The Best Road To Hana Stops in Maui

The Road to Hana is considered one the most beautiful drives in the world. This iconic stretch of highway along Maui’s lush eastern coast winds through rainforests, past cascading waterfalls, and along rugged cliffs with jaw-dropping ocean views. With an estimated over 600 curves and 50+ one-lane bridges, the journey itself is just as spectacular as the destinations along the way. If you’re planning to experience this legendary road trip, then you will want to steal all of our tips and tricks, as well as our itinerary below! Make sure to read all the way to the end for our extra secret tip.

Let’s get into it!

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Things to Know Before You Go

Before you head out on you epic adventure, here are a few important tips to consider to make sure you have a smooth and enjoyable experience:

• Start Early: The Road to Hana takes longer than you think, especially with all of the incredible stops to choose from! We recommend starting the journey EARLY that way you can avoid the heavy traffic and have plenty of daylight to explore all of the amazing stops.
• Drive Cautiously: The road is narrow, winding, and often wet. Take your time, pull over to allow local drivers to pass you as well as faster cars, and be mindful of one-lane bridges.
• Bring Cash: Some stops along the way require payment for parking and most only take cash. If you plan on stopping at roadside vendors as well it is hand to bring cash for payment as we noticed most do not take cards of any kind.
• Rent the Right Car: A compact car is in our opinion the best option for maneuvering the tight turns and parking in small pull-offs. We read countless times that you need a 4WD vehicle which is not the case as long as you drive the paved portion of the Road To Hana! Driving past the paved portion violates most rental agreements as well. While you can take a tour of the Road To Hana, we highly recommend driving it yourself to get the full experience.
• Bring Motion Sickness Medication: With its 600+ curves, the Road to Hana can be tough for my people prone to motion sickness, like me. Make sure to take motion sickness medication before you start and pack more to take throughout the day. It is also helpful to pack water to take small sips as needed and saltine crackers!
• Download Maps in Advance: Cell service is spotty at best and mostly non-existent, so we recommend that you have an offline map or audio guide downloaded before you go. There are not many stops that have signs labelling what they are. Everything is located based on mile markers, so make sure to jot the mile markers down of the places you want to visit to avoid stress and missing your stops!
• Pack Essentials: Bring plenty of water, snacks, reef-safe sunscreen, bug spray, and a rain jacket just in case as you will be having an adventure through the rain forest! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes for walking. Make sure to pack towels and a change of clothes if you do not like staying in a wet swimsuit all day.
• Respect the Land: Many stops are on private property or culturally significant sites. Always follow signs, stay on trails, and leave no trace!

The Best Stops along the Road To Hana

There are SO many amazing places along the Road to Hana and unfortunately you will not be able to do them all in one day. We recommend choosing 3-5 (depending on how long you plan to stop and enjoy certain areas) to start and have extras planned just incase you have more time.

Bonus Stop: Hookipa Beach (Before Road to Hana Starts)

If you are looking to kick off your epic Road T0 Hana Road trip with turtles, then this is the place to stop. We recommend parking at the parking lot at the top of the cliffs and then walking down for ease of parking. Once you get to the beach you will be fooled by the 50+ big rocks along the sand because they are TURTLES. There are turtle conservation volunteers that are there to answer your questions and ensure that the turtles have an undisturbed beach day.

1. Twin Falls (Mile Marker 2)

The first major stop along the Road to Hana, Twin Falls, offers an easy yet rewarding hike to multiple waterfalls. Bring your swimsuit for a refreshing dip, and grab a smoothie from the farm stand at the trailhead. At the time of writing this blog post the parking fee is $10 and cash.

2. Garden of Eden Arboretum (Mile Marker 10.5)

A botanical paradise, the Garden of Eden is home to exotic plants, peacocks, and stunning ocean views. It’s also where parts of Jurassic Park were filmed—so expect some cinematic-worthy scenery! They are open from 8:00am to 4:00pm and there is a $20 entrance fee per adult over 16 and $10 for children ages 5-16 with children 5 and under free..

4. Ke‘anae Peninsula– FAMOUS BANANA BREAD (Mile Marker 16)

This rugged lava rock coastline is a very picturesque spot on the Road to Hana. Stop by Aunt Sandy’s for the famous banana bread and some coffee!

5. Wailua Valley Lookout (Mile Marker 18)

A quick pull-off with panoramic views of the ocean, taro fields, and misty mountain ridges.

6. Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park (Mile Marker 22)

An easily accessible stop with restrooms, picnic tables, and a lovely waterfall where you can take a quick swim. It’s a great place to recharge before continuing your journey!

