The Perfect Kona to Hilo Road Trip Itinerary: Big Island, Hawaii

If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii, you might be wondering how to fit all the bucket list things to do on this island into your trip itinerary. While the Big Island is the largest of all the Hawaiian Islands, you can actually drive around the whole island in one day! To road trip around the coast of the Big Island, it is about a 6 hour drive without any stops or traffic, so you can expect this itinerary to take much longer depending how many stops you decide to make along the way. Taking this Kona to Hilo road trip is by far the best way to see most of the highlights on the Big Island in one day!

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Renting a Car on the Big Island

While there’s many tours that will take you to see all the highlights of the Big Island, renting a car is the best way to do a Kona to Hilo road trip and see everything the island has to offer on your own time. I recommend renting a car for your whole trip to the Big Island so you can explore more outside of this Kona to Hilo itinerary. The best way to rent a car is to rent it from one of the rental car places at the airport to make for easy pick up and drop off!

If you don’t plan on renting a car on your trip, you can take this Big Island in a day tour!

Should You Stay in Kona or Hilo?

Deciding where to stay on the Big Island was one of my biggest struggles when planning my trip to the Big Island. The two most popular towns to stay in are Kona and Hilo but, there are actually several options depending on what kind of trip you are looking for. For more information on where to stay on the Big Island, check out my full guide HERE!

I personally stayed in Kona and Waikoloa/Kohala Coast on my trip to the Big Island so this itinerary will be based off of staying in those two locations. The Kohala Coast is about 30-45 minutes from Kona so this itinerary can be based off of either. If you are staying in Hilo, then you will want to reverse the itinerary and adjust accordingly since Hilo is on the opposite side of the island.

Where to stay in Kona:

Stay in Kona if you’re wanting to be close to the airport and all the shops and restaurants. Ali’i Drive in Kona is right on the coast and packed full of restaurants and souvenir shops. Some resort/hotel options in Kona include Royal Kona, Outrigger Kona, Four Seasons Hualalai, and Courtyard Marriott Kona Beach

Where to stay in Waikoloa/Kohala Coast:

If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury vacation for your time on the Big Island head straight to the Kohala Coast. This is where you’ll find the best of the best 5-star luxury properties. Some of the best luxury resorts on the Kohala Coast include Fairmont Orchid, Westin Hapuna, Mauna Lani, and Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

Where to stay in Hilo:

Hilo is on the opposite side of the Big Island and the side of the island that gets the most rain. Because of this, Hilo is much more lush and green than Kona. Hilo is a great place to stay if you are looking for more outdoor adventures on your trip to Hawaii. Hilo has less hotel options than Kona and Kohala Coast but two great options are SCP Hilo and Grand Naniloa.

What to bring on a Kona to Hilo Road Trip

The drive from Kona to Hilo and then Hilo, back to Kona is long with several different stops so there are some essentials you’ll need to pack to make sure you’re prepared.

Hiking Shoes – One stop on the Kona to Hilo itinerary will require a short hike through the rainforest and can be slippery. Make sure you pack shoes that are comfortable for hiking! These Columbia Hiking Boots are my go-to hiking shoes!

Mineral-Based Reef-Safe Sunscreen – The state of Hawaii has banned chemicals in sunscreen that are damaging to the reef so make sure to pack reef-safe sunscreen only! For the Big Island specifically, you can ONLY use mineral-based reef-safe sunscreen. Two of my go-to’s are SunBum and Blue Lizard!

Beach Towel – This itinerary does include a beach stop so make sure to bring some towels in case you decide to go for a swim! I love the Sand Cloud towels because they keep the sand out of your car! Here’s a cheaper dupe of the towel from Amazon!

Reusable Water Bottle – This Kona to Hilo itinerary requires a lot of time outside in the heat and sun so it is important to stay hydrated! I never travel anywhere without a reusable water bottle that I can refill at water stations and keep the water cool. Simple Modern is one of my favorite travel water bottle brands!

Stop One: Kona to Waipi’o Valley

Your first stop of the day will be Waipi’o Valley Lookout located about 60 miles from Kona. The drive from Kona to Waipi’o Valley takes roughly 50 minutes to 1 hour depending on road and weather conditions.

I recommend leaving Kona as early as possible, at least 7 am or earlier to beat traffic and afternoon heat. If you didn’t have breakfast in Kona, the town of Waimea is a good halfway point between Kona and Waipi’o Valley to stop for breakfast and fill up with gas or just to grab some snacks!

Waipi’o Valley Lookout was one of my favorite stops on the Big Island because of the incredible views! It overlooks one of the Big Island’s black-sand beaches and a waterfall. Waipi’o Valley is considered sacred by Hawaiians as it used to be home to Hawaiian Kings.

Sadly, the road into the valley is no longer open to tourists and only accessible to Hawaiian residents and approved tour groups. Another exciting way to experience Waipi’o Valley is by taking a helicopter tour!

Stop Two: Waipi’o Valley to Akaka Falls State Park

From Waipi’o Valley, drive 42 miles to Akaka Falls State Park. This drive will take around 1 hour.

When you arrive at Akaka Falls State Park, you will have the option to park in the parking lot for $10 per car or you can park outside the parking lot for free if there is street parking available. If you do park on the street, this will add a bit of time to your hike to the falls.

Once inside the park, it costs $5 per person to hike to the falls. The trail is easy and only takes about 30 minutes round trip. The trail leads you through a lush, tropical jungle and ends at a stunning 442-foot tall waterfall!

Stop Three: Akaka Falls State Park to Rainbow Falls

From Akaka Falls State Park, drive 16 miles to Rainbow Falls. This drive will only take around 25 minutes and Rainbow Falls is your last stop before reaching the town of Hilo! This is also the last waterfall stop on your Kona to Hilo road-trip and luckily does not require any hiking!

Rainbow Falls is an 80 ft waterfall just outside the town of Hilo. Rainbow Falls is also the only waterfall on the Big Island that is free to visit. All you have to do is park in the parking lot and walk up to the viewing area to see the falls. Rainbow Falls flows over a lava cave and gets its name due to the rainbow that appears over the water on sunny mornings!

Stop Four: Rainbow Falls to Hilo

Once you’re done at Rainbow Falls, you can finally head into Hilo! This is a quick drive since Rainbow Falls is only 2 miles outside of Hilo and the drive is roughly 7 minutes to the downtown area.

Depending on when you left Kona, it will likely be lunchtime by the time you’ve reached Hilo. I highly recommend stopping by the farmers market for lunch! The Hilo Farmers Market is a must-visit on any trip to the Big Island. Here, you’ll find tons of fresh fruit, fresh fruit juices, homemade banana and mango breads, and fresh coconuts.

If you want the best Pad Thai, stop by Thai Smile Thai Food truck and afterward grab shaved ice from Kula Shaved Ice!

If you are staying in Hilo, you can explore the town or check into your hotel. If you are continuing your Kona to Hilo road-trip around the Big Island, head to the next stop on your way back to Kona!

Stop Five: Hilo to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach

If you’re continuing your Kona to Hilo road-trip back Hilo to Kona, drive 57 miles (1 hour and 15 minutes) from Hilo to Punalu’u Black Sand Beach.

Because of the volcanic landscape of the Big Island, there are several different black sand beaches. Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is located about 1.5 hours between each Kona and Hilo and is the most popular black sand beach on the Big Island.

This will be your last stop before returning to Hilo so bring your beach towels and some snorkel gear to enjoy one of the most unique beaches in all of Hawaii!

Stop Six: Punalu’u Black Sand Beach to Kailua Kona

Once you’re done at Black Sand Beach, it’s time to end your Kona to Hilo road trip and start the drive back to Kona. The drive from black sand beach to Kona is roughly an hour and a half and around 65 miles.

If you have some daylight left and would like to do some more exploring, there is always the option to stop at Two-Step Beach in Captain Cook and do some free snorkeling! Just make sure you’ve brought your own snorkel gear along on your road-trip! Two-Step Beach is some of the best snorkeling on the Big Island and about a 1 hour drive from black sand beach and a 30 minute drive from Kona making it a perfect bonus stop on your Kona to Hilo road-trip if you have some extra time!

If you’ve explored enough for the day, make the 1 hour and 30-minute drive back to Kona and end the day with dinner, live music, and island-inspired beer at Kona Brewing!

Optional Stops: Volcanos National Park and Green Sand Beach

Two of the main attractions on the Big Island are Volcanos National Park and the Green Sand Beach. Both of these are located near Punalu’u Black Sand Beach and are optional stops on your way from Hilo to black sand beach.

In my opinion, I would opt to do the green sand beach and the national park on a separate day in order to have the most time to explore, especially since both options will require longer hiking.

Papakōlea Green Sand Beach is one of the most unique beaches in the world and the southernmost point of the United States! To access the beach, it requires a 5.5 mile hike round trip, so there will likely not be time for this on your Kona to Hilo road-trip.

In Volcanoes National Park, there are many activities to do such as exploring the lava tubes and visiting the summit of Mauna Loa, one of the Big Island’s many volcanoes. Because of this, I recommend dedicating a different day to exploring the national park. There are also tours from Kona and Hilo that take you on guided trips through Volcanoes National Park and to Papakōlea Green Sand Beach!

FAQ

Can you do a day trip from Kona to Hilo?

Yes! It is possible and easy to do a day trip from Kona to Hilo. The drive from Kona to Hilo is fairly quick and only 1.5 hours if you drive directly across the island. This may be the best option if you ONLY want to visit Hilo when driving from Kona to Hilo. This itinerary takes the scenic route which adds on much more time to the drive.

Is Kona nicer than Hilo?

This really depends on what you are looking for on your trip. Each town has something for every traveler but if you are looking for nicer hotels/resorts and restaurants I definitely prefer Kona to Hilo!

What is the most scenic route from Kona to Hilo?

There are 3 routes you can take from Kona to Hilo: Northern, Southern, and Central route. Personally, I believe the northern route is the most scenic as it takes you through Waimea, past Waipi’o Valley and to the lush waterfalls of Hilo. The southern route will take you through Captain Cook and past black & green sand beaches, and Volcanos National Park.

Can you fly from Kona to Hilo?

No, you cannot fly from Kona to Hilo. With that said there is an airport in both Kona and Hilo. This is helpful if you are arriving on the Big Island from another Hawaiian island or the mainland however, there are no direct flights from Kona to Hilo.

Are Kona and Hilo on the same island?

Yes, Kona and Hilo are both on the Big Island. Kona is on the West side of the Big Island and Hilo is on the East side.

What is the best time of year to visit the Big Island?

Hawaii is the perfect year-round destination! To avoid crowds and high prices, I recommend visiting during the shoulder season, which runs from January to March. April to September is considered the high season and brings the most crowds.