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You are here: Big Island > Travel Planner > Itineraries > Hilo & Volcano

Travel Itinerary:
Kona to Volcano in 12 Hours

 

Hiking to the lava flow, late afternoon

Lava flow, water entry

Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Kona to Volcano
The drive from Kona to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is lengthy at 2.5 hours each way, but well worth the trip.  The Kilauea Volcano is the highlight of many visitor's Big Island vacation.  Make sure you plan your trip accordingly of you plan to drive back to Kona late at night after viewing the Kilauea lava flow.

Kona to the Volcano in 12 Hours

Event
Time
Elapsed
Time
Activity
Description
START 0:00 Depart Kona or Kohala Coast
2:30 2:30 Drive to the Volcanoes National Park (10$ entrance fee per vehicle) View road map
0:45 3:15 Volcanoes National Park Visitor's CenterStop at the Visitor's Center, view exhibits and walk across street to the Volcano House and observation deck
1:45 5:00 Halemaumau Crater with Mauna Loa in BackgroundDrive around Crater Rim Drive counter-clockwise stopping at these attractions:  Sulphur Banks; Jaegar Museum; Halemaumau Crater; Thurston Lava Tube
2:00 7:00 Sea cliffs, Chain of Craters RoadDrive to the ocean via the Chain of Craters Road and stop at these attractions: Scenic Overlooks; Holei Sea Arch; end of road where lava flowed
2:30 9:30 Lava flow ocean entryHike to scenic lookout to see the lava flow at dusk.  The first scenic lookout is a short 30 minutes from the parking area, the distant lookout is about 3 miles hike over rough lava each way (add additional time for this hike)
2:30 12:00 Drive back to Kona at night

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