The Perfect 1 Day Road to Hana Itinerary (& What to Skip)

Having visited Maui several times, I’m no stranger to the Road to Hana’s 600+ famed hairpin turns, seemingly endless roadside waterfalls, and volcanic-rock-meets-rainforest landscapes.

This adventure-packed one day Road to Hana itinerary is based on my most recent visit—my mom was visiting Maui for the first time, so I wanted to show her all the Hana highlights in one day.

We swam beneath three different gorgeous waterfalls, hiked through tranquil bamboo forests, marveled at the cascading ʻOheʻo pools, and took in the views of traditional taro fields, volcanic coastlines, vast rainforest valleys, and turquoise bays along the way.

Woman with outstreched arms standing in front of the Ke‘Anae Peninsula overlook with taro fields in the background

Ho’okipa Beach, a must see stop on your way to Hana, Hawaii

Woman walking through a bamboo forest on the Pipiwai Trail on the Road to Hana

Twin Falls, a must see spot on this Road to Hana itinerary

About the Road to Hāna

The Road to Hana is a 64-mile scenic stretch of the Hana Highway that connects Paia and Hana along Maui’s northeast coast.

Many say it’s more about the journey than the destination, and I have to agree! There isn’t much to do in Hana itself, but the viewpoints, waterfalls, and beaches along the way make the 620 curves and one-lane bridges worth it!

One of the best reasons to drive the Road to Hana is to experience the waterfalls and rainforest landscapes of Maui’s lush east coast—something you’ll completely miss if you stick to the resort areas in Lahaina and Kihei.

🤙🏼 Respecting locals on the Road to Hana: Pull to the side of the road anytime you see a car behind you. Locals drive faster than tourists and letting them pass is common courtesy! (See: Hana Highway Code of Conduct)

A few more responsible tourism tips for the Road to Hana:

Stay off private property and anywhere marked with “no trespassing” signs, just because other tourists are trespassing doesn’t mean you should!
Clean up after yourself, and even consider picking up trash left by other tourists.
Stay at least 10 feet away from wildlife, especially sea turtle and monk seals.

Quick Tips for Your First Time on the Road to Hana

🕖 Start early: The earlier the better—you’re in for a lot of driving! I planned this itinerary to start right before 7am in Paia, but you can easily begin an hour earlier or later.
📱 Download the Shaka Guide audio tour: This $25 GPS Road to Hana audio tour will bring your Road to Hana experience to the next level, trust me!! We’ve used it every single time we’ve driven the Road to Hana because it clues you in on upcoming stops and includes plenty of interesting stories, too!
🔌 Bring a car charger: The audio tour will kill your phone battery, so make sure you have a charger!
🗺️ Grab my FREE Maui map: All my favorite spots are pinned on this map, but on the Road to Hana and throughout the island! You can use this map in combo with the Shaka tour.
🧺 Pack snacks and/or lunch: Food options are very limited, and can close unexpectedly. It’s best to buy a bunch of snacks (and maybe even a packable lunch) the night before. It’ll also save you time!
👙 Wear a swimsuit under your clothes: Especially if you love to swim beneath waterfalls like I do! There are several roadside waterfalls we’ll quickly visit throughout the day.
🤢 Bring motion sickness remedies: Instead of dramamine (makes you drowsy), I use these natural motion sickness patches and essential oil nausea relief inhaler and they really help!
💵 Carry cash: Many vendors don’t accept card, so it helps to have cash just in case!
👟 Bring hiking shoes and sandals: Wear your sandals, and pack a pair of hiking shoes for the Pipiwai Trail (I love my Altra Trail Runners since they take up less room in my suitcase!)
🤙🏼 Plan to turn around at Kīpahulu by 3pm: If you want to get back to Paia for dinner and avoid driving the Hana Highway at dark!

⛔️ 2026 Update: Tour Information 🤙🏼

Maui Tourism is encouraging visitors to explore the Road to Hana with a licensed tour guide as it helps reduce the number of vehicles on the road and supports local businesses. The biggest bonus is that you don’t have to worry about driving! Although this article shows you how to drive the Road to Hana yourself, here are some tour options to consider:

🚁 Luxury limo tour with HELICOPTER ride back! A very cool option if its in your budget!
🚐 Small group Hana tour with all the highlights + lunch. Hits all the highlights, including the black sand beach and local spots.
✨ VIP Private tour option. If you don’t want to go with a group (or have a group/family you’re traveling with), this is a good option!

The Road to Hana Itinerary

Paia: Gas & Coffee

📍 6:45am | before the Road to Hana | 15 minute stop

Fill up on gas in cute little Paia town, and optionally, stop for coffee! We ordered iced macadamia nut lattes and a delicious avocado toast at Story Maui, but heads up—it took quite a while to get our order. You can also stop at Paia’s Mana Foods for snacks, but keep in mind that it does not open until 8am.

