Volcanoes
National Park
A Must See Hawaii Experience!
Volcanoes National Park is Hawaii's #1 tourist attraction and is best
accessed from the Hilo side of the Big Island, AKA the Island of Hawaii.
To really experience and enjoy seeing one of the few active volcanoes
in the world, you will need a few days. Volcanos National Park is a perfect
experience for a romantic vacation, or a family vacation.
This was one of our favourite days in Hawaii!
Do not miss this when you plan your
Hawaii
vacation.
You can tour it on your own or take an organized tour.
There are 3 active volcanoes in Hawaii and Volcanoes National Park
houses Kilauea which has been erupting continuously since 1983
and is home to the Goddess of Fire, Madame Pele.
The drive will take about and hour to the town of Volcano and
Volcanoes National Park
from the Hilo airport. The drive is
beautiful and lush. Make sure you take food and water as there isn't much
opportunity to get it in the park. If you forget to bring it, you can stop in
the town of Volcano and pick up your supplies at the local store.
Hours of Operation:
- Park is open 24 Hours every day of the year.
- The Visitor center is open
from 7:45 am to 5:00 pm
- Jaggar Museum - 8:30 am to 8:00 pm
Check with the Park to find out what areas of the park may be
closed
for various reasons.
Fees:
- $10 per vehicle for a 7 day pass
- $5 per individual for a 7 day pass
Make sure you start at the Kilauea Visitor Center in Volcanos National Park.
It has been recently renovated and is a great start to your day. Watch the "Born
of Fire...Born of Sea" movie as it is a great introduction to the park. The
movie runs for 20 minutes and starts every hour on the hour from 9 am to 4 pm. It
is worth the stop to orient yourself to the park and decide what you want to see
during your time in the park.
The Park Rangers are there to help you plan your tour. They also have
ranger-guided walks and hikes.
Across Crater Rim Drive from the Visitor Center (the road around the Kilauea
Caldera - the main road you will tour around) is Volcano House. Volcano
House is the only hotel in the park and has spectacular views. This is worth the
stop!
Crater Rim Drive is the main road that circles the Kilauea Caldera in
the Park. It takes you
to all the major attractions in the park. The circle is almost 11 miles
and you will drive through tropical rain forest, dessert and to many well marked
scenic stops and attractions. It really is an amazing drive!
Some areas may be closed due to dangerous conditions like toxic gases or
other hazards. Check with the Visitor Center or the website to see before you
go.
Our advice is to go clockwise around the Crater Rim Drive as most tour buses
go clockwise. This will hopefully relieve some of the crowds.
Attractions
Along Crater Rim Drive
There are many things to see and experience along Crater Rim Drive:
- Kilauea Iki Overlook
- Thurston Lava Tube (DO NOT MISS!)
- Pu 'u Pua'i Overlook
- Chain of Craters Road (40 mile round trip - only do if
you have time)
- Devastation Trail
- Keanakako'i Crater
- Halema'uma'u Crater
- Southwest Rift Zone
- Jaggar Museum
- Kilauea Overlook
- Steam Vents, Steaming Bluff and Sulphur Banks
Our Experience in Volcanoes National Park
Check out our experience in Volcanoes National Park
Recent Volcano Activity
Wow I just saw this video on YouTube and had to share it! Kilauea Volcano
Erupted over the July 4th Weekend giving it's own fireworks presentation! Make
sure you plan a trip to the volcano if you are planning a trip to Hawaii! The
best way to see lava is via a helicopter tour like this video!
We were there in July 2007 and it had just started up again - only saw a
little lava flow - this is SPECTACULAR! Shows you how incredible our planet
really is!
I also recently found this video on YouTube which gives you some great tips and
shows some awesome footage of Volcanoes National Park. It really isn't to be
missed!
It is written, produced and directed by Donald B. MacGowan and was posted April
7, 2008
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see more vacation ideas for Hawaii click here
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more of our Hawaii Adventure click here