Are you considering taking a trip along Maui’s Road to Hana? All the incredible stops make this Maui day trip one of the best things to do in Maui. Scroll down to discover the 15 Road to Hana tips you need to know!
This list of Road to Hana tips was written by Marcie Cheung (a Hawaii travel expert) and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Look, I’ve driven the Road to Hana at least a dozen times across my 40+ Hawaii trips.
I’m a certified Hawaii destination specialist and professional tourist who actually knows this drive inside and out.
So when I tell you most Road to Hana guides are selling you a fantasy version that doesn’t match reality? I mean it.
The Road to Hana is gorgeous. It’s also kind of miserable if you do it wrong. And most people do it wrong because they’re following advice from people who drove it once on their honeymoon.
Quick version if you’re in a hurry: Start before 7 AM. Book Waianapanapa State Park online NOW (you need reservations as of 2026). Don’t drive the backside unless you want to void your rental insurance and possibly get stranded. Pack a cooler full of snacks because finding parking at food stops is a nightmare. Pick 4-5 stops max and actually enjoy them instead of playing parking lot roulette all day.
That’s it. That’s the post. Everything else is just details.
Should You Even Do This Drive?
Okay so first question: Is this drive worth a full day of your Maui vacation?
Depends.
The Road to Hana is 52 miles that take 2-4 hours without stops. Add in stops and you’re looking at 12-14 hours round trip from anywhere on the west side. That’s not a casual morning activity.
Nobody tells you this but Hana town itself? Super tiny. You’ll spend maybe 20 minutes there.
The actual experience is the drive and the stops along the way. Which sounds romantic until you’re on hour 8 and you just want to sit somewhere that isn’t moving.
Do it if you love scenic drives and can handle 620 curves without getting sick. Do it if you’re staying on Maui for at least a week and can afford to blow a whole day. Do it if you can start early (before 7 AM, not “early for vacation” early).
Skip it if you only have 3-4 days on Maui. There are better ways to spend limited time. Skip it if you get motion sick or you’re traveling with kids who hate car rides. Skip it if snorkeling or Haleakala or whale watching are higher priorities for you.
And definitely skip it if you can’t start early. Leaving at 10 AM because that’s a normal vacation wake-up time? You’re going to have a miserable experience fighting for parking all day.
The Stops That Actually Matter (After Driving This a Million Times)
I’m not going to list 17 stops like every other guide. You don’t have time for 17 stops. You barely have time for 5 good ones.
These are the stops I never skip. Not because they’re “Instagram famous” but because they actually deliver.
Garden of Eden (Mile Marker 10) – My Absolute Favorite
Yeah, there’s a $15 admission fee. Everyone complains about this. But Garden of Eden is hands-down the best stop on the entire drive and it’s not even close.
Twenty-six acres of maintained botanical gardens with viewing platforms overlooking the coast. You can see both Puohokamoa Falls from here – upper and lower. The scenery is legitimately stunning, not just “nice for a tourist attraction” stunning.
They filmed Jurassic Park here if you care about that. You’ll recognize Keopuka Rock.
But the real reason I love it? Clean facilities, paved paths, and you’re not fighting for a sketchy roadside parking spot. At 8 AM on a Tuesday, you might be one of like 5 people there. That alone is worth $15.
Give yourself 45-60 minutes. Bring your real camera, not just your phone.
Opens at 8 AM which is perfect if you left your hotel at 6:30. Garden of Eden website
Halfway to Hana Stand (Mile Marker 17)
This place has gotten famous in the last few years and okay, the hype is deserved.
Their banana bread is genuinely good. Not “surprisingly good for a roadside stand” – just good banana bread. Period. The fresh fruit smoothies hit the spot after an hour of curves.
Bring cash. They might take cards now, I honestly can’t remember, but don’t risk it.
I always get a smoothie and save the banana bread for later when I’m starving at 3 PM on the drive back. Also the bathrooms are clean which you’ll appreciate.
