Getting Around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: Access, Entrances, Shuttles, and Parking
The short answer: You'll need a personal or rental car to visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. There's no free mandatory shuttle inside the park like at Zion, so without a vehicle, you'll see only a tiny fraction of the park.
How to Get to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
To reach the park from Hilo or Kona airports, including distances, roads, rental car companies, and alternatives, see our guide to getting to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes.
The Park Entrances and Which One to Choose
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes has just one main entrance, in Volcano, on Highway 11. You don't have to choose, since every vehicle passes through this entrance station, no matter where it comes from.
The park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. The entrance doesn't close, so you can arrive at night to watch activity in the Kīlauea caldera. It's a completely different experience from visiting during the day.
Kahuku Unit, an isolated area about 31 miles south of the main entrance on Highway 11, keeps its own hours. It's open Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Monday through Wednesday. If you plan to include it in your itinerary, check the hours the day before.
For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Parks Fees & Passes page.
Getting Around the Park
By Car
Driving is the main way to get around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes. Two main roads shape the visit.
Crater Rim Drive follows the Kīlauea caldera from the Visitor Center. Some sections were closed or rerouted after the 2018 eruptions and may still change, so check current closure alerts on the official NPS website before you leave.
Chain of Craters Road descends from the summit, at about 3,900 feet in elevation, to the coast over 19 miles. It isn't a loop. You drive down, enjoy the overlooks, then come back the same way. The descent is gradual, but the return puts serious demands on your engine brakes. With the curves and the temptation to stop everywhere, allow at least 2 hours round-trip.
The speed limit is generally 25 mph in the park, dropping to 15 mph near pedestrian areas. Follow it carefully. Native island wildlife can cross the road without warning.
By Shuttle or Guided Tour
The park doesn't operate a free shuttle. Private operators offer van tours from Hilo or Kona, which are convenient if you'd rather not drive or you're traveling without a rental car. Hotels near Volcano usually list several options.
By Bike
Bikes are allowed on the park's paved roads. Chain of Craters Road is a serious challenge: a 19-mile descent to the coast followed by a 19-mile climb back, with 3,900 feet of elevation gain, in the heat or coastal wind. Don't underestimate it. Bikes aren't allowed on hiking trails or unpaved roads.
Where to Park: Lots, Parking, and Parking Tags
Kīlauea Summit Area
The main parking lot is at the Kīlauea Visitor Center, which is currently being renovated in phases. The number of spaces may be reduced as work progresses. Secondary lots serve Steam Vents, the Kīlauea Iki overlooks, and Nāhuku Lava Tube. Arrive before 9 a.m. on weekends and during busy periods. Spaces fill quickly, and no parking tag, or timed entry reservation, is currently offered to manage the line.
Chain of Craters Road
The road has marked parking areas and designated pullouts at regular intervals. Parking on the shoulder outside these areas is prohibited. If one stop is full, continue to the next overlook. They often offer the same views from a different angle, and there's never any guarantee that a space will open up.
Volcano House and Campgrounds
Volcano House has its own parking lot, available to visitors who want to have lunch or enjoy the view of the caldera. The park's campgrounds, Nāmakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki, have parking spaces built into their layouts.
Parking is included with the entrance fee, so you don't need a separate parking ticket.
Distances and Drive Times Between Areas
Kīlauea Visitor Center to the end of Chain of Craters Road: about 19 miles, 40 to 50 minutes depending on stops. Allow at least 2 hours round-trip so you have time to stop at the viewpoints.
Kīlauea Visitor Center to Kahuku Unit: head south on Highway 11 for about 31 miles, or 45 minutes to 1 hour. The two areas aren't connected by an internal park road.
To decide what order to visit these areas in and how much time to spend in each, our Hawaiʻi Volcanoes itinerary guide breaks the park down into half-day and full-day plans.
Special Cases: RVs, Accessibility, and Pets
RVs and camper vans. Large vehicles are allowed in the park. Some parking lots have length or height restrictions, so check the limits published by the NPS before driving in. Nāmakanipaio Campground accepts RVs by reservation. Our Hawaiʻi Volcanoes RV guide covers suitable sites and vehicle size restrictions.
Accessibility. Kīlauea Visitor Center, the Steam Vents area, and several overlooks are wheelchair accessible or suitable for visitors with limited mobility. Some sections of Crater Rim Trail have been adapted for this purpose. The NPS publishes a downloadable accessibility map on its official website.
Pets. Pets are allowed in parking lots and on paved roads, but not on any trails or inside buildings. The rule is strictly enforced to protect the island's native wildlife, which is particularly vulnerable to introduced species.
Practical Driving Information: Fuel, Cell Service, and Apps
Fuel. There's no gas station inside the park. The village of Volcano, just outside the main entrance, has one, but its hours may be limited in the evening or on Sundays. If you're coming from Hilo, fill up before you leave town. From Kona, plan to stop in Naʻālehu or Pāhala, about 19 miles before the entrance.
Cell service. Coverage is highly unreliable in the park and nearly nonexistent across much of Chain of Craters Road. Don't count on real-time navigation once you've entered. Download your maps for offline use before you leave. The NPS app, Maps.me, and Google Maps offline all work well. Do it over your lodging's Wi-Fi, not from the Visitor Center parking lot.
Official NPS app. It provides park maps, closure alerts, and trail information without requiring a connection. It's free and belongs in the basic toolkit for any visit to an American national park.
Temperatures by elevation. The Kīlauea summit, at about 3,900 feet, can be 22 to 27°F cooler than the coast. Bring an extra layer even in midsummer. Mist and caldera winds can cool you down quickly. At the bottom of Chain of Craters Road, the coastal plain is dry, hot, and windy. It's another world just a few miles away. Our Hawaiʻi Volcanoes weather guide explains the variations by area and season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
The main way to get around Hawaiʻi Volcanoes is by car, using Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road. There's no free shuttle inside the park. Private operators offer van tours from Hilo and Kona for visitors who'd rather leave the driving to someone else.
Can you visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes by car?
Yes, and it's practically the only way to cover the entire park. All roads are paved and accessible to any standard vehicle.
Where can you park at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
The main parking lot is at Kīlauea Visitor Center, which is currently being renovated in phases. Designated parking areas line Chain of Craters Road. Parking is included with the entrance fee, with no extra charge or timed entry reservation.
Which entrance is best for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
There's just one main entrance, on Highway 11 in Volcano. Kahuku Unit, about 31 miles farther south, has a separate entrance on the same highway and is open only Thursday through Sunday.
Is there cell service in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park?
Cell service is weak or nonexistent across most of the park, especially on Chain of Craters Road. Download your maps and information for offline use at your lodging before entering the park.