The PERFECT Kona to Hilo Itinerary (Big Island Road Trip)
The drive from Kona to Hilo is truly more about the journey than the destination—even with Hilo’s rainbow-adorned waterfalls, vibrant farmers markets, and refreshing shave ice waiting for you!
Depending on which of the three routes you take between Hilo and Kona, your drive could include planting taro in an ancient Hawaiian valley, walking across black sand beaches, hiking along a hardened lava lake, gazing up at 450-foot waterfalls hidden in the rainforest, tasting freshly brewed coffee steps away from where it was grown, and so much more!
On my recent trip to the Big Island we did all of these things, and drove these routes between the west and east side several times. In this article I’m outlining my ideal Kona to Hilo itinerary, with all my favorite local businesses, waterfalls, viewpoints, and hidden gems along the way!
Kona to Hilo Itinerary: Must-See Stops Along Each Route
Highlights from this Kona to Hilo itinerary: Taro planting in Waipi’o Valley, driving a convertible, seeing a 450-foot waterfall!
🚘 How We Rented a Convertible for $200 for a Week!
I won’t lie—I really feel like we got lucky with this, but there still was a little bit of strategy that went into us ending up with a $200/week convertible on the Big Island (which made the long drives so much more fun!)
First, as always, I compared Kona rental car companies on DiscoverCars to find the company with the best rate. Rentals with Hertz were surprisingly cheap, and since we get upgrades with Hertz through our Capital One Venture X credit card, we reserved the cheapest car, not expecting anything special.
We’ve rented with Hertz a lot in the past and the automatic upgrades usually aren’t anything to write home about, but for whatever reason, Hertz Kona had a variety of convertibles in our upgrade tier, including beautiful red convertible that we chose when we landed!
There are three different routes you can take to get from Kona to Hilo:
- Option 1: Kona to Hilo via Saddle Road (~1.5 hour plus stops)
- Option 2: Kona to Hilo via Waimea (~2 hours plus stops)
- Option 3: Kona to Hilo via Southern Route (~3 hours plus stops)
The first option is fastest because you drive through the middle of island between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The landscapes are stunning, but there isn’t much to do along the way.
Meanwhile, the second route takes you to some of the most breathtaking rainforest landscapes on the island—sacred Waipi’o Valley and ʻAkaka Falls, along with the cowboy town of Waimea and volcanic shorelines of Laupāhoehoe.
And the third route takes you through Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park where you can hike along a hardened lava lake and through a lava tube, plus stop at a black sand beach and some world famous Kona coffee farms, too!
So, unless you’re in a hurry, I recommend driving to Hilo along the second route and then driving back along the third route. Ideally, spend the night in Hilo or Volcano Village so you have a two full days of Big Island road trip adventures!
🌿 Where to Stay in Hilo & Volcano Village 🌋
I highly recommend breaking up your Kona to Hilo itinerary into two days since there is so much to do on the drive to (and back from) Hilo! We stayed the night at budget-friendly SCP Hilo EcoHotel, but if I were to do it again, I’d stay at the Inn at Kulaniapia Falls (because onsite waterfall!!) or At the Craters Edge (because dreamy jungle vibes).
Kona to Hilo Highlights: Waipi’o Valley taro, ʻAkaka Falls, and Waipi’o Black Sand Beach Lookout
Kona to Hilo: Waipi’o Valley & Waterfalls (~2 hours driving + stops)
Waimea
📍 Waimea Town | 50 minutes from Kona
Driving toward Waimea from Kona you’ll watch the rugged volcanic landscapes transform into rolling green hills. Then, optionally, stop in Waimea, a small town known for its paniolo (cowboy) culture, which stretches back to when King Kamehameha II invited Mexican cowboys to the Big Island to teach Hawaiians cattle ranching.
Today there isn’t a lot to do in Waimea, but its a natural pitstop on your way to Waipi’o Valley, and if you’re visiting on a Saturday, you definitely have to check out the Waimea Town Farmers Market at Parker School! Waimea is also home to Big Island Brewhaus, where you can try some local craft beer.
