Hawaii’s scenic drives are unlike anything on the mainland. In a few hours of driving, you can pass through rainforest so dense the road becomes a green tunnel, cross lava fields that flowed just years ago, climb volcanic slopes above the clouds, and descend to beaches of black, green, or red sand. Every island has at least one world-class drive, and the compact size of the islands means none requires more than half a day.
1. Road to Hana — Maui
Distance: 64 miles | Curves: 620 | Bridges: 59 | Season: Year-round
The most famous scenic drive in Hawaii and one of the most talked-about in the world. The Hana Highway winds along Maui’s lush north coast through 620 curves and 59 one-lane bridges, each turn revealing another waterfall, bamboo forest, or ocean viewpoint. Key stops include Twin Falls (an easy hike to a swimable waterfall), Wai’anapanapa State Park (black sand beach and sea caves), and the Pools of ‘Ohe’o (Seven Sacred Pools) in Haleakalā National Park at the road’s end. Drive time is 2.5-3 hours without stops, but plan a full day — the stops are the point. Start early to avoid oncoming traffic. A Hana Highway reservation may be required during peak season.
2. Chain of Craters Road — Big Island
Distance: 19 miles (one way) | Season: Year-round (check for volcanic closures)
A descent from the summit of Kīlauea volcano through a chain of craters to the coast where lava once flowed into the ocean. The road drops 3,700 feet in 19 miles through some of the most otherworldly terrain in the United States. You’ll drive across recent lava flows — shiny black pāhoehoe and rough ‘a’ā lava stretching to the horizon. The Hōlei Sea Arch at the road’s end is a dramatic volcanic cliff formation. The road ends abruptly where a 2003 lava flow buried the pavement. Check for volcanic activity updates at the park visitor centre before driving — the road occasionally closes during eruptions.
3. Haleakalā Crater Road — Maui
Distance: 38 miles | Highest point: 10,023 ft | Season: Year-round
A drive from sea level to 10,023 feet — the summit of Haleakalā, Maui’s dormant volcano. The road climbs through cattle ranches, cloud forest, and eventually above the clouds into a landscape that looks more like Mars than Hawaii. The sunrise from the summit is legendary and draws crowds, but the sunset is equally spectacular with far fewer people. The temperature drops approximately 3 degrees Fahrenheit per 1,000 feet of elevation — bring warm layers, as it can be 30 degrees colder at the summit than at the beach. Sunrise viewing requires an advance reservation from the National Park Service.
4. Hamakua Coast — Big Island
Distance: 50 miles | Season: Year-round
Highway 19 along the Big Island’s northeastern coast is a lush, tropical drive through former sugar plantation country. The road follows sea cliffs past waterfalls that pour directly into the ocean. Akaka Falls State Park has an easy paved loop trail to a 442-foot waterfall dropping into a gorge surrounded by tropical vegetation. The Waipi’o Valley Lookout at the road’s northern end reveals a black sand beach valley framed by 2,000-foot cliffs — the valley was once home to Hawaiian royalty and is considered sacred. The steep road into the valley requires 4WD.
5. North Shore Drive — Oahu
Distance: 30 miles | Season: Year-round
The drive from Haleiwa to Kahuku along Oahu’s North Shore passes the legendary surf beaches — Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. In winter (November through February), waves can reach 30-40 feet, drawing professional surfers from around the world. In summer, the same beaches are calm enough for swimming. Stop at Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck in Kahuku for iconic garlic shrimp. The Dole Pineapple Plantation on the approach from Honolulu offers a kitschy but fun pineapple garden tour and the world’s largest maze.
6. Waimea Canyon Drive — Kauai
Distance: 20 miles | Highest point: 4,000 ft | Season: Year-round
Mark Twain reportedly called Waimea Canyon the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” and the comparison has visual merit. The canyon is 14 miles long, one mile wide, and over 3,600 feet deep, with red and green layered walls that glow in the morning light. The drive from Waimea town to the canyon and Kōke’e State Park passes multiple viewpoints, each more dramatic than the last. The Pu’u Hinahina Lookout on a clear day offers views of the island of Ni’ihau — the forbidden island closed to public access. Morning visits have the clearest views before afternoon clouds form.
7. Saddle Road (Highway 200) — Big Island
Distance: 53 miles | Highest point: 6,632 ft | Season: Year-round
Crossing the high plateau between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa — the two tallest volcanoes on Earth measured from their base on the ocean floor. The completely rebuilt highway is smooth and modern, replacing the narrow, treacherous road that rental companies once banned. The landscape transitions from lush rainforest near Hilo to barren lava fields at the summit, then into dry grasslands descending toward Kona. A side road from mile marker 28 climbs to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station at 9,200 feet, where free stargazing programs run nightly — the summit of Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet hosts the world’s premier astronomical observatory complex.
Hawaii driving tip: Many rental car contracts in Hawaii prohibit driving on unpaved roads — this matters because some of the best stops (Waipi’o Valley, Polihale Beach, South Point) require unpaved access. Read your rental agreement carefully and consider purchasing extra coverage if you plan to go off-pavement. Also, gas prices in Hawaii are the highest in the US — budget $5-6 per gallon (as of 2026) and fill up in larger towns where prices are lower.
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