That is awesome! Do I just follow the map on park's website to get to the viewing area? Any other tips? I'm heading there soon, can't wait.

Aloha aztec. The lava is not flowing in the park. You need to drive down Kalapana to the viewing area. It is open 2-10p.m., no cars allowed in after 8. I'm not suggesting this, but many people go earlier than the 2 o'clock opening time to get closer to the lava. The security is keeping people too far back from the lava to really see anything. I

Amazing! But I would not want to see anything like this in person, too scary

So just to be clear... if we make the trip down there we will not be able to see it? We are going in a few weeks and it would be a once in a lifetime experience if we could safely see the flow from a distance....

I'll let you know txbluesky. I'm going back tomorrow morning before the guards get there and I'll post what is going on. It changes daily.

just back from the flow. There is nothing to see from land. Best bet would be a lava viewing boat or helicopter. The latest flow covered up the viewing area and parking lot so it's a 1-1.5 mile hike (easy) each way. The lava also covered up the path to the ocean entry viewing area so nothing to see there either. Possibly at night you might see some "glow" on the hill above, but no flow visible at this time.

Wow! Thanks for that fast reply... I assume you live there since you were able to go check it out... maybe it will change again before June 9th!

Yeah, I live 5 miles from the flow. It could change at any time. There is lava pooling above the viewing area (not accessible) but it could break out and flow down again. I'll keep you posted. Hopefully by that time there will be a path to the ocean.