How to Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in One Day
The Big Island of Hawaii is not only known for its colorful sand beaches and its stunning waterfalls but mainly because it is home to the most dynamic national park in the US, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It is renowned for having one of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea and the largest subaerial volcano in the world, Mauna Loa. I don’t know about you guys but I don’t need a volcanologist to tell me that’s pretty awesome!
If you’ve been following my blog for quite sometime, then you should know that I love all things national park. So exploring Hawaii Volcanoes is definitely a no-brainer. Despite not having the best weather during our trip (it rained a lot), we thoroughly enjoyed our time in the island and part of it is because of this national park. The park encompasses over 300 thousand acres of land and offers over 100 miles of hiking trails. A few days should probably do the trick but if you’re like us and only have a limited time in the island, a day trip would be more appropriate.
Early Morning:
Hike the Kilauea Iki Trail (4 miles RT; Difficulty – medium)
How cool would it be to walk across a once-molten lake of lava? Start your day early and hike the Kilauea Iki Trail. The trail takes about 2-3 hours to finish and begins at the Kīlauea Iki parking lot on Crater Rim Drive. The trail will lead you through a lush rain forest where you can get a glimpse of the crater via the overlook and then down to its still-steaming crater floor.
Like with most hikes that I do, it’s best to start the hike early in the morning to beat the heat and avoid the crowds. Always be prepared for any sudden changes in weather condition (bring protection from sun and rain) and oh, don’t forget to bring water and snacks.
Photo via Flickr
Photo via Flickr
Before Noon:
Walk inside a Lava Tube (1/3 mile; Difficulty – easy)
One of the main attractions in the park is the Thurston Lava Tube. This lava tube dates back to 350-500 years and was named after Lorrin Thurston, a local news publisher who discovered it.
So what exactly is a lava tube? “A lava tube is a natural conduit formed by flowing lava which moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. Tubes can be actively draining lava from a volcano during an eruption, or can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like channel.” Pretty interesting, right?
The best time to to explore this lava tube is before noon. We made a mistake of coming here late in the afternoon and it was too crowded! Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this unique experience. Don’t forget to stop and listen while you walk through the tree fern forest. You might hear one or two red apapane birds chirping away.
Afternoon:
Stroll through the Sulphur Banks trail (1.2 mile RT; Difficulty- easy)
After lunch, you can either check out the Kilauea Visitor Center for some souvenirs or you can stroll through the Sulphur Banks trail. It is an easy and short hike that is accessible from the Visitor Center parking lot. This place, also called Ha’akulamanu or “gathering place for birds”, is well known for its steaming cracks and vibrant mineral deposits. Although the fumes were a bit overwhelming at times, it was still a nice filler hike before we ended our day at the Jaggar museum.
Just a little bit of caution: visitors with breathing and heart problems, pregnant women and young children should avoid this area due to hazardous volcanic fumes.
Evening:
Catch the glow of Halemaumau crater
One of the best things you can do in the park is catch the glow of Halemaumau crater from the Jaggar museum. The museum has a great display of equipments used by scientists, working seismographs, clothing and gear exhibits from scientists who got a bit too close to the lava. “The overlook offers the best views of the volcano and interpretative displays about Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes.” [.]
This was one of the best memories I have of the Big Island. It’s not everyday we get to see an active crater up close..And to think we almost went home without seeing it! It rained a lot during our visit and the fog was really thick throughout the whole afternoon. We were worried that it wouldn’t clear up but good thing we stayed past sunset because we were rewarded with incredible views of the crater. Although this isn’t the place where you get to see the actual lava flow, I loved the experience anyway. But if you really want to see the actual lava flow, you can do so by either going on a helicopter tour, boat tour or guided hike tour.
Photos via Flickr
Alternative:
Drive Chain of Crater’s Road
If you don’t feel like hiking, a great alternative is to drive the Chain of Crater’s road. The 18 mile scenic drive has several scenic stops and side trails to keep you busy throughout the day. Among the stops are: Lua Manu Crater, Hilina Pali Road, Pauahi Crater, Mauna Ulu, Mauna Flow, Mau Loa, Kealakomo Lookout, Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs and Holei Sea Arch. For more information about each stops, visit this link: Chain of Crater’s Road.
Tip: Make sure you stock up on some food and gas before you do this drive. Bad news: There are no gas stations and shops along the road. Good news: public restrooms are available at the bottom end of the road.
Photo via Flickr
Photo via Flickr
Things to know before you go:
- Address:1 Crater Rim Drive Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
- Phone No:(808) 985-6000
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24/7, including ALL holidays.
- Park entrance for private vehicles is $20 and is valid for 7 days. If you have the national parks pass ($80 – annual pass), don’t forget to bring it! America the Beautiful passes are accepted here.
- For more information, pls visit their official website: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
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How to Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in One Day
Beautiful photos! Love those misty Sulphur Banks Trail. When I make it to Hawaii one day, this national park would definitely make my must-see list, too!