Woman standing in the wind at Ho’okipa Overlook near Paia on the Hana Highway

Ho’okipa: Surfer & Sea Turtle Viewpoint

📍 7:15am | before the Road to Hana | 15 minute stop

Pull off into a small roadside parking lot for a chance to spot some resting sea turtles in the sand and surfers catching turquoise waves below.

Although I’d stick to the parking lot overlooking the beach and waves below, if you do go down, remember to stay at least 10 feet away from sea turtles anywhere in Hawai’i!

🌿 Ziplining Add-On: Soar through the rainforest canopy at Haiku as you start your Road to Hana day! Details here.

Woman wading in the water at a waterfall on the Road to Hana, one of the best things to do on the Road to Hana!

Twin Falls: Waterfall Swimming

📍 8:00am | mile marker #2 | $10 per vehicle | 30 minute-1 hour stop

Stop at Twin Falls for your first dip beneath a waterfall! There are several waterfalls here, and the first one is an especially easy (and safe) place to swim with a calm pool and refreshing water. The property is also home to over 350 varieties of tropical plants, so it feels a bit like a botanical garden!

🗺️ Bathroom stops: Kaumahina State Wayside Park (mile marker #12) and Pua‘a Ka‘a State Wayside (mile marker #22) are two easy spots to stop for a bathroom on the first half of the Road to Hana!

Ke‘Anae Peninsula Overlook: Taro Fields & Volcanic Landscapes

📍 9:30am | mile marker #16 | free | 5 minute stop

After 45 minutes of driving, stop at the small pullout just past Ching’s Pond to take in the view of Ke‘Anae, one of Maui’s oldest Hawaiian villages. From here, you get a front-row view of the historic peninsula’s lush taro fields, volcanic rock formations, and 1800s stone church.

If you’re doing good on time, you can also drive down into the Ke‘Anae Peninsula for a closer look at the small community and rugged coastline. If you drive down here, be sure to grab some of the famous banana bread from Aunty Sandy’s!

View of Wailua Valley in Maui, Hawaii on the Road to Hana

Wailua Valley State Wayside: Panoramic Views

📍 9:45am | mile marker #18 | free | 15 minute stop

Shaka Tours tipped us off to this underrated pull off, which ended up having some of the best views we witnessed on Maui!

To the east, you’ll gaze out on the sparkling ocean, traditional farmland, and quaint Wailua town. Look for the 1800s-era St. Gabriel’s Church, built from white coral that locals say ‘miraculously’ washed ashore in a storm.

Turn around for a rare glimpse of undeveloped Hawaiian landscapes with thousand-foot cliffs, distant waterfalls, and dense tropical foliage, protected amongst the 31,000-acre Koʻolau Forest Reserve.

🌿 You’ll also love: These views reminded me of Waipi’o Valley on the Big Island, ʻĪao Valley here on Maui, and Hanalei Valley on Kauai, all of which you can actually explore on foot—unlike this protected valley!

Small waterfall at Pua‘a Ka‘a State Wayside on the Road to Hana

Pua‘a Ka‘a State Wayside: Waterfall Swimming

📍 10:15am | mile marker #22 | free | 30 minute stop

Time to swim in yet another waterfall (or two!!) This little roadside park is home to two small but gorgeous waterfalls that both have calm, swimmable pools below.

Swimming in the chilling water with Josh was one of the most memorable experiences from my first trip along the Road to Hana (when we were engaged), so I had to stop again on my most recent trip!

If you don’t want to get in the cold water again, this can be a quick 5-10 minute photo and/or bathroom stop instead!

🥑 Lunch options: To maximize your time, pack a lunch (and plenty of snacks) the night before! Otherwise, convenient places to stop include Hana Farms for pizza and salads, or Hana Bowls for acai bowls.

ʻOheʻo Gulch, Seven Scared Pools, a must see spot at the Kipahulu Visitor's Center on the Road to Hana

Woman hiking the Pipiwai Trail, an essential in this Road to Hana itinerary

Kīpahulu & Pīpīwai Trail: ʻOheʻo Gulch, Bamboo Forest & Waterfall Hike

📍 12:30pm | mile marker #42 | $30 per vehicle | 2-3 hour stop

A whole hour later, you’ll make it to the Kīpahulu Visitor’s Center, which is where we’ll see the Seven Sacred Pools and hike through a bamboo forest to a 400-foot waterfall!! Needless to say, this is my favorite part of the Road to Hana day!

You will drive through Hana town on the way here, and you’ll want to make sure you’ve eaten lunch before starting our hike.

Both the pools and hike are located within Haleakalā National Park (yep, that’s the same park you visit on top of the volcano), and it costs $30 per vehicle. Your pass is valid for 3 days, so keep it if you’re planning on visiting the Volcano Summit District of Haleakalā National Park (which I highly recommend!)

