When looking up stops along the Road to Hana, I began by making a list of my top stops. I read many blog posts sharing 16 (or more) stops to make on your trip. There were so many options it was a bit overwhelming!
I ended up narrowing it down to the two stops I would be the most disappointed to miss (Pipiwai trail and Waianapanapa State Park). I wanted to be realistic and have time for spontaneous stops because nobody likes a rushed and stressful day!
We completed the drive in one day (versus staying in Hana). It turned out to be the perfect day! We were able to take our time and truly enjoying our stops without feeling rushed.
Soo, my first tip is to not stress yourself out over quantity. Spend time exploring and enjoying the ride. Here are my top four stops when for one day on The Road to Hana.
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Table of Contents
What is the Road to Hana??
The Road to Hana is a 55-mile AMAZING drive through Maui’s lush green rainforest. You will start your journey from the town of Paia and continue past the town of Hana.
Even though it is only 55 miles long, expect to leave early in the morning and to be gone all day! The speed limit is 25 mph and you will be met with 620 curves, 59 bridges, and the most beautiful views and waterfalls in every direction.
Important Tip: When you first type this route into Google maps, it’ll show you two different routes. Be sure to take the longer route (shown above) as the other way around is more dangerous and oftentimes against the rules of your car rental company.
What to drive?
We drove our rented convertible and it worked out wonderfully! No need for a jeep or four-wheel drive.
Warning::: A coconut did fall and DENTED the car right in front of us. Thankfully, they were not driving a convertible. What are the chances??
Tip! Use the Discovers Cars Search Engine to find the best deal on rental cars in Maui!
When is the best time to drive the Road to Hana?
Maui is home to beautifully warm temperatures year-round. The east side of the island (where the Road to Hana is located) does see A LOT of rain. BUT do not let the rain scare you away as this is how the drive is so beautifully lush and green.
- Summer (June-August): 86/70
- Fall (September-November): 85/68
- Winter (December-February): 80/63
- Spring (March-May): 82/65
Tips to know before you leave:
- Download The Gypsy Guide while you still have WIFI. The guide starts talking when you reach Paia and will point out all the waterfalls and stops you could make. He gives you important information about parking, safety, and the history of Hawaii and The Road to Hana.
- Bring snacks and water
- Bring Money for roadside stands. We went on Thanksgiving day so most of the stands were closed, but we passed A LOT.
- Be prepared to drive… The road to Hana has 620 curves and 59 bridges. It’s not an easy drive, but very much worth it.
- Be prepared to drive carefully and let locals pass…Don’t try to go faster or drive unsafely just because they are.
- Bring motion sickness medication if you get car sick… or even if you don’t….it’s better to be safe than sorry 🙂 I did take some on the way back and I do not normally get carsick.
- Make sure to fill up on Gas before leaving Paia (the starting point).
4 Must Stops Along the Road to Hana
Road to Hana Stop 1: Pipiwai Trail
Pipiwai Trail (4 miles hike) is typically the last stop on the Road to Hana (it’s about 10 miles past the town of Hana). We decided to drive straight to the hike so we could arrive early before the crowds and make sure to have an ample amount of time to explore.
On the way there, we passed all the other stops and took note of where we wanted to stop on the way back.
I HIGHLY recommend making this your first stop as this was the BEST stop and hike I have ever done.
It is inside of Haleakala National Park, so there is an entrance fee (20 dollars), but so worth it. There was an ample amount of parking in the morning and we found the trailhead right away.
The first bit of the trail appears to be a normal hike, but then you enter the magical bamboo forest! After you keep walking, you will see the massive waterfall in the distance.
There are warning signs to stay back, so enter at your own risk (flash floods, falling rocks…).
We only passed maybe 10 people on the entire hike! It pays to do this hike early and first on your day trip.
Bonus:
Even though I was more than happy with the Pipiwai trail, you can take a short hike (.6 miles) afterward to view the Seven Sacred Pools.
Usually, they allow people to swim in ‘Ohe’o Gulch aka “Seven Sacred Pools”, but the water level was too high when we went. It’s a quick walk to see the falls from where we were already parked.
I CANNOT say enough good things about the Pipiwai trail. Seriously, do not miss it.
Road to Hana Stop 2: Wailua Falls
This was an impromptu stop (Mile Marker 45).
We saw cars parked (safely) on the road, so we decided to stop and see.
There was a waterfall directly off the road. You were able to walk down a bit (over the bridge) down to the waterfall. There was a handful of people swimming already, so of course, we decided to jump in.
Road to Hana Stop 3: Waianapanapa State Park
This black sand beach is SO cool.
You can find it at Mile Marker 32.
The contrast of the green plants and black sand was unbelievable! Seriously, pictures do not do it justice. There is a large parking lot right by the beach. After parking, we hiked up the trail a bit (to the left of the beach) and watched the waves crash into the rocks.
Then we made our way down to the beach and body-surfed in the giant waves. If you walk to the right of the beach, you will find the lava tubes that you can walk into.
We hung out here for well over one hour but definitely could have explored all day.
Important Update! Reservations are now required. You can make them up to 14 days in advance here!
Stop 4: Hana Farms
Mile marker 31. Stop here. Buy banana bread. We almost finished the loaf by the time we were done driving. SO GOOD.
Oh, they also have a bathroom to use 🙂
Other things to see and do along the Road To Hana
Although I only listed 4 must-stops, you will likely want to pull over and check out more amazing sights along the way. If you have additional time or want to trade out some of the above stops, here are some other things to do along your drive!
- Twin Falls (Mile Marker 2): A quick easy hike to your first set of waterfalls!
- Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees (Mile Marker 6.7)
- Garden of Eden Arboretum (Mile Marker 10.5): A 26-acre park with 2.5 miles of trails, beautiful plants, and amazing overlooks.
- Hana Lava Tube (Mile Marker 31): For just 12.50, you can take a self-guided tour through an amazing natural lava tube
- Ching’s Pond (Mile Marker 16.8): A beautiful swimming hole with a small waterfall.
- Three Bears Falls (Mile Marker 19.5): Another roadside waterfall with a path to get a closer view.
Where to Stay?
We completed the Road to Hana drive in one day, so we just stayed at the same condo that we had during the week (in Kehei). BUT if you wanted to take the road at a slower pace, you could grab a home in Hana!
Booking.comFinal Thoughts:
The Road to Hana is definitely about the journey rather than the destination. (I mean the destinations were AWESOME as well). But the drive is beautiful, challenging, and bucket list-worthy. The Gypsy Guide tour guide (that you download and take along) was also funny and very informative to listen to along the way!
Click HERE to read what else we did on our trip to Maui! A perfect 5 day itinerary for all adventure lovers.
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