Thanks Katie! Same here, I actually liked that trail. It was easy and enjoyable despite the fumes. Hope you get to visit this park someday! 🙂
How cool!!! This looks like it was so much fun!
Thanks Jamie! It really was fun. It rained a lot during our visit but I loved it anyway
Pictures are amazing. Can’t believe you were able to experience this much in one day. Halemaumau looks incredible I’ve only ever seen lava once from a distance in Gutemala so this would really blow my mind. The idea of a lava tube sounds so cool and so terrifying! Thanks for sharing your amazing experiences!
Thank you Bryony! It’s definitely a good itinerary for people who are short on time in the island. We were so busy during the week that we only could squeeze one day here. It was well worth it though! Thanks for sharing your experience in Guatemala. Must’ve been pretty cool too! Thank you for stopping by. x
Your pictures look amazing. Good to know you can visit it in a day. I never have visited any volcanos before, going to Hawaii next year, would be good to see how we can fit this in.
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Thank you Thuymi! Yeah, I didnt think we could do so much during our visit although we did miss out on a few things. Have fun when you visit Hawaii nxt year!
YES! Been hoping for someone to post about the difficulty of the trails here. As avid hikers, my husband and I are always looking for ways to push ourselves!
Awesome! Glad I was able to share some info about the trails here. My husband and I are the same, we love hiking but we haven’t gone out in awhile. I really miss it!
I have always love volcanoes and caves. Your trip combines them both together. I really appreciate how you put it together into a one day trip. I could certainly imagine ourselves doing this one. Thank you for an excellent and informative post.
Not a problem Jenn and Ed! I’m certain that you guys will love Hawaii Volcanoes NP! I like that there’s so much to do but still enjoy it even if you only have a day.
An informative and useful post about how to get the best out of a day trip. Those lava tubes look really interesting. It has been awhile since I’ve visited Hawaii’s Big Island. It’s such a beautiful spot!
It was! That’s one of my favorite attractions in the park too. Can you believe the lava tube is almost 500 yrs old?
I’m a bit obsessed with volcanoes, especially erupting ones. I did an awesome hike in Italy up Stromboli to see the spewing lava and I’d love to see more active volcanoes. The guided hike up Halemaumau sounds right up my alley.
Ooh I’ve never seen an erupting one. That must’ve been scary and cool at the same time to see the spewing lava in Italy. I think you will definitely enjoy the hike especially if you see the lava up close.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on my list!!! Your photos are AMAZING! We were in Hawaii for my wedding, but stuck to just Maui. And we didn’t really have time to do much sightseeing because there were family everywhere, and it was stressful etc. So I would love to get back. Big Island mainly for this, and then maybe some island hopping after that 🙂
Thank you Meg! Ooh you will love the Big Island especially Hawaii Volcanoes NP! I actually wanted to go to Maui but we’ll save that for next year. I’ve only been to Kauai and the Big Island and although the Big Island is nice, I still love Kauai the most. Wish I could do some island hopping too.
That is quite exciting and extreme experience! Though your pictures look gorgeous, I admire your courage to enter the Lava Tube))
It wasnt actually scary to enter the lava tube. It’s actually more interesting than scary. Thanks for stopping by Natalia 🙂
Those are all very doable in one day, done many of these regularly since I live on the Big Island, great post!
Oh nice! That’s so awesome that you live in Hawaii. I actually want to move there haha *wishful thinking* Thanks Noel!
I would love to do this. I’ve been to Oahu, but have always wanted to visit Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island! I would definitely spend at least a few days there hiking, and the urge to see the lava flow by helicopter would be awfully tempting too.
Ive never been to Oahu yet. But Maui and Oahu are on my list next time I visit Hawaii. I wish we were able to do that helicopter tour. But the view from the Jaggar Museum wasnt too bad. Happy travels Drew!
I’d definitely be into the scenic drive. The landscape looks incredible. As much as I love to hike, I’d be nervous about the sulphur fumes. Unfortunately, they usually make me sick. 🙁
Aw yeah it was a bit pungent so maybe its not a good idea for you but I’m sure you will enjoy the scenic drive. You’ll love the views and there’s also a few short trails you can do like the Thurston Lava Tube.
You got me with those photos of the glow of Halemaumau crater! So beautiful–I would love to experience that in person. Acts of nature like that are both fascinating and terrifying at the same time. Thanks for a well-documented and illustrated post!
Isnt it beautiful? I was so amazed at what I was seeing. Nature is truly fascinating! No problem Tami. Glad you liked the post.
your photos are fantastic! I have not vist Hawaii, but when i do I’d love to see this Park.
Thanks so much Leyla for stopping by. x
This just looks so other worldy and I love the idea of the lava tube. Nature at its finest!
I had no idea what a lava tube was until I visited this park. It just goes to show that traveling teaches us so many things.