Five minute stop, maybe ten if there’s a line.
Waianapanapa State Park (Mile Marker 32) – But You Need Reservations Now
The famous black sand beach. Absolutely stop here.
But – and this is CRUCIAL – you need reservations now. This changed a few years ago and they actually enforce it. You can’t just roll up anymore.
Book at gostateparks.hawaii.gov up to 30 days out. Reservations drop at midnight Hawaii time. Morning time slots fill up fast, like within a week for busy periods.
It costs: $5 per person (4 and up) plus $10 for parking
If you’re late: Too bad. No refunds. They’ll turn you away if you miss your 30-minute arrival window.
If you’re a Hawaii resident: It’s free with your ID
The black sand beach is dramatic. The contrast between the black sand, blue water, and green cliffs is chef’s kiss. There are lava tubes and sea caves if you want to explore beyond just taking beach photos.
Plan an hour minimum. An hour fifteen if you’re doing the coastal trail.
Worth it if you book ahead. Total waste of time if you forgot to make a reservation because you literally cannot enter.
Upper Waikani Falls / Three Bears Falls (Mile Marker 19)
This is the waterfall in everyone’s Instagram feed. Three streams coming down the cliff, small pool at the bottom, right off the road.
The water’s freezing (rainforest runoff) but it’s refreshing if you want to swim.
Timing matters here though. Before 10 AM or after 3 PM, it’s manageable. Between 10 AM and 3 PM? Tour bus central. If you pull up and the parking lot is chaos, just skip it. There are other waterfalls and this one isn’t magical enough to wait 30 minutes for parking.
Twenty minutes if it’s not crowded.
Pua’a Ka’a State Park (Mile Marker 22-23)
This is what I call the locals’ favorite because it has everything – waterfalls, swimming pools, picnic tables, bathrooms – but somehow it doesn’t get as mobbed as other stops.
The short hikes to upper and lower falls are easy. The pools are actually deep enough for real swimming, not just wading.
Thirty to forty-five minutes. Bring water shoes if you’ve got them because the trail gets slippery.
Stops You Can Skip Without FOMO
Twin Falls
This is usually the first big stop people make because it’s only 20 minutes from Paia and everyone’s excited.
It’s also almost always a disaster. Small waterfall, terrible parking situation, not-that-scenic walk.
Unless you arrive at like 7:30 AM before the crowds, just drive past it. I promise you won’t regret it.
Hana Lava Tube
Update as of early 2026: It’s closed. The government shut it down temporarily for some archaeological survey thing. No reopening date yet.
When it does reopen – it’s $15 per person to walk through an underground lava tube with flashlights for 40 minutes. Which is cool if you’re really into geology? But if you’re trying to maximize your time, there are better ways to spend it.
The Back Road: Please Don’t
Okay so you’ll see on the map that the highway continues around the south side of the island past Hana. This is called the “back road” or “backside of Hana” or Piilani Highway.
Every single person who asks me about this gets the same answer: Don’t do it.
Not “probably don’t” or “it’s not ideal.” Just don’t.
I’ve talked to so many people who ignored this advice and regretted it. Like the couple who got a flat tire on the gravel section with zero cell service and had to wait 4 hours for help.
Or the guy whose rental company refused to service his car because that section violates literally every major rental contract.
Why you shouldn’t do it:
The rental car thing is real. About 5 miles are unpaved gravel. Every rental company in Maui prohibits this road. Which means your insurance is void. All of it.
The rental company’s insurance, your credit card insurance, your personal car insurance that extends to rentals. All void.
Zero cell service. If something goes wrong, you’re stuck. Towing starts at $800 cash (they don’t take cards) and that’s IF you can even get someone to come get you.
It’s not even scenic. The backside is dry and brown and honestly kind of boring compared to the lush jungle on the Hana Highway. Everyone who’s done both says the main highway is way prettier.
It doesn’t save time. Both routes back take about the same amount of time. So you’re not getting any benefit from the risk.