The FRIENDLY wild horses of Waipio Valley
Waipi‘o Valley Lookout + Waipi‘o Valley Shuttle
📍 Waipi‘o Valley | 30 minutes from Waimea | Lookout is free | Shuttle requires reservations
Then take a slight detour on the drive to Hilo by heading over to Waipi’o Valley, a sacred valley surrounded by 4,000-foot cliffs with waterfalls, lush taro fields, and a black sand beach.
While anyone can view the valley from the lookout above, access to the serene valley is prohibited—unless you join the local-led Waipi’o Valley Shuttle Tour. This 3-hour van tour is probably my favorite thing we did on the Big Island (well, tied with manta ray snorkeling!)
It happens four times a day at 9am, 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, and takes you down into the valley in a van with all the windows punched out so you can see—and feel—everything.
Most of the tour is spent inside the van, crossing rivers and driving beside taro farms with waterfalls in the distance. You also get two stops along the way where you can soak in the surrounding beauty—including at a riverside taro field where my husband got to plant his own kalo!
If you’re curious about what the Waipi’o Valley tour is like, the history, and why the valley is closed to visitors, check out my full Waipi’o Valley travel guide.
Laupāhoehoe Point
📍 Laupāhoehoe Peninsula | 50 minutes from Waipi‘o Overlook | Free
Next, take another short detour to see the stunning volcanic spires that line the shore at Laupāhoehoe Point. There’s a small rocky beach and the volcanic rock formations but not much else here. Still, its such an easy stop that I recommend it!
If you’ve been to Maui, Laupāhoehoe is reminiscent of the Ke‘Anae Peninsula on the Road to Hana, but with heavy history. Decades ago, Laupāhoehoe was home to a school and in 1946 a tsunami took the lives of 24 students and teachers here.
Keep in mind that Laupāhoehoe is not a safe swimming spot. If you’re looking for somewhere to swim on this Kona to Hilo itinerary, wait for Umauma Falls or the beach in Hilo!
Zip Line Over Umauma Falls (Add-On)
📍 Umauma Falls | 20 minutes from Laupāhoehoe Point | $5+ per person
If it piques your interest, you can go ziplining over Umauma Falls! The 9-line zip-line is the most scenic zip-line in the island, with several waterfalls and views of the ocean while you’re flying through the rainforest canopy.
You will have to make a reservation (10am, 11am, 1pm, or 2pm) and then plan your Kona to Hilo itinerary accordingly. Alternatively, just stop at Umauma Falls and see the waterfall, it’ll only cost you $5 per person but you won’t be able to swim!
ʻAkaka Falls State Park
📍 ʻAkaka Falls State Park | 15 minutes from Umauma Falls | $10 parking + $5 per person
You cannot miss ʻAkaka Falls, even if you visit Umauma Falls. This 450-foot waterfall was one of my favorite places we visited on the Big Island, and perhaps my favorite waterfall in all of Hawaii!
The waterfall is only about a 15-minute walk from the parking area along a well-established path, with another smaller waterfall along the way.
It was raining when we visited, which is to be expected as this is the rainy side of the island! Embrace it and enjoy the lush jungle atmosphere!
Hilo Highlights: Rainbow Falls and the farmers market!
Hilo
📍Hilo | 25 minutes from ʻAkaka Falls State Park
And then finally we’re in Hilo!! If you need a few suggestions of things to do in Hilo, here’s my list:
- 🌈 Rainbow Falls: Once you reach Hilo, this beautiful waterfall only 10 minutes from downtown! It’s free to visit, and super accessible with a viewing platform over the falls.
- 🥭 Hilo Farmer’s Market: A daily market in downtown Hilo with tons of fresh tropical fruit, yummy drinks, and local treats.
- 🍧 Kula Shave Ice: The best shave ice I’ve ever had, all made with natural (delicious!) ingredients. Located in downtown Hilo, right by the farmer’s market.
- 🍹The Booch Bar: Funky kombucha bar with a variety of flavorful food, ranging from burgers and tacos to bibimbap and Reubens.
- 🍲 Vegan Shop: Affordable Vietnamese plate lunch and delicious veggie pho. We really enjoyed eating here, it was nice to have some cozy Vietnamese food!
