Leaving for Maui on Thursday for a week. We really want to take a scenic drive with some stops through Haleakala Park. We're not so interested in waking up for the sunrise -- and we're thinking we might take a leisurely drive to get there (stopping at various sites, etc.)

That said, how late is too late to start our drive through the park, itself. Would 3-4 hours be sufficient to drive to the top with a stop or two to do some very light wandering/picture taking.

And if we wanted to see the sunset, is it scary to drive down at night?

My family drove up mid-morning (no one wanted to get up at 3am or drive up OR down that extremely winding road in the dark). We stopped at several spots for light hiking on our way up. I think we were probably there 2-3 hours total which seemed about right (it was windy & COLD at the top).

Thanks so much! This is really helpful information!

Ditto what suze said, and I would add that I would much prefer NOT to drive back down after dark. But then, I'm not much for twisty, windy roads over sheer drop-offs either. Add to that the fact that it's dark and I'd be a very Nervous Nellie.

Be sure to stop by the protea farm near the base - it's lovely!

Thanks!!! I think maybe driving down in the dark is a bad idea after this feedback. No worries, we'll find a nice bar for sunset!

I wish I had a more accurate description but we stopped at a beautiful spot and hiked in on a trail aways, maybe 1/2 way up? It was also a small camping area. You can figure it out, just don't zoom straight up to the top, but take in a couple stops along the way.

Besides dark several in my family get carsick easily so we wanted to do the drive both directions, slowly and in daylight. Some people talk like it's nothing, I thought it was pretty intense (all the twists, turns, curving around, sheer drops, etc.)

Bring a jacket! It was colder and winder than either dh or I had expected. We also did not want to get up at sunrise and I think the total for the day was as quoted - 2-3 hours?

We went up for SUNSET and it was great! Left the top with just barely enough sun to get down--watching the lights come on in the towns was beautiful. We had no problem. No traffic. No crowds. Did not find it difficult at all, but, like I said, there was just enough light.

It was VERY VERY VERY cold. If you don't have coats, etc.--bring a blanket.

We stopped in Paia (a neat "hippie" town) and ate at the fairly new Flatbread eatery in town. Loved it!

Another suggestion - don't drive over any lava rock. We did that on one our 2am trips to the top. 8,000 feet up, no cars in sight and no flashlight. Luckily we had a light on our video camera and used it to change the tire. That was after we backed down the road so we could get into a turnout. We got to the top but the sunrise was foggy (of course), drove down with the little tire and an almost empty tank of gas. Not a trip I would like to repeat, but it has made great stories throughout the years.

Thanks all. We got back from our vacation this week. We drove up in the late morning -- and I can't imagine doing that drive in the dark. I was the driver and I was really nervous driving in broad daylight! Though, it was foggy near the top and it was hard to see some of those turns. Plus, I was fairly nauseous by the drive down!

But, what a neat place to see!!! It was foggy so we didn't do any hiking, but we certainly got to see the view from the top!

It wasn't too cold for us by early afternoon -- but I did have my sweatshirt with me.