This is our sample five day itinerary (four nights) for the Big Island of Hawaii. With five days, you are able to get a feel for the two most interesting places on the Big Island: Kailua Kona and Volcano Village.
This itinerary describes two nights in Kona and two nights in Volcano village, and a return “circle island drive” to the airport:
Table of contents
Money-saving and trip-enhancing trip planning tips
With life getting so expensive it makes sense to save as much money on your trip as you can. These resources help you to save money (#1), to book the best tours and activities (#2), and greatly simplify trip planning (#3 + #4):
- The Discount Hawaii Car Rentals website is our first stop for a quote when we need a rental car. We like them (a) because they offer the BEST rates, (b) require no prepayment and charge no cancellation fees, and (c) because they offer additional benefits such as free extra drivers and reduced young driver rates.
- We put a LOT of effort in figuring out which tours actually are the best. Have a look at our curated tour section to see tours that get consitently good reviews *and* offer great value.
- Did you know we are giving away free itineraries for all Hawaiian islands? These are a great place to start planing your own trip.
- Our Trip Planning 101 Guide is a another GREAT place to start planning for 1st time visitors.
Day 1: Kona and the Beach
Start your trip by picking up your rental car from one of the car rental offices at the Kona Airport. Kona is the sunny outdoor capital of the Big Island and you will spend your first two days and nights here enjoying the beach.
Drive into town and drop off your bags at your place of accommodation (if you have not yet booked, have a look here for accommodations in Kona). If you arrive during whale season (between December and March/April) sign up directly for a whale-watching cruise or, if you feel even more adventurous, we recommend that you find out more about the Manta Ray night dive/snorkel. These tours are very popular and you should try to book them in advance.
Sunset Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Keauhou Bay
Manta rays at Keauhou's Manta Village feed within inches of the lit flotation board. Sea Paradise has operated here since 1985, making them one of the longest-running operators at this location.
from:
$130
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Afterward, drive north up Highway 11 to explore some of the beautiful west coast beaches such as Kua bay or Hapuna. If you arrived on the Big Island later in the day and are now short on time, stop at the pier fronting the King Kamehameha Hotel in the center of Kona (King Kam beach) for a quick dip or a bit of snorkeling.
End your day with watching the sunset and drinking a mai tai at the Kona Inn, or any of the other beachfront restaurants on Ali’i drive. Tomorrow will be a busy day, so don’t go to bed too late and be prepared for an early start.
King Kam beach in downtown Kona is a good place to take a quick dip in between activities. You can find decent snorkeling on the other side of the pier
Day 2: Ocean Views and Adventures.
Get up early the following day. This should be easy since you still will be on mainland time. Have a relaxed breakfast in town with a view of the ocean or drive south toward Captain Cook and stop in at the Coffee Shack for breakfast. Don’t forget to order yourself some fresh Kona coffee.
After breakfast continue south to the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (also known as the city of refuge or Honaunau Bay) to learn about the ancient practices and rituals of the native Hawaiians and finish up with some snorkeling at one of the best snorkeling spots on the island: Two Step (at 300 ft. from the park entrance). This is a favorite snorkeling spot for many locals and a culturally significant place for the Hawaiian people. Please remember to be respectful to both the animals and the surroundings.
Afternoon Sail & Snorkel at Kealakekua Bay
Sail a 50-foot catamaran to one of the best snorkeling spots on the island accessible only by boat or a two-mile kayak from Nāpōʻopoʻo. Spinner dolphins are a regular presence on the sail south, and humpback whales are sighted December through April.
from:
$125
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Make sure to combine your activities of the day with the tours you possibly booked. If snorkeling is not your thing you can replace it with one of the many outdoor activities near Kona to spend this day.
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii is a good place to take in Hawaiian History. Next door (300 feet from the park entrance) is one of the best places of the island to go snorkeling
Day 3: Volcano Village and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Day 3 is another early day so try packing your bags before you go out for breakfast in order to start your 2+ hour drive to Volcano Village directly after.
Make sure to stop on the way to make the drive more enjoyable, for example at South Point (the most southern point of Hawai’i and the second-most southern point in the United States) or Punaluʻu black sand beach, which is famous for its status as a turtle nesting area. Once you reach Volcano Village drop your bags in a cozy vacation rental close to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (have a look at our single favorite vacation rental in Volcano Village), then head into the park for a few hours of hiking and sightseeing.
Start your visit at the visitor center and plan your day in the park from there. Watch the 30-minute educational video in the auditorium and talk to the park rangers about the current situation in the park, ranger-led (free) hikes, and tailor-made advice. Also, ask the rangers about the current viewing conditions for the active lava flows that are entering the ocean.
Some “must sees” in the park are the Thurston Lava Tube and the Chain of Craters Road. If you feel like hiking, we suggest the Kilauea ʻIki trail, which descends from the beautiful Volcano rainforest into the caldera where you can see firsthand the effects of millions of years of volcanic activity.
Afterward, head back to Volcano Village to have dinner in one of the local restaurants.
End your day relaxing in front of the fireplace or in the hot-tub at your vacation rental of choice.
Visit an overlook in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at night to see the glow above the Halemaʻumaʻu caldera (only relevant if there is an active lava lake in the crater)
Day 4 (Option 1): Kalapana and Hot Ponds
Today you can either choose to return to the Hawaii Volcanoes National park if you are a volcanoes enthusiast, or make a road trip to Hilo (option 2: scroll down for details) or Puna/Kalapana to the southeast of Volcano Village.