It can be genuinely sketch. Narrow road, blind curves, cliff edges, no guardrails. I’m not trying to be dramatic but it’s legitimately unsafe in a regular car.
Turn around at Kipahulu (Seven Sacred Pools area) and go back the way you came. You’ll see everything from a different angle on the return drive anyway. It’s not boring, I promise.
When to Actually Do This Drive
Best Months
April through June is the sweet spot. Waterfalls are still full from winter rains, weather’s clear, crowds are lighter than summer, and prices are better.
September and October are also good. Traffic drops off after summer vacation ends but weather’s still nice.
Months I’d Avoid
July and August are peak summer chaos. Traffic is maxed out, parking lots are full, and the waterfalls are barely trickling because it hasn’t rained in weeks.
January through March are the wettest months. The waterfalls are dramatic but you’re dealing with slick roads and possible closures. Also peak tourism season means crowds despite the weather being meh.
Day of the Week Matters
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. That’s it. Those are the good days.
Weekends are busier. Monday and Friday catch overflow from weekend travelers.
What Time to Leave
Target 7 AM passing through Paia. This puts you ahead of tour buses and rental car people.
Before 6:30 AM is too early – you’ll hit Garden of Eden before it opens at 8 and the lighting isn’t great for photos anyway.
After 9 AM and you’re in the thick of it. More time waiting for parking than actually seeing anything.
Latest you should start is noon and only if you’re just doing the first half to Hana and turning around.
What to Actually Pack (I Learned This the Hard Way)
Must-Haves
Snacks. Like, an absurd amount of snacks. I’m talking full cooler with sandwiches, fruit, trail mix, protein bars, and way more water than seems reasonable.
You know why? Because what if you can’t find parking at that cute food stand? What if they’re closed? What if you’re starving at 3 PM with 90 minutes of driving left and your only option is a $18 plate lunch?
I learned this lesson the hard way. Now I pack like I’m going camping.
Cash. Most fruit stands are cash only. Bring at least $40 in small bills.
Motion sickness meds. Even if you never get carsick. Six hundred and twenty curves is a lot of curves.
Reef-safe sunscreen. It’s the law in Hawaii now. Regular sunscreen kills coral so don’t bring it.
Water shoes or sneakers. Flip-flops are terrible for waterfall trails. The paths get muddy and you’ll slip.
Phone charger. GPS drains your battery and your phone works overtime searching for signal in dead zones.
Nice to Have
Towels if you’re swimming. Bug spray (rainforest = mosquitoes). Plastic bags for wet clothes. Offline maps downloaded before you leave because cell service is sketchy at best.
How I Actually Do This Drive Now
After doing this wrong several times, this is what works:
Leave my hotel around 6:30 AM. Yeah, it sucks getting up that early on vacation but you know what sucks more? Spending your entire day in traffic.
By 7 AM I’m rolling through Paia, stopping to fill up the gas tank. This is critical – there’s no gas between Paia and Hana. Well, there’s one station in Hana but I wouldn’t count on it.
Coffee and bathroom break somewhere around 7:30. Just stretching my legs before the real drive starts.
8 AM I’m pulling into Garden of Eden right when they open. Maybe there are 3 other cars in the parking lot. It’s glorious. I take my time here because I’m not rushed.
9:00ish I hit Halfway to Hana for smoothies. Grab banana bread for later.
Between 9:30 and 11:00 I’m hitting whatever waterfalls look good and don’t have parking lot chaos. If a spot looks mobbed, I skip it. There’s always another waterfall.
11:30 AM I’m checking into Waianapanapa with my pre-booked reservation (because you can’t get in without one).
Around 1 PM I’m in Hana town. If Bruddah Hutts BBQ is open I’m getting ribs. I dream about those ribs. Not even exaggerating. Their ribs are stupid good.
2 PM I start heading back, stopping at anything I missed on the way there.
By 5 PM I’m back in Paia area.
