The Road to Hana is one of the most famous drives in the world — and one of the most misunderstood. Here’s everything you need to know to do it right, including the best stops by mile marker, what to book in advance, what to skip, and how to avoid the mistakes most visitors make.
What Is the Road to Hana?
The Road to Hana — officially the Hana Highway — is a 64-mile scenic drive along the northeastern coast of Maui, connecting Kahului to the remote town of Hana. It passes through rainforest, lava fields, bamboo groves, sea cliffs, and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Hawaii.
The numbers tell part of the story: over 620 curves, more than 50 one-lane bridges, dozens of waterfalls, and a handful of black sand beaches. But what makes the Road to Hana genuinely special isn’t any single stop — it’s the accumulated experience of spending a full day moving slowly through one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth.
Drive time is 2.5–3 hours each way without stops. Most people take 8–10 hours round-trip with stops. Plan for a full day and nothing else.
Should You Self-Drive or Book a Tour?
This is the first decision to make, and both options have real merit.
Self-Driving
Self-driving gives you complete flexibility — you stop where you want, stay as long as you like, and set your own pace. Most visitors self-drive it successfully with no prior experience. The road is paved its entire length (with one exception at the very end, more on that below) and any standard rental car handles it fine.
The challenges: navigation requires attention, the narrow one-lane bridges require alertness, and driving 600+ curves for 8–10 hours is genuinely tiring. If you’re the only driver in your group, you won’t be able to look out the window much.
Best app for self-driving: The Shaka Guide Road to Hana audio tour app uses GPS to trigger narration automatically as you pass each stop — no fiddling with your phone while driving. It works offline and is worth every cent.
Guided Tour
A guided tour puts an experienced local driver in charge so you can focus entirely on the experience. Good tours use small vans (6–14 passengers), include hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch, all entrance fees, and return transport. Your guide handles the navigation, narration, and knows stops that aren’t in any guidebook.
The tradeoff is flexibility — you’re on the guide’s schedule, not your own. If you want to spend an extra 30 minutes at a waterfall, you may not be able to.
Best for guided tours: First-timers who don’t want driving stress, couples who both want to look out the window, and anyone doing it solo.
Before You Go: What to Book in Advance
Two stops on the Road to Hana require advance reservations. Don’t skip this step — you will be turned away without them.
Waianapanapa State Park (black sand beach): All non-Hawaii resident visitors must book in advance at gostateparks.hawaii.gov. Reservations require both a parking reservation ($10 per vehicle) and entrance passes ($5 per person ages 4+, free ages 3 and under). Book at least a few days ahead — popular dates sell out.
Rental car: You need a car for the Road to Hana. If you haven’t booked one yet, do it now — Maui’s car rental shortage is real and prices rise sharply as your dates approach.
The Most Important Tips Before You Start
Leave Early — Very Early
Leave between 6 and 7 AM for the best experience. This isn’t just about beating traffic — it’s about experiencing the Road to Hana the way it’s meant to be experienced. Early morning light in the rainforest is extraordinary. Waterfalls have fewer people. Parking spots are available. By the time most visitors are arriving, you’ll already be miles ahead.
By the time tour buses and rental car crowds arrive at 10 AM, you’ll be miles ahead.
Fill Up on Gas in Paia
Paia is the last town with affordable gas before Hana. Gas in Hana is very expensive and sometimes unavailable. Fill up in Paia before you leave, and consider whether you have enough fuel before heading past Hana toward Oheo Gulch.
Stock Up on Food in Paia
Paia has excellent cafes and a good grocery store. Pick up breakfast, snacks, and a packed lunch here. Food options along the drive are limited to a handful of roadside stands (some excellent) and one or two spots in Hana town. Resort-area restaurants are far behind you.
Download Offline Maps
Cell service is unreliable to nonexistent on significant stretches of the Road to Hana, especially past Ke’anae. Download your maps offline before leaving Kahului.
Don’t Try to Do Everything
The biggest mistake visitors make is trying to hit every single stop and ending up stressed, rushed, and driving home in the dark. Pick your priorities, enjoy them fully, and let some things go. The Road to Hana rewards slow travel, not checklist tourism.
Check Road Conditions
Weather and occasional closures affect the Road to Hana. Check the MEMA (Maui Emergency Management Agency) website before you go for any current alerts. The Hana Highway is occasionally closed or restricted after heavy rain.
The Best Stops: Mile by Mile
Mile markers reset at different points: Route 36 transitions to Route 360 near Pa’ia, and numbers change again past Hana. The stops below are listed in order from Kahului toward Hana.