Kalapana is a serene and simply breathtaking spot that is home to what was once one of the most beautiful beaches of the world, before it was overtaken by lava in the 1990s. Currently, a new black sand beach is forming close to the old beach, allowing a glance into the constant processes of creation and destruction which reign supreme on the island. If you choose to head to Kalapana, we recommend you make an entire day of it to enjoy the other gems the Puna District has to offer along the coast.
From Kalapana, head back toward Kapoho, stopping for photo ops at Isaac Hale Beach Park (Pohoiki to the locals). Afterward, enjoy a well-deserved dinner in the quaint, colorful old town of Pahoa. We recommend the Mexican restaurant Luquins — try one of their margaritas “local style”, with lilikoi (passion fruit) juice and a li hing mui salt rim.
Afterward, drive back up to Volcano Village to enjoy your last night in the peace and quiet of the rainforest.
The Kapoho Kalapana road in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the most scenic roads of the Big Island. Combine this road with a visit to the nearby hot springs
Day 4 (Option 2): Hilo and the Wailuku River
Today you can either choose to return to the Hawaii Volcanoes National park if you are a volcanoes enthusiast, or make a road trip to Hilo or Puna/Kalapana (option 1: scroll up for details) southeast of Volcano Village.
Private Kulaniapia Falls Day Pass
Swim and play at a private waterfall at the lush Hilo coast to skip the crowds.
from:
$49
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.Start your day driving south one hour to the beautiful coastal town of Hilo for breakfast at Ken’s Pancake House, an old American-style diner complete with window booths and smiling local waitresses that respond best when being called “auntie” according to local customs of respect.
Afterward, head downtown to take a stroll along the many shops, galleries and boutiques and/or visit the Tsunami Museum. If it’s market day (Wednesday or Saturday) stop at the Farmers Market to see how shopping is done local style. Pick up some souvenirs or some fresh fruit and bento’s for lunch later in the day. Got a sweet tooth? You can also head over to Two Ladies kitchen (274 Kilauea Ave) for some fresh mochi, a Japanese delicacy in the islands which will leave you craving for more (the strawberry mochi are our favorite).
After you’ve had your fill of exploring downtown, head out to eat the lunch you’ve picked up on Coconut Island or at one the beaches in the majestic Keaukaha area. We recommend 4-mile or Richardsons, both for the views of Hilo Bay and the good swimming (all beaches in Hilo).
When you’re finished with lunch head up to Rainbow Falls for a couple of photos and then continue up Kaumana Drive past Hilo Hospital to the Boiling Pots.
Now it is time to drive up Saddle Road to go stargazing at one of the best locations of the world: Mauna Kea. You can reach the visitor center where there are free stargazing programs offered just after sunset with any rental car but you’ll need a 4WD if you want to visit the summit. There are also professional tours organized from Hilo (see below) that will take you up the mountain.
Maunakea Summit, Sunset, and Stargazing Tour
A small-group tour from Kona to the 13,796-foot summit of Maunakea: dinner at 9,200 feet, sunset above the cloud layer, and a private star show with an 11-inch telescope. Saturn, Jupiter, and the Milky Way on a clear night. 8 to 9 hours.
from:
$315
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.For more information and safety tips see our guide to stargazing on Mauna Kea.
Afterward, drive back up to Volcano Village to enjoy your last night in the peace and quiet of the rainforest. Again, don’t forget to return to the Hawaii Volcanoes National park at night if your first visit was frustrated by clouds and/or rain.
Drive down the chain of craters road in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see the Holei sea arch raise out of the 80 to 90 feet high cliffs.
Day 5: Road trip to Waipiʻo Valley
Today is your last day on the Big Island. You will return to the airport driving counter-clockwise around the island over Hilo and the north shore of the Big Island. This is a 120-mile drive so make sure to plan your time properly and don’t miss your flight!
Start your day with packing your bags and then drive to Hilo for breakfast while watching the sun rise over the bay. Afterward, head out to Highway 19 onto the Hamakua Coast and get ready for some breathtaking scenery!
Start by turning off onto the 4-mile Scenic Route just a few minutes outside Hilo and enjoy the winding, magical drive along the coast. You can also stop at the World Botanical Gardens for a short hike through lush fern forests. Once back on Highway 19, make sure you stop at the ʻAkaka Falls State Park to see the most famous waterfall in the state of Hawaii.
Continue north to the historic town of Honoka’a. This former cane sugar stronghold has an interesting collection of shops and galleries and is a great place to grab some lunch or a fresh, hot malasada at Tex Drive In. From here, it’s just a short drive to the Waipiʻo Valley overlook at the end of Highway 240. Which will allow you a stunning view of the “Valley of Kings”, one of the most culturally significant spots for the native Hawaiians and a hotspot for the traditional cultivation of the locally prized “kalo” or taro crops.
Then continue via Waimea and start preparing yourself to go to the airport. While driving south along the coastal Highway 270 you can either stop at the Waikoloa Village for some local grindz and/or visit one of the many stunning white sand beaches (e.g. Kua Bay) on your way back to the Kona Airport.
The Kua bay beach is close to the airport and a great place to watch your last Hawaiian sunset if you have a late flight