiences will vary. The park ranger actually recommended it, stating it would be a faster way to get back to our condo.
I was too focused on avoiding the cows, rocks, cars, etc. We were aware of the possible difficulties and the rental car company told us we would be responsible for repairs or rescues.
They however did not say we could not drive in that area. We loved the view, the setting sun, the slopes of the volcano,but yes, it was trecherous. It scared us nearly to death. We had already seen a cow on the road and laughed at that but it was still light then.
Fortuantely for us and the horses was the fact that they were on the outer parts of the road and not in the middle! Would we do it again? I have to say, yes. There was nearly zero traffic and nearly so on the road to Hana on that Sunday. But all and all, it was an experience we are extremely glad we had and will remember for a lifetime.
There are very few roads like that in Florida where we live. That horse situation would have definitely gotten my heart rate up. Thanks for commenting with your experience. I am excited! My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon for Maui and I have reading about the Road to Hana for weeks now and it is exactly what I am looking for.
I appreciate all the detailed descriptions… I am from Tampa where we have NO roads like that however we have plenty of potholes and uneven streets and I visit Tallahassee, Florida often where there are tons of unpaved and narrow roads and forest areas. I think we are really going to enjoy the drive and scenes… even if I am a little startled. Thanks for your stories… I am looking forward to it. Did the Road to Hana during our honeymoon in November of Unbelievable scenery, sheer drops off the side of the road…a little danger to spice up the drive.
Be careful — make sure you are alert and comfortable though…it can be an exhausting drive. Would I do it again? I just had to chime in, amongst all the tourists here with warnings! However: you should keep in mind that if something does happen like you hit a cow! Also, something that has not been mentioned is that the road is not always open!
Then you have to turn around and go all the way back to Hana. If you really must try, start in the morning from Hana so you have time to get back before dark if necessary.
Readers, I live here on Maui. When I go to Hana I always drive all the way around. I start at about 8 or 9-ish in the AM and time it so I can be looping around the backside around PM to see the spectacular sunset and scenery. I have lived here for many years and this trip, though long, never gets old. I love what MauiBoy had to say. My wife and I timed things perfectly on our honeymoon when we took the road to Hana.
We asked a number of locals before we went when we heard the warnings of the backside. We were told it was nothing to be afraid of as long as we could drive those types of roads. It was a little small of a road and bumpy but nothing crazy…….. Coming fron California and having driven on dirt roads and small highways, it was not too stressful especially when considering the payoff.
The views, the waves hitting the rocks, the sun going down the beautiful grasses and plants, the waves blowing through blowholes in the rocks like a giant whale was onshore…..
When we visit Maui again, I am sure we will do it again. Traveling around that bottom side of the island as the sun set and seeing things from that perspective was awesome!! Cindy — probably easier. Since the road is so narrow, it would be easier to pass oncoming traffic. I recommend you check with the motorcycle rental company to see what they have to say. Cindy — I like your question. Back road can get really bumpy and rough at the times.
You could do it on cruiser, but it would not be much fun. We did on motorcycle. But it is tiring exp for the rider me.
I am thinking we may do it backwards doing the south side in the morning and finishing up with dinner in Paia. Hi Jim — maybe someone else can speak for that experience. If you try it, please let us know what you thought of it. We just got home from a week in Maui and we did do the road to Hana back to front. No problems with the back road at all. I have been on way worse roads here in the mountains on NC.
I think that the south east arid side of the Haleakala crater was the prettiest! Thanks for the report, Jim. Are you from the NC mountains? In Newland…well actually not in Newland, but we had a Newland address. I grew up between Newland and Crossnore.
I always plan to drive Hana on my first day of a trip since the time change has not set in yet. That way I can get an early start. What are the best days to drive to Hana…less tourists and local traffic??? Drove the whole way in a rented mustang. The difficult stuff is at the beginning, then it levels off to a rough but wide pasture land that you drive on for most of the way.
We also timed it to see the sunset as we rounded the island. It was stunning. Would not drive at night or during an earthquake. It feels like another world and it feels like you are never going to get to civilization. BTW, I am 53 and my husband is 73 and we had no problem once we got past the first couple of hairy spots. Only came across a few cars but this was right after the road had opened back up after the bridge was taken out by an earthquake.
I can give one sound piece of advice — regardless of how good a driver you are — DO NOT do the drive at night. Within half an hour the sun was gone and the small unpaved section of the backside goes on for what seems like an eternity when you are going 20 mph in complete dark.
I assume the views would be magnificent, buy all we saw were boats out on the water, trucks barreling by, and yes — cows in the middle of the road.
The worst part was when we finally made it to the paved road, were less than 5 miles from S. Kihei where our hotel was, and saw locals going through the gate that connects the backside to Kihei. Instead we had to go 20 miles north up to the top of the crater to the airport, and then all the way back around again. I would have paid a pretty penny to make it through that coded gate! DO NOT try that one unless you want to waste half a day of your life.
