Driving the Road To Hana is a top thing to do in Maui for first-time visitors. This iconic 64.4 mile stretch has 600+ hairpin turns and 59 one-lane bridges. There are more stops along the Road to Hana than you can possibly visit in a single day, but this post is here to share what’s realistically possible in a 12 hour day.
Pin for your Maui trip!
WARNING: I’ve done the Road to Hana twice, both as a passenger and also as a driver (primarily when I’ve felt nauseous as the passenger). If car sickness is the slightest of an issue for you or someone in your family, consider visiting Twin Falls possibly through to Honomanu Bay for a black sand beach before turning back around to spend the afternoon in laid-back Paia. After a few hairpin turns, you’ll know what you can handle and when it’s time to turn around.
Otherwise, stop at the Jaws Country Store in Paia to purchase Hana Tonic just in case you need it and prepare yourself for epic landscapes, refreshing waterfalls, and the best roadside food stops.
TIP: Before you start your Road to Hana drive, be sure to download the Gypsy Guide app or one similar. The Gypsy Guide, referred by our Maui scuba instructor, is essential for navigating the Road to Hana. It uses GPS to inform must see stops along with ones to potentially skip depending upon the time of day. The app provides a ton of useful facts and history which made the return route far more enjoyable (the drive gets stressful as dusk settles in). There is no cell service past Ho’okipa Beach so the $14.99 is 100% worth it!
Already convinced this drive might not be for you? Don’t worry, use my Kaanapali guide to plan other activities while on the island.
Table of Contents
Road to Hana Itinerary – Stops for a 12 to 14 Hour Day
This itinerary starts and ends in Kaanapali with a 7am departure time. We arrived back at our hotel around 8pm. Because it was raining on the day of our Road to Hana trip, we did not spend any length of time at any one location. Most stops were quick to complete a short walk/hike, take a photo, toilet stop, or grab roadside food.
If your mission is to reach the 7 Sacred Pools, then consider driving there first and stopping at other sites still open on the way back. We skipped all the gardens, arboretum, Waikamoi Nature Trail, lookout spots and had to turn around before reaching the 7 Sacred Pools. And even with that, part of our return drive along the Road to Hana was during dusk.
With the 7 Sacred Pools dedicated to its own day trip, here’s what you can realistically do in a day!
Twin Falls
Located at mile marker 2, Twin Falls is a 2 mile hike easily accessed from the main road. To save on time we went directly to each waterfall (easy trails to reach both) and then back to the parking lot to continue our drive. Wear water shoes or hiking boots! After rain, it’s super muddy.
1st stop on your day trip to Hana
Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees
You don’t need to make a special stop to find rainbow eucalyptus trees. Just keep your eyes open as you near mile marker 7. These colorful trees will be on the left hand side of the road, while the bamboo forest is on your right.
Honomanu Bay
The pull-off for Honomanu Bay can creep up on you so be on the lookout just after mile marker 12. You can drive down to the beach but unless you have a truck I recommend parking on the side of the road if there’s room. The potholes are significant so take it slow if you choose to drive and park by the beach.
Honomanu Bay is another black sand beach. If you plan to reach Wai’anapanapa State Park then perhaps you skip Honomanu Bay. However, if you’re looking for surfers and a more private black sand beach experience, Honomanu Bay offers just that.
Perfect palm tree for watching the surf at Honomanu Bay
Ke’anea Peninsula
A detour drive along the peninsula is a must stop for Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread! Plus, it’s a dramatic view of the dark rugged lava formations that line the cliffs. You can park and watch the waves crash over the lava while enjoying the banana bread. The chocolate chip cookies are amazing too!
Ke’anea Peninsula is a short diversion, about 1 mile round trip, off the main road to Hana that you should not miss. The only time suck will be the queue to buy banana bread.
The line to buy Aunty Sandy’s banana bread & chocolate chip cookies is worth the wait!
Wailua Valley
This is a lookout view of both the ocean on one side and the mountains, Ko’olau Gap on the other. It’s located at mile marker 18 and easy to miss the turnout. There’s room for only a couple of cars so if it’s sunny and you can manage a parking spot, totally worth it. If it’s raining or there’s low-lying fog, highly suggest skipping it.
Upper Waikana Falls or 3 Bears
Park just before the bridge at mile marker 19 for Upper Waikana Falls, also known as 3 Bears. There’s only room for 2-3 cars so we drove very slow across the bridge for views. Wailua Falls at mile marker 45 offers a more dramatic waterfall experience so I recommend the same slow drive-by in lieu of trying to stop.
