Want flexible cancellation terms? Towels - It's most likely going to rain. The Road to Hana is a 64 mile stretch of road that starts in Kahului and ends at Kpahulu. Need a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing waterfall plunge? We can now offer our visitors 20 years of expertise on this beautifully scenic drive. In about the same amount of time as it would take you to go back the way you came, you can see a side of Maui many miss. Plus youre on a cliff side and at some points without a guard rail. Below you'll find detailed information about the road to Hana, local tips, video, photos, & the latest updates. And we have some questions that we're hoping you lovely folk can help answer: We're planning to drive from Kanapali Beach to Hana about 3pm on Aug 7th, to arrive around 6pm at our lodgings in Hana. About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. Try to leave Paia by 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and plan on being back in Paia before dark. Lets support local and sustainability. When the drop off is only 5-10 feet below, its nowhere near as intense feeling as when its several hundred feet along the north shore (even though its two lanes). Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. Its a cumulative thing that adding in the fairly stressful driving conditions can tip people over the edge to the point the drive is just no longer fun. You really should be more fearful driving to the airport or shipping in Walmart, are you going to buy an I Survived Wallmart Kahului?. I guess the Internet has opened up so much more information and opinions (hello blog!) Im just going to describe it as accurately as possible and relay my personal experiences so that you can make a decision that youre comfortable with. The back road to Hana conditions are as followed. Fortunately we had no issues but it was a windy, rainy drive and Im glad we did it but dont think we would do it again. 4 The Road Is Winding. The road is endlessly winding and many corners are seriously blind. Be prepared. The Road to Hana has 617 turns & 59 bridges, many only 1 lane. If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! There are a variety of ways you can drive the Road to Hana: out and back in one day (classic route) stay in Hana as your basecamp explore the Road to Hana over multiple days We intend to hike for 4 hours or so, and be back on the road at 11 or 11:30am, head to Koki Beach for some food truck food, and continue on to Wai'anapanapa for the black sand beach for a few hours, and be back on the road by 3pm to head back to OGG airport (with no stops) for 5pm to catch our 7pm flight. And if you just want more details (more! As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. So if the Road is not particularly dangerous, or even that scary why does it have such a fearsome reputation, and why are so many terrified of the road? * *The final 5 stops are on the natural route along the Hana Hwy, but come prior to Mile Marker 0 *. I certainly wouldn't go all the way to Kaanapali then drive to Hana. Snorkeling at Molokini is one of the best things to do in Kihei. Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? So, you will want to look into driving the back road to Hana further to see if you feel comfortable with it! What are your fears and doubts? The Road to Hana runs approximately 52 miles from the beach town of Paia, over 59 bridges, and through 620 curves.Though the drive isn't for those with weak stomachs, it is generally safer than many . Hearing the driver explain they understand this bend is tight and blind so they are taking it slow and wide helps you understand they are not recklessly hooning around the blind bend! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353132', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui backs up, as it often does, it could well be longer. I guess depending on what youre most interested in seeing/doing you could try this, but here are my thoughts: I strongly recommend driving the Road to Hana the right way or clockwise from Paia for a couple of reasons: 1) youll be on the inside lane the whole way around (no hugging the tight shoulder where theres a 200 foot drop off mere feet away from your tire) which is a bigger deal when youre driving on the road past Hana. HAWAII EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Plus, if you sign up through my link, youll get 50,000 bonus points to use which depending on where youre flying from and when, that could be TWO FREE TICKETS TO HAWAII. As you can see, the. If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. Encourage them to take things easy and to explain themselves when driving. Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say "you're on your . We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. The road is such a stunning journey through the most amazing landscape we just want everyone to experience it. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING We find the best solution (like most things in life) is good communication. IDAHO The Jungle Canopy envelopes the road leading to mild claustrophobia and an uncomfortable sense of being consumed. On an island full of beautiful scenery, the Road to Hana is among Maui's most gorgeous attractions. Most of the photos courtesy of Natalie Brown Photography. Your support really helps me keep this blog running! The road leads you through flourishing rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. #travelp. It's one of the most beautiful drives in the world. Check out this view of a beautiful overlook of a gulch. The drive time from Kula town to Kahului is about 4 hours, but with all the fun things to do and see this is a whole day excursion lets say 10-12 hours. You can wear mosquito repellent, but there's not much you can do about the traffic. The drops are all protected and the chance of you ending up at the bottom of one is infinitely small. Set Aside Multiple Days. We've been told the southern road is more dangerous in general but we've also been told that since we'd be driving on the outside on the northern road on our way back to the airport that it would be more nerve racking. Drive safe and slow, especially along these winding bits of road, specifically on . MAMMOTH CAVE KY Even though the road covers a relatively short distance, the turns and low speed limits . Other people revel in that sort of environment. So glad you are going to get back and finally see it, Finally getting to drive the road after missing out will probably make the journey all the more special! The Road to Hana is one of the best things to do in Maui! 5. The average visitor is not going to think twice about the number of people they encounter along this road unless they were truly thinking they would be the ONLY ones driving to Hana. If you continue on in the loop, youll eventually come through Ulupalakua (where Maui Wine is) and Kula in upcountry Maui and can take the highway back down towards Paia and Kahului. The scenic Road to Hana on Maui is the undisputed top attraction on the island. I know it may sound tempting but swimming under the falls is dangerous as rocks get unlodged and fall from the top of falls which can knock you in the head. Hi Im Jess. