BEST One day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Itinerary (Covers top things to do!)
Hawaii Volcanoes National park is a very unique and special place to visit on your trip to Big Island, Hawaii. Hawaii Volcanoes National park, established in 1916, is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Mauna Loa and Kilauea which erupted recently!
There are amazing things to do in Volcanoes Park, like hiking, seeing the volcanoes, walking on a volcano crater floor, seeing a 500-year-old lava tube, seeing lava glow in the dark (if there is volcanic activity), Sulphur banks, stargazing, and much more.
Any Big Island itinerary, even a day trip to Big Island must include a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park as it is the most popular thing to do in Big Island.
I recently spent a week on Big Island with my family and we spent a whole day exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Below you will find all the information you need to plan your one day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park itinerary.
Thinking of taking a tour of the Volcanoes park?
By taking a tour you will ensure you see the top sights with an expert guide and get so much more of the Volcanoes Park. Below are some highly-rated tours for Volcanoes National park in a day:
Planning to drive yourself to Volcanoes Park?
You will need a rental car! I recommend booking your rental car with Discover cars as they check the top rental car brands and offer the best rates!
If driving yourself, I highly recommend getting an audio tour for your car like this Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Audio Tour or Big Island Adventure Bundle that covers whole island!
Wanting to do a day trip to Volcanoes Park from Oahu?
Day trip from Oahu to Volcanoes National Park and Hilo – Includes inter-island flights and ground tour in Big Island that covers top sights in Volcanoes Park and Hilo!
Table of Contents
Where is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is in the southeast region of Big Island, Hawaii. It takes around 2 hours to drive each way from Kona. If doing a day trip to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park from Kona, make sure to start really early in the day. Visiting the Volcanoes park is one of the most popular excursions in Kona.
Volcanoes Park is more easily accessible from the Hilo region and is only 45 minutes from Hilo downtown. I visited Volcanoes park from Hilo and it was the perfect one day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park itinerary.
Volcanoes National Park 1 day itinerary – Top things to do in Volcanoes Park
The below itinerary will allow you to see and experience all the main sights of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, do the most popular hike, walk through a lava cave and rainforest and hopefully see the lava glow at night (if there is volcanic activity happening during your visit).
Your start time will depend on whether you are staying in Hilo or Kona. Staying in Hilo or Volcano park itself will make this one-day itinerary more feasible. If you are coming from Kona, then start early around 7 AM so that you are in the park by 9 AM.
Kilauea visitor center
Kilauea visitor center is a great first stop in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The lobby features a lot of interactive displays about the park.
You can pick up a map, and talk to the park rangers about current park conditions, learn about the hikes, and get information about the latest volcano eruptions.
The Kilauea visitor center is open 7 days a week from 9 AM to 5 PM, except on holidays.
Time needed: 30 minutes to see the displays and get current conditions information.
Kilauea Iki Trail
If you have time to do only one hike on Big Island then it should be the Kilauea Iki Trail. This is a very unique hike as you walk inside the Kilauea Iki volcano crater and also through a beautiful lush rainforest. Plus at the end, you can visit a lava tube!
This trail starts at the Kilauea Iki trailhead parking lot. The total roundtrip distance is around 3 miles and has an elevation of around 700 feet as you climb down the crater and then climb back up. But it is not very hard to do, more like moderate.
I recommend doing this trail counterclockwise from the Kilauea Iki trailhead parking lot, which is what we did. The crater has a lot of huge lava rocks and broken earth surfaces in many places.
You get some really beautiful views of the crater from the Kilauea Iki overlook. The crater is so big that pictures do not do justice as you cannot capture the entire crater from the hike. You have to see this one! The crater is so huge that people look like ants on the trail from afar.
The way back up passes through a beautiful rainforest and the coolness is welcoming after walking across the crater.
Time needed: Around 2 hours.
Nahuku – Thurston Lava Tube
If you did the Kilauea Iki Crater hike counterclockwise, on the way back to the parking lot make sure you visit the Nahuku – Thurston Lava tube. It’s a huge 500-year-old lava cave and it is incredible to walk through it. The total walk is less than half a mile and is easily doable by all. There are no steps in the lave tube.