By 6 PM I’m back at my hotel completely exhausted but happy.
Notice I’m only hitting like 5-6 stops. Not 15. Not 20. Five or six really good ones where I actually get out and enjoy myself instead of playing musical parking lots all day.
What to Do in Hana Town
Not much, and that’s fine.
Hana is tiny. Like, blink and you’ll miss it tiny. You’ve got Bruddah Hutts (GET THE RIBS), maybe a couple other food options, a general store, and that’s about it.
The real stuff to see is either on the drive TO Hana or past Hana at Kipahulu.
Don’t expect a cute downtown with boutiques. Hana is remote and rural. It’s essentially a small Hawaiian village that happens to be at the end of a famous drive. That’s the whole vibe.
Answering the Questions Everyone Asks
Do I need a 4WD vehicle?
Nope. The Hana Highway is fully paved. Regular car is totally fine.
What about a convertible?
You can, but it’s not ideal. The humidity is intense and you’ll want AC. Also storing your stuff is harder.
Should I just book a tour?
Maybe. If driving makes you nervous or you get carsick, yeah. A tour operator knows every stop, handles all the driving stress, and gives you historical context you’d miss otherwise.
It costs about $100-150 more than driving yourself but you also don’t have to navigate, find parking, or worry about getting back before dark.
Check Viator or Get Your Guide for tour options.
What about Seven Sacred Pools?
The official name is Ohe’o Gulch and it’s in Haleakala National Park past Hana. As of 2026, swimming isn’t allowed anymore because of safety concerns. But you can still view the pools from the trail.
The Pipiwai Trail is what you actually want to do there anyway. It goes through a bamboo forest to a 400-foot waterfall and it’s genuinely amazing. Allow 2-3 hours if you’re doing this trail.
Check NPS website before you go in case of closures.
How early is too early?
Before 6:30 AM is probably too early. You’ll hit stuff before it opens and sunrise lighting isn’t great until closer to 8 AM anyway.
The Crowd and Traffic Situation (It’s Gotten Worse)
The Road to Hana has gotten way more crowded in the last decade. Instagram happened. Everyone wants the same photos.
The state installed about 70 “no parking” signs along the highway because people were literally parking ON THE HIGHWAY to take pictures. Don’t be that person. Seriously.
Also, pull over if you’ve got a line of cars behind you. People actually live along this road. They have jobs and errands and places to be. If locals are stacking up behind you, find a safe pull-off and let them pass.
Basic courtesy goes a long way.
Resources That Actually Help
Car rental: Discount Hawaii Car Rental has the best rates I’ve found. Use my referral code for extra savings.
My podcast: I cover all this in way more detail in episode 31 of Hawaii Travel Made Easy: “What You Need to Know About the Road to Hana on Maui”. Listen while you’re planning or even during your drive.
Need actual help planning? I do one-on-one Hawaii travel consultations where we map out your entire Maui itinerary including whether the Road to Hana even makes sense for your specific trip.
More Maui stuff:
Bottom Line
The Road to Hana is beautiful. It’s also a full-day commitment that will exhaust you.
Go in knowing this won’t be a relaxing day. Start early or you’ll hate it. Pick 4-6 stops max. Make your Waianapanapa reservations NOW. Bring so many snacks. Do not attempt the backside road.
Will it take your whole day? Yes.
Will you be tired? Absolutely.
Will it be worth it if you plan it right? Yeah, it will.
Just remember this drive isn’t a race. It’s about slowing down and seeing what makes Maui special. Even if that means skipping half the “must-see” stops that other guides swear you need.
You don’t need to see everything. You just need to see the things that actually matter.
Aloha,
Marcie
P.S. Seriously make those Waianapanapa reservations. Right now. They fill up.
Looking for more Maui travel resources? Find out the best things to do in Wailea, how many days you need in Maui, cheap and free things to do on Maui, and top things to do know before planning a trip to Maui!