7. Wai‘anapanapa State Park – Black Sand Beach (Mile Marker 32)

The very famous black sand beach on the Road To Hana is located inside this park! We absolutely recommend a visit here, but it is super important to know that you need reservations to visit. They need to be made at least 24 hours in advance, although we do recommend making them as in advance as possible. There are 4 different reservation times offered: 7:00am – 10:00am, 10:00am – 12:30pm, 12:30pm – 3:00pm and then 3:00pm to 6:00pm.

If you are NOT a Hawaiian Resident you do need to buy the “Parking + Entry”. 1 Parking for every car, and the number if entries is how many people are inside of the car car. You need to arrive within 30 minutes of the start time of your reservation to park. You can find the park website here which has the reservation link as well! Parking is $10 per car for non-residents and $5 per person.

Looking for an extra fun experience along the Road To Hana? You can also camp here! Permits are $30 for non-residents per campsite and $100 per cabin for non-residents. According to the website, reservations need to be made online more than 7 days prior to the day you’d like to camp. You can find more information on camping at Wai’anapanapa State Park here!

8. Kaihalulu Beach – Red Sand Beach (Mile Marker 35)

This is one of our favourite stops along the Road to Hana! This red sand beach is tucked away in Kaihalulu Bay. It is a short walk from the Hāna Ballpark and the Community Center. We recommend parking along the road here and follow the trail next to the community center! Strangely, we have read that this trail can be treacherous and dangerous but in our opinion it was not. We went on a dry day and the trail was wide and a very short distance to get to the beach. The trail does have a drop off down a cliff to the right side, so we highly recommend taking caution, especially with children and animals. However, we read so many things online that almost deterred us from attempting this, and we are SO glad we did it anyways.

The beach it self is bright red! Swimming is great as the beach is sheltered from the big waves from the rock wall just off the beach. We could have easily spent an entire afternoon here.

9. Wailua Falls (Mile Marker 45)

This waterfall is easily seen and accessible along the Road to Hana. There is a small amount of parking along the road just after the falls itself. Be cautious along the bridge if you are admiring the waterfall from the road. There is a short trail (maybe 20-30 feet) that takes you to rocks where you can climb into the water. There can be vendors there during peak season and it can get quite busy so keep that in mind! We had the waterfall to ourselves!

10. Pipiwai Trail (Mile Marker 42)

Do not miss this trail! It leads you to two incredibly beautiful waterfalls and through a stunning bamboo forest. To access this trail (legally) you need to park at the Haleakala National Park Kipahulu Visitors Center. Entrance to the National Park is $30. From there, park your car and follow the signs to the trailhead. The trailhead is accessible from the road. However, it is on National Park Property and we do NOT recommend accessing this trail without the pass.

11. Seven Sacred Pools (Mile Marker 42)

From the National Park parking lot you can also access the trail to the Seven Sacred Pools. The trail to the pools is less than .5 miles and is an easy hike. It is important to note that swimming is not permitted at this time.

MONEY SAVING TIP: Planning to drive up to the top of Haleakala during your visit to Maui? Then we recommend doing it close to your Road To Hana day. The National Park Pass you purchase is valid for 72 hours!

Our Top Secret Tip For Road To Hana

We drove the Road to Hana backwards and let us tell you why we are SO glad that we did.

We hit Mile Marker 1 around 5:30 AM and began our drive in the dark (controversial but hear us out.)

The road was absolutely empty and we took our time. We made our to Wai’anapanapa State Park for our reservation at 7:00am. When we got there, we watched the sunrise from the black sand beach (coffee in hand) which was epic! From there, we hit Wailua Falls. Then Pipiwai Trail and Seven Sacred Pools. After that, we turned around and worked our way back hitting some of the stops we listed above!

Every. single. place. we visited in the morning (aside from the Black Sand Beach) was empty. We also drove with little to no traffic for the majority of our drive which was also great!

Parking anxiety? Never heard of her. We had plenty of parking choices at every destination we visited. The first place we actually saw people was at Kaihalulu Beach and even then there was 5 other people.

It gets busier the closer to the beginning of the Road to Hana you get. Especially near the end of the day. However, for the most part, places will have begun to clear out. This is because people continue their drives further down the road.

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Final Thoughts

The Road To Hana is an epic road trip that is a must when visiting Maui. Each stop offers a glimpse into the island’s lush landscapes, rich history, and adventurous spirit. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, savoring local flavors, or simply soaking in the breathtaking views, this road trip is one you’ll never forget. Take your time, embrace the slow pace, and let the magic of Hana unfold before you!