How to Spend One Day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

You simply must spend a day at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park if you’re on the Big Island—where else can you *possibly* see active lava flow, hike across a hardened lava lake, or walk through a 500-year-old lava tube!?!

In this article I’m sharing our exact Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park one day itinerary, to give you an idea of how to maximize your time here. Plus, details on where we stayed the night before to get to the volcano before everyone else, and a few fun stops on the drive back to Kona!

🌋 Bookmark for later: First Time Visitor’s Guide to Hawaii’s Big Island

Standing under a rainbow on the Hike the Kīlauea Iki Trail in Hawaii

Hiking through Thurston Lava Tube in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park hike through a lava lake

☀️🌺🌿 Article Outline (Jump Ahead)

Visiting Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

The 320,000 acres of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park spans from the ocean all the way up to the 13,681-foot summit of Mauna Loa—which is where you can sometimes see lava flow on the Big Island!

Here’s a few quick facts about Mauna Loa and the national park:

⛰️ Elevation: 13,681 feet at the summit of Mauna Loa
⏰ Park hours: Open 24/7
💰 Entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days so you can visit other national monuments on the island), or use your annual America The Beautiful Pass
☁️ Weather: The summit is always chillier and windier than the rest of the island—but the sun is powerful! We experienced light rain (and a beautiful rainbow), clouds, and scorching sun all within a few hours.
📱 Lava Activity: Always changing! Check the NPS website before and during your trip to see if there’s a chance to see lava flow.

🌺 HOW MAUNA LOA FIT INTO MY MAUI TRIP: My 7 Day Big Island Itinerary

One Day Hawaii Volcanoes Itinerary

Getting to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

You can visit the Mauna Loa and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on a day trip from anywhere on the island—Kona (2 hour drive), Hilo (45 minute drive), or the Kohala Coast (2 hour drive). And yep, you can even visit on a day trip from another island by joining this Big Island highlights tour that includes Kona airport pickup and dropoff.

But in my case, I explored Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park while driving between Hilo and Kona. I spend the day before exploring the north side of the island, spent the night in Hilo, and then go to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the morning to hike before driving back to Kona. My Kona to Hilo itinerary details it all if you’re planning to do something similar.

Paying the Entry Fee

Before entering the park you’ll need to either pay the $30 day pass entry fee (per vehicle) or present your annual America The Beautiful Pass, which you can purchase online from REI here if you’d like!

Hiking the Kīlauea Iki Trail along Kīlauea Crater

Hike the Kīlauea Iki Trail & Thurston Lava Tube

📍 45 minutes from Hilo | 2 hours from Kona

Begin your day with one of the most insane hikes I’ve ever experienced—the Kīlauea Iki Trail, which leads you across a hardened lava lake. We used our jet lag to our advantage, woke up early in Hilo and were on the trail by 8:30—and starting early is my #1 tip as the trail only gets more challenging and HOT as the day goes on.

Kīlauea Iki Trail is a 3.2 mile loop that begins above the Kīlauea crater, then down along the crater floor, back up, and through lush forests along the edge of the crater until you’re back at your starting point. We added an optional—but highly recommend—detour to walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, which increased our 3.2 mile hike to about 4 miles total, with 700 feet of elevation when you hike out of the crater.

When we arrived the crater was covered in fog, and our hike down was a little misty (refreshingly so), but by the time were on the crater floor the clouds began to clear, and we were blessed with an incredible rainbow, contrasted against the ashy black landscapes around us. The heat started to rise on the hike back up as we again journeys through lush foliage. At the top we were greeted with a perfectly clear view of the crater from above!

My suitcase-friendly hiking essentials:

👟 Altra trail runners: The comfiest hiking shoes ever! After hundreds of miles of hiking and three pairs (I lost one, burnt one… lol) I’ve never gotten a single blister. They have a wide toe box and are much smaller/lighter than hiking boots, so they’re ideal for travel!
🎒 Gregory hydration pack: I love this lightweight, comfortable day pack that comes with a 3-liter water reservoir. It’s easy to throw in my suitcase and has plenty of room for layers and snacks on hikes of any length.
☀️ REI sun hoodie: I usually hike in a tank top and have this UPF 50 sun hoodie in my backpack to throw on when the sun gets strong. It’s breathable, light, and much more comfortable than sunscreen…!

My husband has the men’s version of the Altra Lone Peaks (he’s the one that introduced me), a larger size of the Gregory hydration pack, and he prefers a merino wool sun hoodie.

Haʻakulamanu Sulphur Banks & Steam Vents

📍 5 minutes from Kīlauea Iki Trailhead

After your hike, you can head to the Haʻakulamanu Sulphur Banks and Steam Vents, just a short drive away. Here, groundwater seeps down to the hot volcanic rock deep underground and returns to the surface as clouds of warm steam.

An easy, accessible boardwalk leads you through the Sulphur Banks, where yellow and green sulfur crystals coat the ground alongside steamy volcanic vents.

Lunch in Volcano Village

📍 5–10 minutes outside the park entrance | $15–$30 per person

By midday, head just a couple of miles outside the national park gates into Volcano Village, a charming rainforest community filled with vibrant green foliage, art galleries, and a handful of eateries.

We ate at the adorable Café Ono, which felt more like a hospitable boho friend’s home than a restaurant. The small lunch spot is located inside a historic home surrounded by serene tropical gardens, with an onsite shop full of locally made art and goodies. The food was delicious and wholesome, with plenty of organic plant-based options.

Another excellent place to eat here is Volcano House, which is perched on the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu crater. It’s located within a historic lodge inside the national park, so you don’t have to leave and reenter—plus the panoramic views can’t be beaten.

🌊 Also See: 17 Big Island Hidden Gems for Exploring Off the Beaten Path

Drive Chain of Craters Road to Hōlei Sea Arch

📍 18 miles (one-way) from the Summit Visitor Center

After lunch, head back into the park for one the Big Island’s most iconic drives, the Chain of Craters Road. This 18-mile winding road descends 3,700 feet from the crater summit all the way down to where the lava fields meet the Pacific.

It’s a bit of a long drive (and totally out of the way) if you’re trying to make it to Kona, so we skipped it, but if we had more time, I would have loved to watch the landscapes transform outside the car window. It also would be the perfect alternative to the Kīlauea Iki Trail if you were traveling with folks who couldn’t hike.

Some highlights along the drive include the 90-foot-tall Hōlei Sea Arch and Puʻu Loa petroglyphs. Keep in mind the drive is quite remote, so pack all the water and food you’ll need in your car!

Road trip around the Big Island of Hawaii

Hawaii's Punaluʻu Beach on the south side of the Big Island

Bonus Stops on the Way to Kona

If you’re driving to Kona after visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (like we were), these are a few places worth stopping:

🌊 Punaluʻu Beach: a stunning black sand beach that’s just a few minutes off the road, with charcoal black sand that’s absolutely stunning contrasted against the the wispy palm trees, tide pools, and sleeping sea turtles!
☕️ Miranda’s Farms Coffee Shop: A lovely little roadside coffee farm and coffee stand where you can order kaʻū coffee made from beans grown right on the property!

And later on during your trip, be sure to also visit Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park (in the Kealakekua area), which is an incredible Hawaiian archeological site included in your Hawaii Volcanoes day pass (or America the Beautiful Pass) within seven days of purchasing. I share more of my favorite things to do in the area in my South Kona guide.