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! 1-2 Week Maui Itinerary, Best Time to Visit: Best Time to Visit Maui. Google maps said 2 hours but I guess this is what happens when a bot gives you directions? . The legendary road to Hna is only 52 miles from Kahului; however, the drive can take anywhere from two to four hours to complete since it's fraught with narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible . So if you're interested in the Road to Hana, then you may also be interested in these top things around Maui: Waianapanapa State Park Nakalele Blowhole Lahaina Banyan Court Hookipa Beach Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium of Hawaii) Iao Valley State Monument Haleakala National Park As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. There are plenty of shoulders to pull over, take in Mauis beauty and also take a few pictures. If the Road the Hana is proving scary, that Back route will scare the Bejebous out of you! Also to note, the Hawaii tourism people do encourage you to do a Road to Hana tour because of the potential dangers of the Road to Hana. ALL OF THIS BEING SAIDif this makes you nervous, if youre not an easy driver, if youre not used to trail driving or driving outside of a city, if you have an overwhelming fear of heights or significant anxiety, or if you question the safety for ANY reason, its always best not to go! Sustained by the Hanawi Stream, here you'll find that the lower waterfall cascades 200 feet into a freshwater pool. Along this road, there are 620 curves (who counted all of those?) So take the time to research the road in advance and be . For about 20 miles (32 km) between Wailuku and Kapalua, you need to navigate rocks on one side and steep cliffs on the other. In short the Road is is a narrow 1 lane road that carves its way around the backside of Haleakala into some of the most pristine and picturesque rainforests on the island. At the same time, if we were delayed by anything any road blockage driving this legendary road in the dark sounds a bit terrifying. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Was it worse or better than your fears? The fear is in your head so some positivity might help get your head around it. One of the best places to view Hanawi Falls is from the Hanawi Falls Bridge. Alternatively, you may use. Driving the backside voids your rental car contract. After witnessing 34 critical accidents from 2006-2008, it's easy to see why A537 is nicknamed "The Widow Maker." If you havent already, you will soon understand why thisis a perfect spot for them. Top Pick! Unsubscribe at any time. This is a great place to use the restroom and grab snacks/food for a picnic somewhere on the road. 13 years ago Save IMHO, it's neither dangerous nor scary. If you're leaving from Kaanapali and planning on a one-hour stop en route, yes, 5 hours to Hana. WHAT TO WEAR HIKING, 2023 Flashpacking America | US outdoor travel blog, Road to Hana tour reviews on getyourguide, swim shirts with UV protection like these, Why a personal swim buoy is an essential for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. Instanbul is chaotic, cultured and full of life. This is the "safe" route. Malama Aina which means take care of the land. Skip it. The Highway is very popular, and the narrow. So most people drive the Road to Hana as a day trip, as an out-and-back drive. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. Driving a car is dangerous. I would def want to get there before dark the first day, though. BADLANDS SD Need a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352891', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui -- you are going to eat up most of your time driving. Well, you get the picture. Before you embark on your adventure, you want to make sure you have a full tank of gas. Overall i am a confident driver so it was fine, but I can definitely see many drivers not making this drive all the way to Hana town. Click here to check rates for your trip. It has 600+ curves, and many of them are hairpin. Plus, there are 59 bridges, the majority of which are only wide enough for 1 car at a time. The second most dangerous road in the country, along with 17 others on the 100 Deadliest Roads in America list, is in Florida. Hana Highway: 617 turns and 46 one-lane bridges in Hawaii Located on the eastern side of Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Hana Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Read about my favorite luxury resorts, boutique hotels, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, and condos (many under $100/night!). : @kapenamorgan Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really, Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasnt really their thing. Drive with caution and be very aware at all times. Is this even possible? PICTURED ROCKS MI You'll battle the traffic with other day trippers, missing some of the drive's highlights due to time constraints and eventually running out of . However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. the answer is an unequivocal YES! There are some spots that are popular with locals for camping and fishing, but I think those are best left unexplored by visitors unless youre taken there as a guest. It connects the town of Hana with the city of Kahului. What did you do to mitigate them? And some of those narrow and windy parts of the road are without a guard rail. The road to Hana is one of Maui's two most famous sights. have no issue at all, but it is narrower, more exposed, and in places has no asphalt topcoat (Dirt Track). The Shaka guide tours are great for independent explorers who want the freedom to explore on their own terms, but like to learn about the spots theyre visiting. Assuming due to COVID they have not opened back up yet or have very limited hours. It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. 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