My husband and I will be travelling to Hawaii(5 nights in Big Island and 5 nights in Honolulu)in a few weeks. We have booked for a rental car and we would like to tour the whole island in the 5 days. From what I heard, to get from the west to the south, from west to the east requires a lot of driving. We have booked 5 nights at the Keauhou resort and we realized that we should have stayed one night at Hilo or even one night at the Volcano National Park so that we can cut down on the driving time. Any suggestions as to what we should do? What is the best travel plan given that we have booked 5 nights at the Keauhou resort? Which is the best route to travel from Keauhou to the Volcano National part? From the north or the south? The fodors recommend the north route. why?

Aloha Cica,
Here is a link to a map showing the routes to and from Volcanoes National Park:
www.nps.gov/havo/visitor/visit.htm
Since you are staying near Kona, I find it puzzling why they would recommend the northern route (northern route only makes sense to me if you are staying in Kohala).

Would instead recommend the southern route to Volcanoes National Park, so you will avoid driving through the traffic in Kona.

Please see this recent post similar to your question entitled "Driving from Hilo to Kona". I will top it for you.

I'd probably spend one night at Volcano or Hilo. We stayed at the Keauhou Beach resort, and liked it because it was in more of a residential area than a resort, and the snorkeling was much better than at Kohala. We also liked the easy access to Captain Cook and Honaunau.

You might as well take both the northern and southern routes if you're making a circle from the Kona airport. Fodor's probably recommends the northern route because it's safer, but both routes have a lot to offer. By the way, if you only have 5 days, it's not worth the drive to South Point.

Agree that the circle route is a good idea, the northern route does offer unique scenery and you pass Akaka Falls, Waipio Valley overlook , lava fields if returning from VNP through Hilo to Kona. Also worth checking out Hilton Waikoloa (Hawaii's disneyland) on the Kohala coast for dinner at one of the many restaurants for example.

I agree with the others who say both routes have lots to offer. The southern route is much faster, and personally I find the Green Sand Beach and some of the stark landscapes around South Point to be breathtaking, but the northern route has a lot more to offer.

If possible, devote one full day to VNP and take the southern route. Then devote another full day to the northern route, all the way to Hilo. Be sure to catch the Hawaii Botanical Gardens, and as John mentioned, Waipio Valley and Akaka Falls. (Actually you could devote an entire day to Waipio Valley just by itself.) There's also an incredible black sand beach at the very end of Hwy 270, hike down the trail if at all possible.

Be sure to bring an umbrella whenever you venture to the east or north sides of the island.... ;-).

Instead of driving back to Kona from Volcano National Park, my husband prefers that we stay one night at the Volcano National Park (even though we've already paid for our accommodation at the Keauhou resort for that night) and then head out to Hilo on the next day so that the driving time is cut down. Any idea where to stay at the Volcano National Park? We would prefer something not too expensive.

There are quite a few inexpensive B&B's adjacent to VNP, check out the Hale Ohia Cottages, Country Goose or (my favorite) the Forest House at My Island B&B.

Hi Circo, Great question! When are you leaving for the Keauhou resort? My husband and I are doing what you are (staying at Keauhou, renting a car) and had the same concerns. So after reading this post I think we will stay somewhere near the park or in Hilo. I would like to go to Hilo's farmers market and I understand it is on Wed. and Sat. so will try to time that in as well. I wonder if there is any difference in the days in regards to produce etc. available? After reading about all the great reviews on B&B's on the BI, I wonder if we should have went that route. Last June we B&B'd around Scotland and really enjoyed them, so not sure why I just automatically went resort this time. By the way we will be there Mar 1-10.

To edit my above comment just stay near the VNP or Hilo for 1 night.

Bevchristie, we will be arriving at Keauhou on Mar 7 and leaving for Honolulu on Mar 12. We have to double book hotel on Mar 8 because we plan to travel from VNP to Hilo on Mar 9. I've tried booking at the Kileaou Lodge at the VNP for that night but they are fully booked. We finally found a B&B (Aloha Junction Bed & Breakfast) which is 1 mile from the VNP. So far, I haven't heard anything about this B&B. In case you're interest, check out this website:www.bbvolcano.com.

Bevchristie, I read about the Hilo Farmer market on Wed/Sat but I don't know if it is a must see. But if you have the time, why not. For us, we have to skip that. Our plan is to travel around the BI in two days and relax at the resort for two days. Like my husband said, what's the point of staying at the resort when you're sightseeing all day long elsewhere and not enjoying the resort?