🥑 Lunch Options: There isn’t a natural lunch stop mid-day along this drive from Kona to Hilo, so I’d recommend packing a bunch of snacks or even a prepared lunch! Then enjoy some delicious dinner in Hilo!
Hilo to Kona Highlights: Thurston Lava Tube, rainbow on the Kīlauea Iki crater, and black sand beach!
Hilo to Kona Itinerary: Volcano Hike, Black Sand Beach & Coffee Farms (~3 hours driving + stops)
Now, onto our drive back to Kona from Hilo! Of course, you can switch the order and drive from Kona to Hilo along this southern route if that makes sense for your itinerary. Curious we did it? Check out my 7 day Big Island itinerary.
This route follows Hawai’i Belt Road up through Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active shield volcano, then back down to sea level along the southern edge of the island, and up in elevation again as you drive along the world famous Kona Coffee Belt. Along the way you’ll see lots of volcanic landscapes, like the volcano itself along with miles of lava fields and a black sand beach!
Kīlauea Iki Trail at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
📍 Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park | 45 minutes from Hilo | $30 per vehicle or use Annual National Parks Pass
Our first stop is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, one of the best places on earth to see active lava flow (if you’re lucky!) Unfortunately, there wasn’t an active lava flow when we were visiting, but it was still a huge highlight of our Big Island trip because we got to hike across a hardened lava lake!
It’s the 3.2-mile loop Kīlauea Iki Trail which guides you across the Kīlauea Iki crater floor, which was once a bubbling lake of lava during the 1959 volcanic eruption. Now it’s a blackened, barren landscape of hardened lava with giant cracks in the earth!
The trail also takes you through lush tropical forests and along the rim of the crater, where you can look out upon the otherworldly landscape you just walked through! And I highly recommend taking a slight detour during your hike to walk through the 500-year-old Thurston Lava Tube, which is a short walk off the trail. (The lava tube and trail are both pinned on my Big Island map!)
This is a relatively short hike, but it gets more difficult the later you go because of the heat and 700 feet of elevation gain. I’d aim on getting here as early as possible, ideally around 8am or earlier! Be sure to bring plenty of water and a snack or two.
After the hike, you can check out the Haʻakulamanu Sulphur Banks and Steam Vents nearby. Optionally, drive the 18-mile Chain of Craters road to the coast to see lava fields, petroglyphs and the Hōlei Sea Arch. We skipped this to save time!
Lunch at Café Ono in Volcano Village
📍 Café Ono | 9 minutes from Kīlauea Iki Trailhead | $20+ per person
Next, drive a few miles back toward Volcano Village, which is home to a few restaurants and hotels, including my suggested lunch spot, Café Ono!
It’s a little restaurant in a historic home surrounded by beautiful gardens. The food is healthy, fresh, and simple—we really enjoyed the vegan options and serene ambiance.
Some other options nearby include the Volcano House, which overlooks the crater. wine tasting at Volcano Winery!
The southern route from Kona to Hilo is surrounded by lava fields
Punaluʻu Beach
📍 Punaluʻu Beach | 35 minutes from Volcano Village | Free
After lunch, drive south along Hawai’i Belt Road and watch as the landscapes transform as you descend back to sea level. The next stop I’d suggest is Punaluʻu Beach, a stunning black sand beach that’s just a few minutes off the road.
I’ve been to some other black sand beaches in Hawaii and the Caribbean, and this is my favorite! The sand is truly charcoal black and absolutely stunning contrasted against the the wispy palm trees, tide pools, and sleeping sea turtles!
I wouldn’t recommend swimming here, but depending on the ocean conditions, you can dip your feet in the waves like I did!
Papakōlea Green Sand Beach (Add-On)
📍 Papakōlea Beach | 40 minutes from Punaluʻu Beach | Free
Optionally, add on a detour to Papakōlea Beach, a green sand beach! It is quite a long detour as the parking lot is nearly a 30 minute drive off the main road, plus you have to hike 5 miles roundtrip to reach the beach from the parking lot.