Paia Town — The Starting Point
Before the highway proper begins, stop in Paia — a charming, artsy beach town that’s the last real civilization before Hana. Fill up on gas, grab breakfast at one of the cafes (Paia Bay Coffee is a local favorite), and pick up lunch supplies. Paia also has a beautiful beach — Ho’okipa Beach Park is just east of town and one of the world’s premier windsurfing spots. Worth a quick stop to watch the action before you start driving.
Twin Falls — Mile Marker 2
Twin Falls is the first significant waterfall stop and one of the most popular on the drive. A short, easy walk leads to a beautiful set of falls with a swimming hole. It gets crowded by mid-morning, which is another reason to leave early.
Honest assessment: Twin Falls is lovely but not the most spectacular waterfall on the drive. If you’re running behind schedule later in the day, this is one you can skip without major regret.
Time needed: 30–45 minutes
Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees — Mile Marker 7
The largest grove of rainbow eucalyptus trees can be found near mile marker 7 and can be seen along the highway without stopping. These trees shed patches of outer bark annually at different times, showing a bright green inner bark that darkens to give blue, purple, orange, and then maroon tones — resulting in vertical streaks of red, orange, green, blue, and gray. Slow down to appreciate them — they’re genuinely unlike any tree most visitors have seen before.
Waikamoi Ridge Trail — Mile Marker 9
If you’re looking for a short stroll through the rainforest, make sure to stop at the Waikamoi Ridge Trail. The 0.8-mile loop takes about 30 minutes with the option to take an extension of similar length. A good place to stretch your legs early in the drive. The trail can be muddy after rain — wear closed-toe shoes.
Time needed: 30–45 minutes
Garden of Eden Arboretum — Mile Marker 10
A beautifully maintained botanical garden with ocean views, bamboo groves, a 100-year-old mango tree, and Puohokamoa Falls. There’s a small entry fee but the grounds are immaculate and offer some of the best photography opportunities on the entire drive. One of the underrated stops that many visitors skip — don’t.
Entry fee: Around $15/person
Time needed: 45–60 minutes
Wailua Falls — Mile Marker 45 (Route 360)
One of the most photographed waterfalls on the drive — a beautiful, wide cascade visible right from the road with no hiking required. Pull over, take your photos, and appreciate that you can experience something this beautiful without breaking a sweat.
Time needed: 10–15 minutes
Ke’anae Peninsula — Between Mile Markers 16–17
Don’t miss Ke’anae Peninsula’s dramatic lava rock coastline. A short side road leads to a flat lava shelf extending into the ocean where waves crash dramatically against the rocks. There’s a small Hawaiian community here that’s been farming taro on this peninsula for centuries. The contrast between the black lava, crashing white surf, and lush green hills is one of the most striking scenes on the entire drive.
This is a must-stop. Don’t skip it.
Time needed: 20–30 minutes
Halfway to Hana Stand — Mile Marker 17
Stop for the banana bread — it’s amazing, and perfect for a mid-morning snack. This small roadside stand also sells shave ice, fresh fruit, smoothies, and drinks. It’s exactly what the name suggests — roughly the halfway point — and a perfect excuse for a break. The banana bread sells out, so don’t wait until your return trip.
Nahiku Marketplace — Around Mile Marker 29
A small collection of food vendors in the jungle serving coconut shrimp, fresh fruit, smoothies, and Hawaiian plate lunches. One of the best roadside food stops on the drive. If you didn’t pack a lunch from Paia, this is where you eat.
Waianapanapa State Park — Mile Marker 32
The most visually dramatic stop on the entire Road to Hana. Pa’iloa Beach is a black sand and pebble beach formed by volcanic activity — the contrast of the jet-black shore, vivid turquoise water, and lush green cliffs is genuinely otherworldly. The park also features lava tubes, sea caves, a natural blowhole, and coastal trails steeped in Hawaiian legend.
Reservations required: Book at gostateparks.hawaii.gov before your trip. Non-Hawaii resident visitors must purchase both a parking reservation ($10 per vehicle) and entrance passes ($5 per person ages 4+).
Swimming note: The water at Waianapanapa can be rough. Check conditions before entering.
Time needed: 45–75 minutes
Hana Town — Mile Marker 34
After 50+ miles of winding road, Hana feels like the end of the world — in the best possible way. It’s tiny, remote, and deeply peaceful. There’s a small market, a few food spots, and the Hana-Maui Resort if you’re spending the night. Take your time here. Have lunch if you haven’t already. Walk around. Let the remoteness sink in.
