Flying into Hilo staying in Kona
 

We are flying into Hilo at 7:30am and staying the night in Kona. We are looking for a good itenary for the day. We want to go to Volcano Nat'l Park and maybe make some other stops. We have never been there and are looking to see an d do as much as we can in the day. How long does it take to drive from Hilo to Volcano and then from Volcano to Kona. Any other suggested stops(must sees) along the way. We do not know when we will be back so we want to see as much and do as much without out going crazy. Any and all info woudl be very helpful. Food suggestions too, please!!

Volcano is pretty close to Hilo. Going from Hilo to Kona is pretty far; 3 hours maybe? Adding in jetlag, hiking through VNP etc is going to make for one VERY long day. Driving from VNP to Kona at night is also a bit daunting - winding/curvy dark roads with big drop offs.

Might be better to stay that first night in Volcano or Hilo and then head to Kona the next day. OR fly into Kona and do VNP at the end of the trip and fly out of Hilo.

This of course could be too late, you may already have everything booked.

Deb

Thanks for the info. We will be flying over from a week in Maui. Looking for suggestions of other stops or hikes in the Park. The hotel is booked in Kona so we have to stay the night there.

You have plenty of time to make the drive from Hilo to Kona and arrive before dark. It's about 45 minutes to Volcano and depending on what's opened when you get there you can spend a few hours there (ad of today all the hiking trails and much of the roads are closed due to extreme sulfur dioxide levels in the park) but Thurston Lava Tube is open as is the Visitor Center. From there you'll have time to stop in Punalu'u for lunch and to see the turtles at the black sand beach. Continue on to Honaunau (Place of Refuge)and spend some time there, and stop at the Painted Church just up the road from there. Depending on how much time you spend at each place you could even fit in a coffee tour. Debit is right, the road to Kona at night are daunting but with your time frame you could do it.

Maybe I read this wrong, but I think steve wants to "do" VNP before driving to Kona.

We drove from Hapuna Beach to VNP, did the Thurston, Chain of Craters, waited till dark to see lava entering ocean, had dinner in Hilo at Harrington's and then drove back to HB.

It was a 14+ hour day and the drive back was not good. And we are used to those kind of roads!

Of course, with Chain of Craters closed right now, maybe that isn't an issue for steve.
Deb

Deb

Yes that is correct. We want to go from Hilo to VNP, spend some time in VNP, hike and then in the afternoon make our way to the Four Seasons near Kona. We are going to be there in mid May, do you think these sites will be open by then?

After VNP on our way to Four Seasons are there Any other suggestions of places to stop and see along the way(waterfalls, short hikes?) Any suggestions on where to get lunch (near VNP) or dinner(on our way to Kona). I am a highly experienced driver, would you suggest the saddle road or no way? Thank you for all you suggestions!!

It is a violation of almost all rental car contracts to take Saddle Road; the same goes for the clockwise road that goes from Volcano to Kona. You can decide how that works for you.

As for the experienced driver part - we live in SW Colorado and drive on curvy, winding, narrow roads with big drop offs, but still found the drive around the BI to be daunting. There are sections that are 1 lane only, no room for 2 cars etc. IT is pitch black at night and desolate in many long stretches. Be realistic about what driving is like there, very different than most places on mainland.

For Lunch, we stopped on the way to VNP at a supermarket, KTA, which was south of Hilo and got a 2 scoop plate with teriyaki beef. We took it with us and had a lovely picnic lunch in the park.

We ate at Harrington's in Hilo and really liked it. If you want to eat somewhere further along the route, Waimea is a nice little town and it kind of in the middle of the drive.

Deb

DebitNM: I have never seen anything in rental car contracts that limit driving from Volcano to Kona the "clockwise" or southern route. I have driven it countless times in a rental car. Even the Roberts Hawaii tour buses take that route.

Highway 11 (the clockwise route) is not off limits to rental cars and though at times the road is narrow, it is a two lane highway (one each direction) and nowhere is there only 1 lane. Saddle Road is off limits to most rental cars and it is a harrowing drive with many 1 lane parts, no shoulder and in parts quite bumpy. Also it's not accessible from Volcano, you'd have to go all the way into Hilo to catch it and if you do that you might as well take Highway 19.

From how I'm reading Steve's post, he wants to go to Volcano and from there to Kona-not backtracking through Hilo. If that's the case then there are no waterfalls or hiking along that route, a lot of barren lava fields and some nice ocean views on your left.

Noone can predict what's going to be happening with the volcano in May.

If parts are still closed then you can spend some time there then backtrack through Hilo and take Highway 19 and see some waterfalls along that route. Akaka Falls is a good hike. You could eat dinner in Waimea and from there it's a short 20 minute drive to the Four Seasons.

Sorry for the misinformation. I thought I had read [on here??] that you could not do the complete circle on BI using car rental due to the road being "unimproved" from Volcano to Kona.

I shouldn't give info if I am not sure, so I apologize.

Deb

No worries Deb, usually your advice is spot on and very helpful!

There IS one hike on the way south from Hilo to Kona, but too long IMO for this day.
It is to the Green Sand Beach, which is spectacular! It's about 2 1/4 miles one way but if you have 4 wheeled drive, you can drive it - VERY bumpy!
I mostly mention it just in case the sulfur problem is not resolved & you find the time to spend here.

agree OSB, but since the OP was renting a car and planned on spending some time in Volcano, I didn't think he'd have time for this but as you say if the park is closed it is an interesting place. (there have been some car break-ins so I wouldn't want to leave my car full of luggage and hike in) Harper's Car Rental in Hilo/Kona is about the only one renting true 4X4's and allow Saddle Road, Mauna Kea, South Point and Green Sand Beach with their rentals.

thank for all of your replys. I was planning on driving from Hilo to VNP and then backtracking along the North side of the island.

Then I guess my info has some usefulness for you, steve. Have a great time, we loved BI - it was our favorite island.
Deb

You'll have many more stops going on the north route. Just above Hilo is Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. I'd recommend Cafe Pesto on the bayfront for lunch or pick up a sandwich at Subway and picnic at Kolekole Park- nice park with a river going into the ocean,(this is past Akaka Falls). If you have a lot of time there's the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden-very nice, beautiful place but spray with mosquito repellent if you stop there. Farther north are some waterfalls along the highway and Akaka Falls is a must. In Umauma there is a botanical garder, not the best but if you pay to get in, there are some amazing waterfalls to hike to. Continuing on there's the Waipio Valley overlook. (Can't drive down without 4 wheel drive) Next stop is Waimea where you can eat dinner or continue on to your hotel (20 minutes away)

Hi,

Food, stop at Safeway and make a picnic of cheese, fruit, bread and juice.

Husband and I went to South Point twice when on the Big Island. Wonderful cliffs, big surf, blue, blue water.

The Green Beach about a 1/3 mile from South Point is beautiful. You can either walk in or do like husband did and drive our rental 4 wheel drive Jeep. That was as close I every came (or want to come) to "tipping over" in a car.

It was well worth the drive and hike down to the beach. It really was green.

As the name suggests it is the southern most point of the island. My husband has a bucket list and South Point was on it.

Last year (Feb) we did drive from Hilo to South Point then to Kona stopping at VNP the same day and lunched at Punalu'u. It rained in Hilo, Lava Tubes, and VNP, dry in Kona. I do believe that is the route others speak of.

Mark Twain has a monkey pod tree on that route, blink you miss it.

Karin