We are considering a time share vacation in Kona next August, or in the Bahamas. I would love to see lava flowing if we went to Kona, but am not sure how long it would take from Kona. WOuld you need a hotel on the other side or can you do that in one day. I'm used to Maui and Kaui where you can travel it all in a day.
Janie

It's a pretty long day to just drive there and back and see a few sites around the rim drive. It's hard to predict where lava might be flowing in August, but if it is accessible, it would likely involve a long, hot, hike. I would spend the extra for a night at a B&B in Volcano or the lodge in the park (somewhat run down).

If you have a chance to see the lava up close, it is truly a fascinating experience.

it's about a 2-2 1/2 hour drive from kailua-kona to the volcano, so yes it can be done in one day, although some people prefer to spend the night at the volcano. actually, you'd probably have to spend the night before and after, since most places on the big island require a 2 night minimum stay.

I think driving back and forth would make a pretty long day; we spent the night at the Kilauea Lodge in a little cottage there and had dinner at their lodge; it was a great solution for us.

We did a timeshare in Kona, and we hit Volcano before the timeshare. We stayed at the Country Goose B&B, which will let you stay just one night. This was a LOT better than trying to drive over and back in a day, as it is a long drive, and the road south from Kona had a lot of traffic.

You can easily do it in a day. Get up early and go. We saw the lava flow, drove all around, stopped and got out plenty - it was no problem. It is a long day, but not exhausting.

At the current time, the only way to see the lava flowing is by helicopter or airplane.

Impossible to predict what the situation will be in a year.