Given how far it is off the beaten path, we skipped Papakōlea but I’ve heard that its quite incredible! I’ve also heard that there are usually locals waiting at the trailhead that will drive you down for $20-30 per person (sounds like it is possible to drive… but really only if you have the right vehicle and know the road).
Close by you’ll also find South Point, the southernmost part of the island, which is also a popular (and dangerous) cliff jumping spot. If you visit either South Point or Papakōlea, let me know how it goes!!
Miranda’s Farms Coffee Shop
📍 Miranda’s Farms | 15 minutes from Punaluʻu | $5-8 per coffee
Next, stop at Miranda’s Farms, a lovely little roadside coffee farm and coffee stand where you can order kaʻū coffee made from beans grown right on the property!
We were the only customers and unsurprisingly, my iced lavender latte was delicious. I appreciated that they let us walk through the rows of coffee plants while waiting for our drinks. They also had a Salvadoran food truck that looked yummy!
Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park and snorkeling at Honaunau Bay
Optional: Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park & Honaunau Bay
📍 Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau | 1 hour from Miranda’s Farms | $30 per vehicle or Annual National Parks Pass
After Miranda’s Farms you can keep driving all the way to Kailua-Kona, which is about an hour and 15 minutes away. The drive will take you along the Kona Coffee Belt and through Kealakekua and Captain Cook, one of my favorite areas on the island!
In my 7 day Big Island itinerary I suggest dedicating a full day (or half day) to this area, but if you’re short on time, now is a lovely time to make a few extra stops while you’re driving through!
The first is Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park and the nearby Honaunau Bay. Keep in mind these spots a bit of the detour, but so worth visiting at some point in your Big Island trip!
Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park is a 180-acre property along the sparkling blue ocean is the most extensive archeological site I’ve seen anywhere in Hawaii! Once Royal Grounds for Hawaiian royalty (aliʻi), and a place of refuge, its now a preserved area where you can see reconstructions of historic Hawaiian buildings.
A short walk from the national historic park is Honaunau Bay (Two Step Beach), which is one of the best snorkel spots on the Kona Coast!
🥑 Late Lunch + Early Dinner Options: There are several excellent eateries along the Kona Coffee Belt! Honaunau Poke Shop for delicious poke (vegan options, too!), The Coffee Shack for brunch food with an exceptional view, and Shaka Tacoz for some incredible tacos.
Optional: Greenwell Farms
📍 Greenwell Farms | 20 minutes from Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau or 50 minutes from Miranda’s if skipping the detour | Free Tour!
The next stop optional stop I’d recommend along the Kona Coffee Belt is Greenwell Farms, a historic coffee farm that offers free tours. Sure, you may not feel a need to visit both Miranda Farms and Greenwell Farms in one day, but they are quite different!
Miranda Farms is quick and easy stop where you can get your drink of choice made with kaʻū beans grown on the property, whereas Greenwell Farms is a historic farm that produces world famous Kona Coffee. You can taste their varieties of drip coffee for free and tour the farm.
But the key here is that Greenwell Farms offers free tours of their coffee farm daily between 9am and 3pm. Depending on how many stops you take on your drive from Hilo to Kona, you may not make it in time for the last tour. If not, consider visiting on another day! I outline all the best things to do in this area in my Kealakekua and Captain Cook guide!
Back to Kona
And then we’re back in sunny Kailua-Kona! If you’re looking for things to do in Kona, here’s my quick list of favorites:
- Go night snorkeling with manta rays (link to the BEST local tour)
- Explore the Kona Cloud Forest, which inspired the movie Avatar! (make a reservation here)
- Try local craft beer + hard juice at Ola Brewery
- Snorkel as much as possible (my guide to the best spots on the Kona Coast)
- Spend a day exploring the coffee farms and hidden gems of South Kona
More Hawaii Travel Guides
- The Perfect 7 Day Big Island Itinerary: Volcano, Manta Rays, Coffee
- The Ultimate Guide to Snorkeling in Kona, Hawaii
- How to Visit Hawaii on a Budget (Without Missing Out!)
- Which Hawaiian Island is Best? (From a Frequent Visitor)
- 17 Big Island Hidden Gems for Exploring Off the Beaten Path
Save for later on Pinterest:
