Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
Two of the world's most active volcanoes, with an ongoing Kīlauea summit eruption
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $30 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- About 335,000 acres
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Weather Now
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Hawaiʻi Volcanoes protects the summits and rift zones of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, two of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Kīlauea's summit caldera collapsed dramatically in 2018, and since December 2024 Halemaʻumaʻu crater has erupted in dozens of short episodes, some with lava fountains over 1,000 feet high. Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on the planet, last erupted in 2022. The park was created in 1916 as Hawaii National Park and is both a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.
Within a short drive you can go from misty ʻōhiʻa rainforest to black lava desert to sea cliffs where fresh rock meets the ocean. Kīlauea is sacred in Hawaiian culture as the home of Pele, the volcano goddess. Many episodes last only hours and the next one can come with little warning, so eruption viewing is a matter of timing and luck. Eruption gases and fine volcanic glass called Pele's hair can drift over the summit area during fountaining.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- Any month works since the summit climate is mild all year, but drier weather often comes from April through October.
- How long to stay
- Two days lets you see the summit, drive to the coast and return at night for the glow.
- Getting there
- Hilo International Airport (ITO) is about 45 minutes away; Kona International Airport (KOA) is about 2 to 2.5 hours by car.
- Wildlife
- Watch for nēnē (Hawaiian geese) near roads, red ʻapapane in the ʻōhiʻa trees, kalij pheasants, and sometimes honu (sea turtles) along the coast.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes
- Rain jacketThe summit gets frequent rain and mist year-round.
- Headlamp or flashlightUseful for night glow viewing and for Nāhuku outside its lit hours.
- Sturdy closed-toe shoesLava rock is sharp and uneven on trails like Kīlauea Iki.
- BinocularsHelp you see the eruption vents and fountains from the overlooks.
- N95 mask and eye protectionHelpful when vog, ash or Pele's hair drift over the summit area.
A first day, start to finish
- Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp
- Uēkahuna and Kīlauea Overlook views of Halemaʻumaʻu
- Kīlauea Iki Trail
- Nāhuku lava tube
- Chain of Craters Road to the Hōlei Sea Arch, then back for evening glow
Don't miss
- Kīlauea summit and HalemaʻumaʻuUēkahuna and Kīlauea Overlook look across the caldera to Halemaʻumaʻu crater, where episodic lava fountains have erupted since December 2024.
- Kīlauea Iki TrailA 4-mile loop that drops about 400 feet through rainforest and crosses the steaming floor of a lava lake left by the 1959 eruption.
- Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube)A short rainforest loop through a 500-year-old lava tube, lit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and open 24 hours.
- Chain of Craters RoadA 19-mile drive that descends about 3,700 feet past pit craters and old lava flows to the coast and the Hōlei Sea Arch.
- Puʻuloa PetroglyphsA 1.4-mile round-trip boardwalk walk off Chain of Craters Road to thousands of Native Hawaiian rock carvings.
Know before you go
Do
- Check the park alerts and the USGS Kīlauea update before you go, since closures can change daily.
- Come back after dark to look for the red glow over Halemaʻumaʻu when the volcano is active.
- Bring a rain jacket and warm layers, because the summit sits at 4,000 feet and is often cool and wet.
Don't
- Go past closure signs or off trail near crater rims and earth cracks.
- Ignore vog warnings if you have heart or breathing problems; volcanic gas can be heavy downwind of the vents.
- Pick up or pocket tephra, Pele's hair or lava rocks, which are sharp and protected.
The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, and you can drive Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road at night to look for eruption glow. The Kīlauea Visitor Center is closed for renovation until late 2026, so a temporary Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp is open daily 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. The Kahuku Unit is open Thursday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and areas near the summit can close on short notice during eruption episodes, tephra fallout or storms.
Arrive before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., when summit parking lots are far less full and the evening glow is easier to see.Trekker's tip