The lava tube has lights inside during the day from 8 AM to 8 PM. You might need a headlamp or phone light here for some dark areas. There might be some water puddles on the floor of the cave and some low ceilings for which you might need to watch your head. It was really cool and refreshing inside the cave after the hike through the crater.
Time needed: Around 30 minutes to explore the lava tube.
The Halema`uma`u crater Overlook at the Volcano House
After your hike, stop by the Volcano House for taking in the view of the Halema`uma`u crater from their large overlook area. The Volcano house is opposite the Kilauea Visitor Center.
When we visited we could see steam coming out of the crater during day time. At this place, you can take some beautiful pictures with the crater in the background.
The Volcano House has guest rooms, cabins, and campsites if you would want to spend the night in the national park. It also has a restaurant, gift shop, and restroom facilities.
Time needed: 30 minutes to see the overlook, more if you plan to have lunch at the restaurant.
Crater Rim Drive
Crater Rim Drive is the main road in the park that goes around the Kilauea caldera and the Halema`uma`u crater. Everyone visiting the park is driving on this road even if unknowingly!
The main part of the road which has all the attractions is from Kilauea overlook to the Devastation trail area and is around 5.5 miles. After the recent Kilauea eruptions, you can no longer drive the full perimeter of the Crater Rim Drive.
Time needed: It will take around 20 minutes by car from Kilauea overlook to the Devastation trail area without any stops. But you will likely make the stops below along the Crater Rim Drive. Don’t worry if you do not have time to do all the stops if short of time.
Ha‘akulamanu (Sulphur Banks)
The Sulphur Banks can be accessed via the short Sulphur Banks trail from either the Visitor Center or the Steam Vents parking lot. It is a total 1.2-mile loop. There is a paved trail at first and then a boardwalk to see the Sulphur vents up close. Please stay on the designated trails here as it could be dangerous wandering off the trail!
At Sulphur Banks, you will see the volcanic gases and steam emitting from the earth’s surface, some cool rock formations, and yellow mineral deposits. The smell of Sulphur is pretty strong here but a mask can help make it tolerable.
If you haven’t seen Sulphur banks before then make sure to stop by. I found it very similar to Yellowstone and Lassen National park. There are signs that say that the gases might not be suitable for pregnant women and very young children, also people with respiratory diseases.
Time needed: Around an hour to see the Sulphur Banks.
Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) from Steam vents parking lot
Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) viewpoint is a short walk from the Steam Vents parking area on Crater Rim drive. Here you will see hot steam coming from the earth’s surface which is due to groundwater falling on hot rocks and vaporizing.
There are some Steam Vents right near the parking lot which feel like a sauna when you stand near it! A cool experience.
Time needed: Just 5-10 minutes stop if viewing the Steam Vents from the parking lot. If exploring the trail to Steaming Bluff then 30 minutes to an hour.
Kilauea overlook
The Kilauea overlook on the Crater Rim Drive provides the best views of the Kilauea caldera and the Halema`uma`u crater. This is also a great spot for viewing the glow of the lava in the dark.
There is a parking lot at the overlook. It is a short walk up a paved trail to various viewpoints. This is the closest you can get to the Kilauea caldera safely.
Time needed – 30 minutes
Chain of Craters Road
The Chain of Craters scenic drive is within the Hawaii Volcano National park and is 19 miles long that takes you to sea level.
Along this drive, you will see volcano craters and rocks of varying sizes on both sides of the road. There are several hikes and vistas to explore along the way.
At the end of the Chain of Craters road is the Holei Sea Arch which is 90 feet high arch carved in the lava rocks due to erosion and is impressive to see. You will need to walk around 1000 feet at the end of the road to get to the arch viewing area.
Time needed – Around 3 hours for the drive and a couple of stops. Driving all the way to the ocean and back will take around 2 to 2 and half hours, so make sure you have enough daylight hours and gas in your car to complete this drive.
Pu‘uloa Petroglyphs
Pu‘uloa Petroglyphs are ancient carvings in hundreds of years old lava rocks that depict the life and culture of Native Hawaiian people. It represents hopes of a long and prosperous life and Puuloa means ‘hill of long life’.