Worth knowing: The drive back to Kahului is the same road in reverse (for most visitors). It’s no shorter on the return — allow the same amount of time.
Beyond Hana: Oheo Gulch and Waimoku Falls
If your energy and time allow, continuing past Hana to the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park is one of the Road to Hana’s greatest rewards.
Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools): A series of tiered pools connected by waterfalls, stepping down to the ocean. Swimming is occasionally permitted when conditions are safe — check with the ranger station on arrival. Your Haleakala National Park entrance fee covers this area ($30/vehicle, valid 3 days).
Waimoku Falls Trail: A 2-mile round trip hike through bamboo forest to a stunning 400-foot waterfall. One of the best hikes in Maui. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Important: This adds 1–1.5 hours to your already-long day. Be realistic about your energy and daylight. The drive back from Kipahulu to Kahului is 2.5–3 hours. Don’t start the return trip after dark if you can help it — the road is significantly more demanding at night.
2026 Update: Hana Lava Tube Temporarily Closed
As of February 2026, the Kaeleku Cave/Hana Lava Tube is temporarily closed by government order pending an archaeological inventory survey. Check for updates before your trip as this may reopen during 2026.
Should You Drive the Back Road?
Past Hana, the Piilani Highway (Route 31) continues around the south side of Maui back toward Kahului — a loop route rather than an out-and-back. It passes through remote, dramatic landscape and adds a different dimension to the day.
The back road is partially unpaved, narrow, and passes through areas with no cell service and no gas stations. Most rental car agreements prohibit driving on unpaved sections — check yours before attempting it. If your agreement prohibits it and something goes wrong, you’re on your own for the tow.
Our recommendation: First-timers should drive the standard route — Kahului to Paia to Hana Highway and back the same way. Save the reverse route for a return trip when you already know the stops.
What Car Do You Need for Road to Hana?
A standard economy rental car handles the Road to Hana perfectly. You do not need a Jeep or 4WD for the main highway — it’s fully paved and any rental car manages it fine.
A smaller car is actually easier to navigate on the narrow one-lane bridges and tight pull-offs than a large SUV. If you’re choosing between a compact and a full-size SUV specifically for the Road to Hana, go compact.
What you should avoid: Driving a car that your rental agreement prohibits on certain road types. Most restrictions apply to unpaved side roads, not the main Hana Highway itself.
➡️ Read our full Maui car rental guide →
Road to Hana Packing List
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (required by Maui County law)
- Light rain jacket — it’s a rainforest and it will likely rain
- Water shoes or reef shoes for waterfall swimming
- Insect repellent — particularly useful past Ke’anae
- Snacks and a packed lunch from Paia
- Reusable water bottle
- Offline maps downloaded
- Shaka Guide or Gypsy Guide app downloaded
- Cash — some fruit stands and small vendors are cash only
- Waianapanapa reservation confirmation
Road to Hana FAQ
How long does the Road to Hana take?
The out-and-back Road to Hana drive typically takes 10–12 hours round-trip with reasonable stops. Plan for a full day and nothing else. Trying to fit other activities into a Road to Hana day is a recipe for rushing.
Can I do Road to Hana in half a day?
Technically yes — you can turn around at Waianapanapa State Park (about 2.5 hours from Kahului) and be back by early afternoon. You won’t reach Hana Town or Oheo Gulch, but you’ll see most of the waterfalls and the black sand beach. This is a reasonable option if you have limited time.
Is the Road to Hana worth it?
For the vast majority of visitors, yes. It’s consistently rated one of the best road trip experiences in the United States. The caveat: if you hate long drives, have motion sickness issues, or aren’t able to leave early, the experience is less rewarding. In those cases, a guided tour that handles the driving is worth considering.
What is the best time of year for Road to Hana?
The Road to Hana is open year-round. The dry season (April–October) brings more reliable weather and better road conditions. The wet season (November–March) means more waterfalls in full flow but also a higher chance of rain and occasionally muddy conditions on hiking trails.
Do I need a permit for Road to Hana?
No permit is required for the drive itself. However, Waianapanapa State Park (the black sand beach) requires advance reservations, and some stops within Haleakala National Park require the park entrance fee ($30/vehicle). No permit is needed for Hana town or most waterfall stops.
Can I do Road to Hana without a car?
Only via a guided tour. There is no public transportation on the Hana Highway. If you don’t have a rental car, a guided tour is your only option.
Is it better to go to Hana on a weekday or weekend?
Weekdays are consistently less crowded than weekends. If your schedule allows, Tuesday through Thursday are the quietest days on the road.