ʻOheʻo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools)

Before starting the Pīpīwai Trail, take the short 0.6-mile ʻOheʻo Gulch loop to see the cascading pools and waterfalls that tumble into the ocean. This is the mouth of the same river we’ll follow along the trail, ending at the towering 400-foot Waimoku Falls.

Pīpīwai Trail (Bamboo Forest & Waimoku Falls)

From the ʻOheʻo Gulch path, follow the signs and path to the Pīpīwai Trail, which starts with crossing the road. This trail is 3.4 miles roundtrip with just over 850 feet of elevation gain.

A few highlights along the trail include the massive banyan tree, views of the rainforest canopy over the river, the tranquil sounds of rain falling in the bamboo forests, and of course, the view of 400-foot Waimoku Falls.

The trail ends with an exceptional close-up view of the waterfall, but you’re advised against continuing off trail to the base of the falls.

Budget at least 2 hours for the full hike. We tried really hard to optimize our time, so we trail ran the way back, but it still took us over an hour and a half with all of our stops for photos!

Rain showers are common here, so don’t be surprised if you get a bit wet and muddy!

🌊 Black sand beach add-on: If you aren’t hiking the Pipiwai Trail, you’ll have more time in your itinerary to visit Waiʻānapanapa State Park, home to a famous black sand beach. I’ve visited on past Maui trips, and personally prefer the experience of hiking the Pipiwai Trail compared to visiting the small and often crowded black sand beach, but the two are quite different! Keep in mind that you need to make a reservation for Waiʻānapanapa State Park and plan your day around it.

Drive Back

After the Pīpīwai Trail, it’s time to head back toward Paia town! To avoid driving the 600 curves along the Road to Hana in the dark, I recommend limiting your stops along the way back and trying to get to Paia town for dinner.

Wailua Falls: One Last Waterfall

📍 3pm | mile marker #45 | free | 15 minute stop

On your way here you passed Wailua Falls, which makes a lovely quick stop on your way back! The pool beneath the falls is deeper and a bit more treacherous compared to the other waterfalls we swam in this morning, but my husband and I couldn’t resist one last waterfall swim here!

Koki Beach (Optional)

📍 3:30pm | mile marker #51 | free | optional stop

If you’re doing good on time, you can stop at Koki Beach, one of Hana’s surf breaks and an (almost) red sand beach! I was hoping to stop here on my last Road to Hana trip, but by this time of day, we were set on making it back to Paia and skipped the beach.

🚙 Prone to motion sickness? I am, so this time I packed these natural motion sickness patches and essential oil nausea relief inhaler and felt MUCH better than I did last time we drove the Road to Hana.

Coconut Glen’s: Coconut Ice Cream

📍 4pm | mile marker #27 | $8-13 | 10 minute stop

Stop at Coconut Glen’s for some refreshing coconut ice cream served out of a bright yellow bus! All the flavors are dairy free and inspired by local flavors like banana rum, macadamia nut, lilikoi, pineapple banana, and more. They also sell banana bread, Kona coffee, and more.

Paia: Dinner at Wabisabi Sushi & Soba

📍 6pm | after the Road to Hana | $15-20 per person

Make it back to Paia by dark for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants on Maui, Wabisabi! Here you’ll enjoy wholesome, traditional Japanese cuisine—like handmade buckwheat soba noodles and fresh sushi—in the most tranquil open-air patio that makes you feel like you’re in Kyoto! It was the perfect place for us to wind down after a long day on the Road to Hana, with a homely feel, excellent service, and really delicious food.

Bamboo forests of Haleakala National Park on the Road to Hana

What I’d Skip on the Road to Hana & Why

There is simply no way to see all of the Road to Hana attractions in one day. So, you’ll have to skip a few things—maybe even some of the most popular spots. You don’t have to listen to my recommendations, but I hope my explanations help you figure our your Road to Hana itinerary!

In this itinerary, I’m recommending that you hike the Pipiwai Trail through a stunning bamboo forest to the base of 400-foot Waimoku Falls. That hike should take you at least two hours, but we’ll have to skip some of the spots below. But if you’re not up for hiking, you could easily add these stops back in!

🚫 Waiʻānapanapa State Park (Black Sand Beach): While it’s one of the most popular Road to Hana stops, Waiʻānapanapa often disappoints due to the rigid reservation times (which make planning difficult) and crowds. But if you’re set on seeing a black sand beach, you’ll want to add this to your Road to Hana itinerary.
🚫 Ke‘anae Peninsula: I actually think this peninsula is super cool—it’s home to one of Maui’s oldest Hawaiian villages and the landscapes are stunning. But instead of sparing 30+ minutes to drive out onto the peninsula and walk around, take in the views the lookout above to save time! From here, you can see the community’s lush taro fields, 1800’s stone church, and rugged lava rock coastline.
🚫 Hana Town: The Road to Hana is more about the journey than the destination, trust me!! Now, Hana town is an ideal spot to grab some snacks or fill up on gas, but there really isn’t much more to do here, so don’t budget too much time for it!