Pu‘uloa Petroglyphs are towards the end of the Chain of Craters road, just before the Holei Sea Arch, and accessible by a short 1.2-mile out-and-back hike, starting at the Puʻuloa parking area. The initial part of the hike is over a rocky lava field and the later part is over a boardwalk built to view the Petroglyphs and protect them from foot traffic.
It can be very hot here in the mid-day and there is no shade. Good hiking shoes, water, sunscreen, and hats are recommended as the trail is rocky at the beginning.
Time needed: 30 minutes to an hour. It might be hard to fit this in a 1-day itinerary, depends on what other hikes you are planning to do in the day.
Devastation Trail and nighttime lava glow sighting
Lava sighting depends on whether there is any volcanic activity going on at the time you visit. When we visited, the Kilauea volcano was active at that time.
If there is volcanic activity you can stay after dark in the Volcanoes Park to see the lava glow. The easiest way to see lava glow is from the Keanakākoʻi Overlook which can be reached by a short hike from the Devastation trail parking lot.
Park at the Devastation trail parking lot during sunset and walk the short and easy trail to the Keanakākoʻi Overlook. From here you can see Halema`uma`u crater and any lava activity and glow.
We were incredibly lucky to see the red glow of lava when we visited. It was a surreal experience to walk at night on the trail. The stars are usually bright and beautiful in the clear dark night sky as there is no light pollution here.
There were a lot of people on the trail so it was easy to find our way to the overlook to see the glow and back to our car. We just followed the crowds!
Time needed: One hour for the walk and viewing the glow.
Stargazing at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Although the Maune Kea mountain peak (also in Big Island, Hawaii) has the largest research observatory in the world, Hawaii Volcanoes Nation park is also an excellent place for stargazing.
There is no light pollution for miles here, and on a clear night, you can see brilliantly shiny stars from anywhere in the park, just look up. You can use a stargazing app on your phone to identify some of the stars and constellations.
Summary of Volcanoes National Park 1 day Itinerary
I bet that was a lot of information about the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park attractions! Remember, you do not need to do everything above and feel rushed. Pick a few that appeal to you most and enjoy them!
Below is a summary of a typical day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which will make you see all the main attractions. Most of these are quick stops with the exception of the Kilauea Iki Crater hike and Chain of Craters road drive.
Summary of a typical one day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Itinerary:
- Start at the Kilauea visitor center – 30 minutes
- Kilauea Iki Crater hike – 2 hours
- Nahuku – Thurston Lava Tube – 30 minutes
- The Halema`uma`u crater Overlook at the Volcano House – 30 minutes
- Ha‘akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) – 30 minutes to an hour
- Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) / Steam vents – 10 minutes (view from the parking lot)
- Kilauea overlook – 30 minutes
- Chain of Craters road and Holei Sea Arch – 3 hours (if its not raining)
- Lava Glow at dark from Devastation trail – 1 hour
Volcanoes National Park itinerary for half-day trip
With so much to see and experience in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, I would not recommend spending just a half day here, but if you have no choice, then either arrive before sunrise or arrive later in the day and stay till dark, so that you can have a chance to see the glow.
You can still do everything below in half day, I would just skip the Chain of Craters Road drive as it is very long and can take up to 3 hours.
A Half day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park itinerary:
- Start at the Kilauea visitor center – 30 minutes
- Kilauea Iki Crater hike – 2 hours
- Nahuku – Thurston Lava Tube – 30 minutes
- The Halema`uma`u crater Overlook at the Volcano House – 30 minutes
- Ha‘akulamanu (Sulphur Banks) – 30 minutes to an hour
- Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) / Steam vents – 10 minutes (view from the parking lot)
- Kilauea overlook – 30 minutes
- Lava Glow at dark from Devastation trail – 1 hour
Volcanoes National Park itinerary if you have 2 days
If you are planning to stay overnight in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, then you will have more time to explore the many attractions and hikes in the park.
You can do the Chain of Craters road drive on the second day and explore more stops along the way. Pu‘uloa Petroglyphs hike would be a good addition to your 2-day itinerary. You can also explore any of the additional hikes below:
Additional hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to consider on the 2nd day:
If you have two days in the Volcanoes Park, then on the second day you can explore some more hikes in the park.
