Ready for a day filled with amazing views, waterfalls, and endless adventure? Driving the Road to Hana in Hawaii is an experience you’ll never forget! Before you jump in the car, here are some helpful Road to Hana tips to ensure you have the most epic day ever!
10 Tips For Driving the Road to Hana in Maui
1. Have a Full Tank of Gas
This may seem obvious, but make sure to start driving the Road to Hana with a full tank of gas! We filled up the night before so we didn’t have to search for a station in the early morning hours.
If you need it there is a gas station once you get to Hana town. However, since it’s such a remote area, you don’t want to take the chance that is closed (or out of gas) when you get there.
Prefer to just sit back and enjoy the view? Book a full-day Road to Hana Tour with Lunch & Transfer!
2. Download an Offline Map
The second of our Road to Hana tips has to do with navigation, as there is no cell phone service for almost the entire drive. In fact, the only time we had any bars was when we had actually made it to the town.
We always utilize maps.me while traveling, which is an easy-to-use offline app. Just be sure to download the map before you leave phone service or even the night before.
It’s also wise to have a written list or screenshots of the different highlights along the route as you won’t be able to look them up.
Have you booked a rental car yet? Make sure you know these 6 tips for renting a car on Maui.
3. Early Morning Road to Hana Start
Driving the Road to Hana is one of the best things to do on Maui. Try to start as early as possible.
Being stuck in a line of cars and fighting for parking won’t make for a very enjoyable day! We started the actual Road to Hana drive at 6:40 am after leaving our place in Kihei town at 6am.
This meant we were on the earlier side, but definitely not the only ones out on the road. One of our best Road to Hana tips is to be patient.
Even with the early start, you will encounter some traffic on this popular drive. Yield for others on all one-way bridges and go extra slow around corners to avoid accidents. For more of what to expect, check out our full Road to Hana guide below.
→ 1 Day On The Road To Hana in Maui: Best Stops & Waterfalls!
4. Pack a Road to Hana Cooler
If you don’t have an actual cooler that’s okay! We still recommend bringing some snacks and drinks with you.
We ended up only eating our breakfast and saved the meal we packed for another day. Yet, we would rather be safe than sorry when it comes to food.
There are several snack stops and lunch places along the Road to Hana. Take LOTS of water and lunch in case you miss out or are driving too early before they’re opened.
5. Road to Hana Hawaii Hikes
Dress like you are going to spend the day hiking in the jungle. You’ll want to be comfortable jumping in and out of the car, as well as going on some of the beautiful walks and hikes along the drive.
Sneakers are a must, and we were happy we brought hats to stay protected from the sun. Our absolute favorite hike we did on the Road to Hana was the Pipiwai Trail.
It takes you through a beautiful bamboo forest and ends at the astonishing 400-foot Waimoku Falls. Definitely do not miss out on the best hikes on Maui during your visit!
More Maui Hikes & Walks: Kapalua Coastal Trail – Waihee Ridge Trail – Wailea Beach Walk – Maui Lava Field
6. Stay Beach Ready
In addition to hiking, there are some popular swimming spots along the ride. Some of the most popular are beaches on the Road to Hana are Hamoa Beach, Hāna Bay Beach Park, and the famous Black Sand Beach!
When you’re all done driving the Road to Hana you can stop by Turtle Beach on your way back to your hotel. Ho‘okipa is known to be one of the best places to see sea turtles on the island. Here’s more of our favorite beaches in Maui to include on your trip.
7. Stop at Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Due to the crowds you now need a reservation to visit the Waiʻānapanapa State Park and Black Sand Beach. You can make a reservation up to two weeks in advance, so don’t wait too long! Here you can see one of Maui’s most famous beaches, go camping, and hiking.
If you don’t have a reservation, you will be turned around at the car park when you arrive. Make sure to plan ahead on this part of the Road to Hana in Hawaii.
8. Have Cash & Small Bills
While driving the Road to Hana, you’ll notice the many goodies available at Maui farmers markets and roadside stands. From island specialties such as banana bread and hulu huli chicken to local flowers, and seashells, you’ll find it all!
If you want to try some of the best Maui food and support the local community of Hana, bring plenty of cash with you.
Most places we visited didn’t accept credit cards on the Road to Hana. Don’t be stuck without cash and miss out on a delicious lunch or fruit snack on your drive!
9. Quick Road to Hana Maui Tips
DO: Take your time and enjoy the ride.
DON’T: Stop randomly to take photos and hold up traffic.
DO: Let others pass. This is especially important for locals who have driven the road countless times and aren’t trying to casually sightsee.
DON’T: Drive too fast! Use extra caution around corners. The bends in the road are sharp and you should always expect oncoming traffic.
DO: Yield to traffic. There are endless hairpin turns and 46 one-lane bridges.
DON’T: Make your own parking spot!
DO: Pull over when it is safe and stop at all the roadside stands.
DON’T: Get caught in the dark on the Road to Hana. Plan ahead and get back to your hotel before sunset.
DO: Enjoy the day and have fun! It’s easy to see why the Road to Hana is such a popular day trip in Maui.
10. Spend a Night on the Road to Hana
The last of our Road to Hana tips has to do with it being in such a remote location. For this reason, the accommodations in Hana Maui are very limited and sell out months in advance.
If we could redo our visit, we would have definitely spent the night in Hana. This area is so unique and there is so much to see and do.
You may need to play around with the dates if your first choice isn’t available when searching. Below are some of our favorite hotel choices to check out in Hana Maui.
- Hana-Maui Resort A Destination by Hyatt Residence
- Heavenly Hana Paradise
- Kailani Suite at Hana Kai Resort
Another idea for staying overnight is to go camping. There are even companies like Maui Vacation Equipment that rent everything you need. Just like the hotels, it’s best to book camping sites as far ahead as possible to secure your spot.
Have any Road to Hana tips that you want to share? How about questions about driving the Road to Hana Hawaii we can help answer? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