If you do stop in the villages around Hana, do not believe the lies that its only a 1 mile stretch around the island thats rough. The whole thing is a challenge. Regarding doing the trip at night, the first time I drove it was at about 4 am, to catch the sunrise in Hana. I thought it would be easier at night, because you can see headlights approaching from around a curve before you can see the cars.
Not always true on the Hana road! Twice I saw an approaching car only when its headlights appeared mere feet in front of me as it emerged from a hairpin curve hidden by vegetation or a bridge. Had the other driver and I not been disciplined enough to stay on our respective sides of the road, it would have surely been an accident.
I have done it the up and back way from Paia twice, and am going back in a few weeks. Another question on the backside part of the Hana road. I drove the road on the 6th of this month and after reading this website, I had planed to turn around at the Oheo Gulch, but I noticed on my drive that very few people, especially tour groups and rental cars, drove back on the road to Hana to Paia. I asked the Park Ranger at Oheo Gulch and she suggested to keep driving and that most people do not turn back.
I was not looking forward to driving back because I would be like a salmon swimming upstream I would be passing many more cars than before , so I pressed on in our convertable Mustang. The road was dry, dusty and bumpy at times, but it was nice to be in some different scenery, and overall, I felt the drive was easier and more fun than what I had been through. Plus, the few locals I passed much less than earler , seemed to drive slower and with more care than on the paved sections earlier.
If the weather is good, go for it! Keith — thanks for sharing your experience. Here at Go Visit Hawaii, I try to present the facts so that people can make an informed decision. I do want visitors to know that there are definitely some risks involved in driving that back section. I decided to take the back road, but walked it. A great experiance and would encourage everyone to try it. You really get to be with nature and live the trip. It is not bad at all. But the views are not so incredible either.
Make sure to stop at the local winery at the way back. Hi, I just completed the loop around Hana, and it was pretty crazy, luckily there was a small caravan of us, cars at any time. I know for 1 I hate coming back down and being on the outside lane, seeing all the cliff edges on my passenger side freaks me out, so I opted to go all the way around.
I had gone to hana and back the day before as well. I would say that it does get pretty bumpy for about a 5 mile stretch, but the dirt roads are not a problem so much as the narrow one laners, but there are usually spots to pull aside and let one person thru, we had to do it about 3 times, not so bad.
Also, as for type of car there was a nissan versa, a mustang and seabring. The sun was still pretty crazy in some parts, especially towards the end. And you reach nice roads a lot faster this way and the scenery is really nice. Oh and some of the dirt roads are actually quite wide towards the end, locals were passing us actually.
All in all worth the risk, give it a go. And that honk horn sign only appears twice on the road to Hana and one of those times is before reaching Hana.
I did the drive with my wife on our honeymoon in If I go back with kids as well, I am not sure I would risk it with them in the car though. But it is quite a thrill. Did this one going on two weeks ago. I first did the Kahikili Route in the NW section of Maui so this one was more or less a cakewalk in comparison.
Then it opens up and you have five miles of dirt driving with some pavement here and there. This section was in good shape but you will travel slowly. The most annoying thing is the next ten miles or so which is on rough paved road that is only marginally faster then the dirt road. The actual terrain is utterly barren almost like a desert after you pass Kipahulu. Quite a few cars are on this road which should give you some security if things go bad.
We will be in Maui in 2 weeks! We are taking the Pride of America Cruise and will have 2 days there. The first day, we plan on traversing the Road to Hana. We are staying the night at Peace of Maui. Day 2 brings an early awakening for the sunrise of Haleakala. My question is: How long does it take to get from Hana to the Tedeschi Winery if taking the loop?
Or, would it be better to double back and go to the winery after the Haleakala sunrise? I drove the road to Hana with 3 girlfriends in a little Mustang convertible. We were also told by the rentacar company not to venture beyond Hana. Being young and stupid, we decided to anyway: The road leading up to Hana had many beautiful falls and hikes.
However, not all were marked. We purchased a mile by mile CD to give us a heads up on the stops. All of the little fresh fruit and coconut candy stands were also very charming. Two of the girls in my group got pretty sick with all of the windy roads.
They took some motion sickness meds and felt better. Once we hit the tiny town of Hana, the roads started getting very messy and very narrow. The bridges were even smaller and we encountered animals sometimes in the middle of the streets!!
Right after Hana there is a red and black sand beach which were cool. The views after Hana are spectacular. Overall, an amazign experience. I would have left much earlier if I had known of all the sites and the risky conditions. We returned from a fantastic trip to Maui a few weeks ago. We changed our mind about our route to Hana as we were on our way to Kahului, and it was the best decision ever! First, it was September, so way less people around than at other times of the year.
We got to go to the winery on the way. That can mean that you might find yourself crawling along behind slower drivers at time. And there will also be more competition for parking spaces at the most popular places of interest. Although there a few fruit stands and roadside casual eateries along the way, the Road To Hana offers very few options for grabbing a full meal.
So it good to stock up on drinks and snacks before setting out. But save a little room for some fresh banana bread!