Devastation Trail to Puʻupuaʻi Overlook hike
Devastation Trail to Puʻupuaʻi Overlook is an easy 1 mile out and back hike from the Devastation trail parking lot to the Puupuai overlook. From the Puupuai overlook you can enjoy the views of the cinder cones in the Kilauea Iki crater.
The hike is paved and fairly easy to do. It is wheelchair and stroller friendly but some parts might have a slight uphill grade.
Time needed: 30 minutes
Halema‘uma‘u trail hike
Halema‘uma‘u Trail is a moderate 1.7 mile out and back trail with around 450 feet elevation. The trail can be started from either the Kilauea visitor center (longer) or Volcano House (shorter).
The trail starts by descending through a lush rainforest to the floor of the Halema‘uma‘u crater. From the crater, you can extend the hike by connecting with the Kilauea Iki Trail or Bryon ledge trail and make it longer.
Time needed: It can take you anywhere from 2 to 5 hours, depends if you combine it with other trails or just return back once you reach the crater floor.
Uēaloha (Byron Ledge) trail hike
Byron ledge trail is another trail in the same area at the edge that separates the Halema‘uma‘u crater from the Kilauea Iki crater. After the recent eruptions only a portion of this trail is open.
You can access this trail from the Devastation trail parking lot and can combine it with Halema‘uma‘u Trail or Kilauea Iki Trail to make it longer.
Time needed: It can take you anywhere from 1 to 5 hours, depends whether you combine it with other trails or just return back once you reach the edge of the craters.
Things to do near Hawaii Volcanoes National park
If you are staying in the Hilo region or Volcano park for a few days then below are some great places to visit in the east and south regions of the Big Island, Hawaii.
Punalu black sand beach
No matter how many days you are spending on Big Island, I believe the Punaluu black sand beach must be on your to-do list for sure as it is very unique. The sand is actually tiny particles of black lava rocks and looks like black sand. You can spot some sea turtles in the water if you are lucky.
Punaluu Black Sand beach is on the southeast part of the Island and around 30 minutes drive from Volcano park and 1-hour drive from Hilo.
Explore Hilo
Explore the town of Hilo by visiting the downtown Hilo region. Visit Coconut Island which is a small island accessible by a pedestrian bridge on Banyan drive. You can see incredible views of Mauna Kea mountain peak from Coconut island on a clear day.
Walk along Banyan Drive which is lined by massive banyan trees. The Banyan drive is called the ‘Hilo Walk of Fame‘ as these banyan trees were planted by celebrities. In front of each banyan tree is a plaque that lists the celebrity who planted it. Each banyan tree with its roots hanging from the branches and touching the ground seems like a mini forest!
Liliuokalani Park is a beautifully landscaped park in a Japanese garden style near Coconut island.
Visit the various waterfalls in Hilo – Akaka falls, Rainbow falls, and Peepee falls. If you have time to visit only one waterfall in Big Island then it should be Akaka falls and Akaka state park.
Tips for visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Below are some tips that will help you have a great day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Carry your essentials
Carry essentials like a headlamp, park map, a rain jacket, reusable water bottle, and some snacks, and wear sturdy closed-toe shoes. Bring hiking poles also if you use them.
Consider using an audio tour app on your phone
If you are taking a rental car on the Big Island and driving yourself, I highly recommend using an audio-driving tour. Audio tour guides are really helpful to explore Big Island and they have a Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tour you can buy. The app uses your phone’s GPS location and gives you information about upcoming stops and attractions.
➡ Big Island Adventure Bundle – 5 audio tour routes covering the entire Island.
➡ Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Audio Tour – Audio tour for just the Volcanoes Park.
Stay on the designated trails
Make sure to follow the park rules and trail boundaries and signs. Stay on the trails. It can be dangerous to wander off the trail here due to unexpected collapses and cracks in the surface.
Follow the Ahu (stacked rocks)
The park rangers here often mark trail paths with a small pyramid of lava rocks which are called ‘ahu’. It is a very unique thing on Big Island! Do not change the rock stacks or create your own, please!
Fun fact about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Did you know that the Big Island keeps growing in size with each volcano eruption? To learn more about the unique history of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visit the National Parks Service official website.
How to get to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
You will mostly need a rental car in Big Island and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see the many attractions and views, and vistas.
