We will be spending 3 nights in Kona and then moving to either Hilo or Volcano for one night. Which city is closer to the lava flow?

As the name implies, Volcano is closest town to Volcano National Park. The lava flow, is pretty far into the park, but if you want to stay in the closest town to park, Hilo isn't the place.

Deb

Actually Hilo is the closest to the current lava flow.

Volcano Village is closest to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

But Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is only about 45 miles from Hilo so it wouldn't be a lot of difference.

The flow is currently about 45 minutes outside of Hilo in Kalapana, NOT in the park itself. The park is about the same distance from Hilo, though no lava is flowing in the park. You could stay at either place and the difference in drive time from Hilo or the park is about 30 minutes (shorter from Hilo).

You might check out the Kilauea Lodge; we loved staying there. It's very close to the park and has a great restaurant onsite.

Kilauea Lodge in Volcano Village is perfect. Much neater to stay there than in Hilo, I think.

I didn't think you could get to the flow from Hilo. Don't you have to get to the Volcano National Ppark then take the road down to the ocean?

No, you have to take Hwy 130 south from Hilo (it USED to connect with the road in the park, before flows wiped it out). Chain of craters road is not the way to see the current flow.

We loved Hilo--our two-night stay there was a highlight of our time on the Big Island.

"I didn't think you could get to the flow from Hilo. Don't you have to get to the Volcano National Ppark then take the road down to the ocean?"

You would have been correct 5 months ago.

The area of the lava flow has changed since then so take the directions that sylvia3 gave.

Here's another vote for Kilaeua Lodge! That was our favorite place on the Big Island.

I am so jealous you can now see the lava flow. It was off limits when we were there last August. Enjoy!!

We were just there 3/26-3/27/08. It is a little longer driving to the lava flow viewing area from Volcano than Hilo, but we visited Volcano National Park the next day so it worked for us.

We stayed at Pi'i Mauna house, an off-site property of Kilauea Lodge (because there was 6 of us). The Lodge is lovely and the complimentary breakfast is delicious. They also supplied us with flashlights for the night walk to the lava flow.

I love the restaurant in the lodge; that fireplace is so nice to take the chill off, and I still remember the great hot chocolate we had for breakfast. Good stuff.

According to a posting today on CNN:

"Officials closed Hawaii Volcanoes National Park late on Tuesday morning because winds are blowing sulfur dioxide from an eruption of ash and gas from Kilauea Volcano.

Officials closed the park from Kilauea Military Camp to Chain of Craters Road. They closed Chain of Craters Road, Jaggar Museum and the hotel at Volcano.

Earlier in the day, county and state officials have issued an evacuation advisory for about 2,200 Big Island residents in the Kilauea volcano area because of toxic gas."

If you make reservations in Volcano you might to closely monitor conditions and have a back up plan just in case.

Hilo is a short drive to Volcano Park, and you can have a good time in Hilo and on the west coast even if you can't get into the park.

actually happytrails, it's the east coast...

Sorry happy, I went back to the top and saw he's only going to be on the east side 1 night. Yes, there's a lot to see and do without going to the park.

Is there a website to monitor conditions in Volcano Park. I have reservations at Kilauea Military Camp in September.

http://www.nps.gov/havo

I have waited 34 years for this trip. We booked our trip in December; since then we lost our aloha airfares, Hapuna Prince is undergoing renovations and now the park is closed. Well I guess it's going to be an adventure.

At the moment we booked the 1 night at the Country Goose. (Private cottage with hot tub) Is this area being evacuated as well?