And also keep in mind that Hana — with a population of about — only has a very small selection of dining choices. So pack some tp and hand sanitizer.
You can waste A LOT of time on the Hana Highway if you aren't careful, so knowing which places to stop at in advance is very helpful and efficient. Q: What is the best time to start? A: If you want the honest answer - then start early; really early! We've dedicated an entire article to the topic of When to Start the Road to Hana? If you start later in the morning, expect a lot of traffic and a less pleasant experience on the highway due to congestion.
Q: Is the drive to Hana and beyond safe? A: It's very safe for drivers who can keep their eyes on the road; trust us, they'll be tempted to look around.
The highway is fully paved and even though it has many curves and one-lane bridges, the drive is very safe. For more information about driving the highway, check out our Driving Tips for the Hana Highway.
Q: How many waterfalls are there on the drive? A: That depends, but there are a lot of them. It depends because if it's rained recently then waterfalls burst forth from almost every curve on the highway. But if it has been dry, some falls may dry up and not be flowing. EMI, a company that diverts stream water for the hungry cane fields in central Maui, also can cause certain falls to cease flowing - again, usually when it's dry.
In our opinion, the best waterfalls are actually beyond Hana town, with Wailua Falls being the crown jewel. If you're up for a little hiking, however, you can even get a good view of ft. Waimoku Falls at the end of the Pipiwai Trail.
For more information on all the major falls along the drive, see our Road to Hana Waterfalls entry. A: Not to toot our own horn- well OK, maybe a little bit- but we have written an exclusive Hana Highway - Mile by Mile Guidebook that details the drive's major attractions, and we think it's a great resource to visitors.
We started writing the book years ago, and after dozens of adventures along the highway, I think it's fair to say we've done our homework and research. We've guided thousands of visitors along the drive , and we've had an incredible amount of positive feedback from our recommendations and rating system in the book. We wouldn't advise visitors to use any smartphone apps for the drive, as a cell phone signal is hard to come by on the trip.
Additionally, the GPS tours can be problematic in our opinion, so we're not especially a fan of those either - sorry GPS folks, just being honest. Also, a quick word of caution about some guidebooks: many will tell you about places that are on private property or that can be dangerous to visit. If it sounds like the book is "revealing" anything too exclusive, it probably is - so avoid those locations.
Our guidebook states explicitly which places are on private property and which should be considered kapu or off-limits. Q: Is the drive really worth it? A: Unless you don't like scenic drives with beautiful sights, waterfalls, and lush green surroundings - yes, the drive is worth it. Still, some people don't care much for the drive, and that prompted us to write an article about that topic: Is the Hana Highway Really Worth it? If you have any reservations about the drive, that article should clear up several essential factors for you and help you decide if the drive is right for you and your family.
We have driven the road countless times by ourselves, but we understand that going solo is certainly not for everyone. Whether you want to ride the twists and turns in luxury, see the sights from high above, or get an up-close personal view on two feet or wheels! Just remember that we feature only the best Road to Hana tours and they tend to fill up quickly, so book early to ensure availability.
This short checklist is meant to be a quick guide for what to do and what to take on the drive. As we mentioned earlier, the drive has so many attractions it would be impossible to see them all in a single day. If you're going to spend a night in Hana, which is advisable if you have enough time, we highly recommend you stay at Hana Kai Maui , one of our favorite stop in this area.
This will allow you to visit the attractions before Hana town one day, and the sights beyond it the next. The latter is great for people who aren't too keen on the curves or bridges, but honestly, we still prefer to make the drive ourselves.
Don't worry about getting a 4x4 or anything special, even if you plan to drive the road beyond the Oheo Gulch. Any regular car will do. There's a reason why the Road to Hana is so incredibly lush.
It goes without saying. Anyone that's stayed at the Travaasa Hotel Hana will agree that it's the best place in Hana to stay. You can't go anywhere in Hana Town without being next to the hotel grounds.
They have some great Kama'aina deals, and they have a bunch of complimentary activities that make Hana that much more interesting. This is an interesting questions we get from those that aren't staying for very long. If you go straight to Hana and stay the night, you can do it at any minimum, but most people like to have some relaxing time along with adventure, which requires a rest before and after big drives.
We think anyone visiting for a week or more should consider Hana. For those of you staying longer, check out this 9-Day Maui itinerary. And for those of you wondering what time is it in Hawaii , we got you covered. If your rental car agreement allows you to drive the backside of Haleakala, it might be worth it. BUT keep in mind that the road isn't paved for large stretches, so it's pretty bumpy.
Sunset while driving this road is pretty nice, and you can stop for dinner in Kula or Makawao on the way back. While it is largely up to your fitness level and willingness to get off the beaten path, we absolutely recommend the Classic Canyon Rappelling Tour with Rappel Maui, which requires absolutely no experience and offers visitors the chance to rappel down several cascading waterfalls and swim in natural pools on a acre botanical garden, located about half way down the Hana Highway.
With courses at both Haleakala and Kaanapali, your unforgettable zipline experience is just down the road! Hana FAQ.
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