Hours and admission fees
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, all year, even on holidays. You need to pay the below entrance fee to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Private Vehicle ($30, valid for seven days)
- Motorcycle ($25, valid for seven days)
- Individual/Bicycle ($15, valid for seven days)
Alternatively, you can take a day tour from Kona, Waikoloa, or Hilo to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There are helicopter tours available to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for an aerial view.
Best tours for Volcanoes National Park
Are you looking to take a tour to make sure you don’t miss the must-see sights in Big Island and Volcanoes National Park? There are excellent full-day volcano tours from Kona. If you are staying in Hilo, there are several half-day Volcano tours from Hilo as well.
Below are some of the best tours that cover a lot in a short time –
Best day tours for Volcanoes National park
Wanting to do a day trip to Volcanoes Park from Oahu?
Day trip from Oahu to Volcanoes National Park and Hilo – Includes inter-island flights and ground tour in Big Island that covers top sights in Volcanoes Park and Hilo!
Where to stay for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Many travelers opt for a day trip to Volcanoes Park from Kona, which is home to some of the best resorts on the Big Island. However, it’s worth noting that Hilo is actually closer to the park, and there are also accommodation options available nearby for those who wish to stay in the area.
Where to stay in Kona-Waikoloa
Hilton Hawaiian Village is a great ocean-front resort in North Kona’s Waikoloa region.
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel is at a great location in downtown Kona and has a beach right out front.
There are several vacation rental home and condos in Kona if you are looking for more space and a kitchen. Ideal for families or for longer stays!
Where to stay in Hilo
Hilo is only 45 minutes away and is a great place to spend a couple of nights and do a day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Banyan drive is where most of the better hotels are in Hilo. There are fewer hotel options in Hilo than Kona.
We stayed at the Hilo Hawaiian hotel on Banyan Drive, for 2 nights and it was very comfortable with great views of the Coconut Island and Mauna Kea summit. The oceanfront location was excellent and we enjoyed the pool and gardens.
Grand Naniloa Hotel by Doubletree Hilton is the only brand-name hotel on the Hilo side. It is also on Banyan drive with excellent ocean views.
Hilo also has many great vacation rental home and condos for longer stays or if you need a kitchen.
Where to stay in and near Volcanoes Park
If you want more time to explore the Volcanoes park, staying closer to the Volcanoes park is a better option.
Kilauea Lodge is just 1 mile from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and has an in-house restaurant. Great place to stay close to the park.
The Volcano House is the only option to stay inside the National Park with great views of the Halema`uma`u crater from the overlook. It has guest rooms, cabins, and campsites.
The Volcano village near Volcanoes Park has several amazing vacation rentals and condos for your stay.
One day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Knowing these will help you plan a great day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Is Kilauea volcano erupting?
The Kilauea volcano has been very active and erupting since September 2021. Before your visit make sure to check the current conditions of volcanic activity at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park official website.
Which is the best month to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
The best months to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are from November to March.
What is the best time of day to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
The best time in the day to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is from before sunrise to evening, or afternoon to after dark. Make sure you are there for some time when the sky is dark so you can see the lava glow.
How much time do you need at Volcano National Park Hawaii?
You should plan to spend one full day at Hawaii Volcanoes National park, that much time is needed to see all that it has to offer. Staying overnight in the park is also an option, otherwise staying in Hilo is the best way to maximize your time in the park and explore Hilo waterfalls and town.
Conclusion: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park itinerary for half, one, or two days
I hope you now have all the information you need to plan your visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. There is so much to see and experience here, below is a summary of everything we covered in this post.
Top 13 things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:
- Kilauea visitor center
- Kilauea Iki Trail (best hike!)
- Nahuku – Thurston Lava Tube
- The Halema`uma`u crater Overlook at the Volcano House
- Crater Rim drive
- Ha‘akulamanu (Sulphur Banks)
- Wahinekapu (Steaming Bluff) from Steam vents parking lot
- Kilauea overlook
- Chain of Craters Road
- Holei Sea Arch
- Pu‘uloa Petroglyphs
- Devastation trail and nighttime lava glow sighting
- Stargazing after sunset or before sunrise
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a sacred place for the people of Hawaii and an amazing, powerful land to visit!
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