Drive by slow to see 3 bears without having to stop
Coconut Glen’s Ice Cream
Coconut Glen’s is a colorful ice cream truck located in Nahiku at mile marker 27. It’s one of the few stops located on the right side of the road vs the left. Nahiku is the rainiest spot along the road to Hana because of its elevation. Despite the rain we stopped to support this small business.
Recharge & stop at Coconut Glen’s for ice cream or coffee
Nahiku Market
For souvenirs and the best pizza you’ll have on the road to Hana, make a quick stop at Nahiku Market. While we weren’t exactly hungry after Aunty Sandy’s banana bread, chocolate chip cookies and Coconut Glen’s, “the road to Hana isn’t about the destination, but the journey.”
Order pizza from Hana Pizza Co for $15 cash. The young owner is incredibly nice and has a cool story. This stop ended up taking 30 minutes, so if you’re short on time order the pizza to go.
Stop at Nahiku Market for Hana Pizza Co & a fun VW photo
Hana Lava Tube
Turn left on Ula’ino Road to take a self-guided tour through the Hana Lava Tube. Beyond Wai’anapanapa State Park, this is the only other stop along this 12 hour day that has a fee to enter.
The Hana Lava Tube is $15 per person including flashlights. This is a really fun cave to explore with the family. Highly recommend! You can go as fast, as slow and as far as you want. Just manage the time so you don’t miss your window for Wai’anapanapa State Park.
The only natural light at the Hana Lava Tube – you have to crawl underneath this point to get to the other side
Wai’anapanapa State Park
Arriving at Wai’anapanapa State Park is THE highlight of your road to Hana day. Seeing the black sand beach for the first time from the parking lot overhead is a pivotal moment. The WHY of your entirely long day.
1st view of Maui’s famous black sand beach from the parking lot
This black sand beach against the green landscape offers the most dramatic photos.
Lush greens, blacks & blues at Wai’anapanapa State Park
My only word of caution is to beware of how busy this state park can be. Even on a rainy day this destination had the most number of tourists than any other stop along the Hana drive. With the sun shining, you can easily spend 1-2 hours here. In the rain, we spent 45 minutes.
Even in the rain – SO HAPPY
IMPORTANT: You MUST book your reservation in advance. There are only 4 3-hour windows to select from and the 10 and 12:30pm time slots sell first. Plan your entrance time accordingly per your scheduled drive and times allotted at each stop. We arrived to the park earlier than our scheduled entry time but the park graciously allowed us in. We are certain the rainy weather had a lot to do with that!
Koki Beach Park
For famous Hana roadside food turn down Haneeo Rod that leads to Koki and Hamoa Beach. In addition to surf views, you’ll find the Huli Huli Chicken that Gordon Ramsey put on the map during his National Geographic’s “Unchartered” culinary tour.
Had to try the Huli Huli chicken to find out why Gordon Ramsey loves it – soooo good!
Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is located at mile marker 45. Of all the falls along the road to Hana, this one is the most picturesque. There’s a trail that leads you down to the base of the fall for a swim. Parking is available on the other side of the bridge on the left. This is a great last stop on the road to Hana before making your way back.
My husband took the swim for the team! The trail is treacherous when wet – be careful
Final Tips For What You Can Realistically Cover In a Day
If there’s a place you have your heart set on visiting, it’s best to stop on the way to Hana vs the return. Many small businesses close in the early afternoon and may not open at all depending on the weather.
While there is a reverse route option so that you can include a stop at the Seven Sacred Pools in your 1 day itinerary, the backroads leading to Hana may be closed. Definitely check on road closures before planning your Hana trip. Also make sure your rental car company allows it! A truck or similar is only recommended for attempting the reverse route.
We started our return route from Wailua Falls at 4pm. We arrived at Paia Fish Market at 6:30pm. While we managed to exit the road to Hana while there was still light, the return drive was a bit stressful as dusk settled in. If I were to do this trip a 3rd time, I’d shave 30 minutes off and start the reverse drive by 3:30pm.
Paia Fish Market is the perfect dinner stop after the Road to Hana
Stops I’d do differently to save time:
- Make Jaws a quick stop! We spent a longer amount of time here than we needed to. Deciding on t-shirts and the restroom queue added 15-20 minutes we could have spared.
- Skip Wailua Valley Lookout
- Get Coconut Glen’s to go!
Remember to bring cash for roadside food trucks and shops. Experiencing the local food and culture is a big part of the road to Hana experience!
For more amazing tips on what to do in Maui, read my Kaanapali Guide and Scuba Diving In Maui post.
1 comment
Love this outline! Was considering the reverse route so thanks for the heads up!