A visit to the red-hot lava and old lava-tubes and smoking calderas is a must when visiting Volcano Village but you would be missing out if those are your only activities, and we recommend spending a minimum of two days in the village to get the most out of your time in Volcano.
The southernmost winery in the United States sits just outside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, in Volcano Village. Most people drive straight through this small rainforest town on their way to the park, which is a mistake. The village also holds the Akatsuka Orchid Farm, the Volcano Art Center, a Thursday and Sunday farmers market, and over 23,000 ancient Hawaiian petroglyphs only a short drive down Chain of Craters Road.
The mix works whether you have an afternoon or a full weekend, but we recommend at least two days. The Sunday market starts very early, the Kīlauea Iki hike deserves an unhurried morning, and when the summit is erupting, the active lava is best seen in the dimming light after sunset.
Table of contents
- Activities and attractions that are specific to Volcano Village
- Outdoor activities that you can enjoy around Volcano Village.
Table of Contents
- Activities and attractions that are specific to Volcano Village
- Outdoor activities that you can enjoy around Volcano Village.
Things to Do in Volcano Village Itself
These are the attractions you can only reach in Volcano Village itself, a rainforest town a few minutes from the park gate. Within that small footprint you have the volcano winery, the Akatsuka orchid farm, and the many local artists who show their work in the Volcano Art Center and in private galleries.
If you are here on a weekend, get to the volcano farmers market on Sunday morning, and go early. It is the most local hour of the week. If you want to pack a lunch for a long day in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, stop by one of these restaurants in Volcano first.
Akatsuka Orchid Farm
Hilo is the orchid capital of the world, and the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, on Highway 11 between Hilo and Volcano, is an easy showcase of it. It makes a good rainy-day stop, though the hours are tight: Monday through Wednesday, 9am to 1pm. Plan around them.
Read more about the Akatsuka Orchid Farm.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is the number-one destination on the Big Island, and the reason most people come to Volcano in the first place. Lava gets the attention, but the park is just as good explored on foot or by car. Plan at least one full day, two if you can, to do it properly.
Read more about the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Hikers cross the floor of the Kīlauea Iki crater in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Find out more about this hike on our website.
Volcano Winery
You probably would not expect a vineyard on the slopes of one of the world’s most active volcanoes, but the Volcano Winery sits just outside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and is the southernmost winery in the United States. Tastings run daily from noon to 5pm, walk-ins only, no reservations.
Read more about visiting the Winery in Volcano Village.
The Volcano Winery vineyard in Volcano Village Photo credits: Mike Neenan
A Petting Zoo
Near the winery and orchid farm you can also find a small petting zoo that serves lunch, plus farm tours around Volcano.
Volcano Art Center
The Volcano Art Center works to promote and perpetuate the artistic and cultural heritage of Hawaiʻi’s people and environment through the visual, literary, and performing arts. It is a good stop if you want some Hawaiian art and culture alongside the park. The gallery inside the park is open daily; the Niaulani campus in the village keeps weekday hours.
Read more about the Volcano Art Center.
Volcano Village Farmers Market
The Volcano Village farmers markets are the social events of the week, where locals swap news, catch up on the coconut wireless (Big Island gossip), and meet friends. Definately worth a visit if you are spending Thursday afternoon or the Sunday morning in the village.
Read more about the Farmers Market of Volcano Village.
Puʻu Loa Petroglyph Field
The Puʻu Loa petroglyph field in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park holds over 23,000 carved images, among the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in the Hawaiian Islands. A 0.7-mile walk each way, 1.4 round-trip, takes you to a boardwalk that loops around the ancient carvings.
Read more about the Puʻu Loa petroglyph field.
Trailhead of the Puʻu Loa Petroglyph trail. To get here drive down the chain of craters road in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Outdoor Activities in and around Volcano Village
Outside the village, the rainforest opens onto hundreds of miles of trails, two campgrounds, and a golf course, but most people come for the volcano itself: hiking, biking, lava viewing, helicopter tours, and camping. The park also runs volunteer programs if you want to give a few hours back to the forest.
Biking
The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has bike trails you can ride if you bring your own bike, but for most visitors a guided biking tour is the easier way to cover the park.
Read more about Biking on the Big Island.
Camping
The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has two campgrounds plus some back-country sites. If you camp here, bring warm clothes and rain gear: the weather at this elevation runs cold and wet.
Read more about Camping in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
The Namakanipaio Campground in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park contains cabins and campsites (not shown).
Golfing
There is a golf course just above Volcano Village, to the west. The greens will not match the resort courses on the Kona side, but the course is a relaxed way to spend a half-day on the volcano, often in the mist.
Read more about Golfing on the Big Island.
Golfing on an active Volcano is almost normal on the Big Island.
Hiking
The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has some of the best hikes on the Big Island, at every difficulty level. Our hands-down favorite is the Kīlauea Iki hike, which takes you down onto the crater floor.
Read more about Hiking in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Part of the Halemaʻumaʻu trail in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that takes you from the visitor center down to the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor
Helicopter Tours
Helicopter tours leave from Hilo or Kona, not Volcano, so they do not strictly belong here. Still, a helicopter is one of the best ways to take in the scale of the volcano, and worth fitting into a stay near the park.
Read more about taking a helicopter tour on the Big Island.
Lava Viewing
Volcano Village makes a good base for lava viewing, since it sits just outside the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park boundary. Since December 2024, Kīlauea has been in an episodic eruption at the summit: lava fountains and the glow over Halemaʻumaʻu appear during active episodes, then pause for days or weeks between them. Check the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory status page before you go, and see our guide to lava viewing for where and how to watch.
Read more about lava viewing.
You can visit the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at night to see the glow over the Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
Scenic Drives near Volcano Village
A short detour can open up a different side of the Big Island. The scenic roads near Volcano Village are the Chain of Craters Road, the Mauna Loa strip road, and the Kapoho to Kalapana road, also known as the old red road.
Read more about Scenic drives close to Volcano Village.
The Kalapana to Kapoho road, also known as red road, is one of the most scenic drives on the Big Island