The descent into the lava tube looks amazing. What an amazing landscape to explore and see. In Australia no active Volcanoes so this sort of attraction would certainly be foreign to us. Amazing pictures they really bought the story to life
It was pretty crowded the first time we went so we circled it another time and found an opportunity to take that shot without the crowd. I’m sure you guys will love exploring this part of the US.
As a hiker who loves striking landscapes, this itinerary sounds amazing. The Kilauea Iki Trail looks especially great!
High five girl! I love hiking too and striking landscapes. 😀 Thanks for liking the itinerary that I put together. Hope it serves its purpose when you visit the park for yourself someday.
I’ve never been to a place like this one. I will have to make my way to that side of the world soon. Looks like a very interesting place to visit, especially the Thurston Lava Tube caught my attention.
Yes, definitely! It’s a pretty unique and remarkable place to visit. The thurston lava tube is interesting and only a fraction of what the park offers.
Thank you for putting together this helpful guide to seeing the best the park has to offer in one day!! I would love to do your itinerary. Sounds like a great mix of hiking difficulties, and the views look incredible!
Not a problem at all Jen. Glad you liked the itinerary that I put together. I figured its much better to do a mix of hiking difficulties to have a better feel for the place.
Hawaii is definitely one of the places hubby and I most want to visit and exploring the volcanoes is one of the things that gets our attention about going. Had never heard of a lava tube but we’ll definitely add it to the list the day we visit.
Same here! I’ve never heard of a lava tube until we visited the park. It’s just a short trail but very interesting place to visit for sure!
Hawaii is very high on my list and I definitely wanna visit. Never thought of walking inside a Lava Tube though- sounds great.
I love Hawaii! I always try to visit a different island every year. Hope you get to experience it for yourself too. 🙂
I missed these when I was in Hawaii – gotta go back and rediscover everything 🙂
I missed quite a few things too when I visited the Big Island and Kauai. Did you get to do the Napali Coast hike?
Hawaii!! It’s been on my bucket list for forever, it looks like it’s another world with the volcanoes, wow, can’t wait to go, fingers crossed next year! 🙂
Hope you get to visit soon Carolin! You will love Hawaii!
We were there in Volcanoes National Park a few years ago and did a similar route. We didnt go inside the lava tube since our kids were little – it was really cool to see your pictures! Great itinerary.
Thanks Priya! It’s pretty cool right? I love how dynamic the park is. Glad to know you guys experienced it as well.
This is pretty awesome. I have yet to get to Hawaii, but this would be epic.
Thanks Holly! Happy travels. x
Thats a lot of walking for a day! But of course its super exciting, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a lava tube. Definitely will visit (in the morning!)
Haha I know right? We didnt mind it though. We were definitely excited to be there so we wanted to see a lot during our trip.
Would be a one of a kind experience to walk across a lake of lava indeed! The lava tunnel looks surreal and probably a bit scary for people that are afraid of closed spaces. This is the second post for the day I read about Hawaii and kinda want to go there as soon as possible now!
Right?? It’s certainly a one of a kind experience! You should check out Hawaii soon Sia!
There is something incredible about volcanoes! And to see one so close up is a very special experience. I forget Hawaii is volcanic, I saw some lava tunnels in the Galapagos but would love to visit Hawaii one day to see the volcanoes there!
Oh cool! I didnt know that the Galapagos has lava tunnels too. Interesting! Thanks for sharing Claire
This is going on my bucketlist! Great article, thank you for the tips. And beautiful photos.
Aw thanks Tamara! Glad you liked the article. I really loved visiting this park so it was nice to revisit it again through this blog post.
Thanks for the tips and I wonder if it would be any difference for joining a tour or visiting the park by self?
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I think it all depends on the person. Personally, I like going to places on my own so I can go at my own pace but if the place I really want to see requires a tour of some sort for you to be able to see it, then I wouldnt mind joining a tour. 🙂
This is a lovely post and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it. I am fascinated by Volcanoes and find them one of the most stunning natural phenomena on earth. Hawaii, is really a treasure trove of natural wonders, ranging from exotic islands and beaches to volcanoes. I almost imagined myself walking through the Volcano tube and found it really amazing.
Thanks so much Vyjay! I’m happy that you liked the post! You’re definitely right about that. Hawaii is a unique, treasure trove of natural wonders. One of my favorite places to visit!
Lovely Photos! This surely looks like an enticing place to visit! Thanks for sharing! Would you recommend visiting as a group or on our own?
Thanks so much!! Glad you like the post. I recommend visiting on your own unless you want to do some activities that require group tours. We loved going at our own pace so not doing a tour worked out well for us. Hope that helps!
This is the 3rd post about Hawaii I read today. I guess this means something, right? The Kilauea Trail hike is definitely the kind of thing I like to do.
It just means you have to visit Hawaii too Pedro!!