Start early and return before sunset, as you don’t want to be driving the Road To Hana in the dark, and if you have time, consider staying overnight in Hana!
Best Time To Visit Maui / Road To Hana: Maui, with warm weather throughout the year, is a year-round destination! However, there are two peak seasons in Maui – (1) Summer, especially June through August, when the weather is perfect and dry, and schools are on break (2) Early Winter, particularly December, during the holidays when most of the country is covered in snow, you can still enjoy warm weather, beach, and watersports in Maui. The shoulder seasons, January through May and September through November, have a wet climate but are the best time to beat the crowds in Maui. If you need more information about Maui – how to get to Maui, Maui’s public transportation, parking, car rentals, and Maui Hotels, please use my Maui Travel Guide. When it comes to driving Road To Hana, I highly recommend getting an early start in the morning, between 7 AM – 8 AM, and if you’re not staying overnight in Hana, you must start your return back from Hana no later than 4 PM to ensure you don’t have to drive through the narrow winding roads in the dark.
Road To Hana Directions: Road To Hana, officially the sixty-five miles long Hana Highway, starts in Central Maui in the town of Kahului and ends in the city of Hana in East Maui. However, some of the major attractions are located a few miles ahead of Hana, including the Kipahulu District of the Haleakala National Park, Ohe’o Gulch, Pools of Ohe’o, Pipiwai Trail, and are a must-see on Road To Hana road trip. The road past Ohe’o Gulch, Highway 31, commonly referred to as the “Back Side” or “Back Road To Hana,” is an unpaved road along the west side of Maui, which ultimately meets Kahului. However, this road is pretty narrow with several exposed sections and rocky terrains and is deemed unauthorized by most car rental companies. So I recommend making a U-turn at Ohe’o Gulch and taking the same road back to Kahului.
Time Required For Road To Hana Road Trip: While Road To Hana, from Kahului in Central Maui to the city of Hana in East Maui, is just 65 miles long, but given the several attractions and the narrow winding roads, driving Road To Hana and back takes around 8 – 10 hours. While one day is enough to see all the major attractions along the drive by making brief stops, if you have time, I recommend staying overnight in the town of Hana, which will give you two days to leisurely explore all attractions and hike a couple of popular trails along the Road To Hana.
Road To Hana Driving Tips & Etiquettes: There’s hardly a scenic drive as beautiful as Road To Hana, but it’s also a tricky drive with several narrow bridges and sharp turns. However, it shouldn’t be very difficult for a seasoned driver if you follow these driving etiquettes – (1) Fill up your gas tank before leaving the town of Paia, (2) Keep your eyes on the road and not be distracted by the sights, which you should enjoy only after parking at designated parking spots, (3) Use headlights, and honk near sharp turns, honking is not considered offensive, (4) Be courteous to others and give way to the locals and fast-moving vehicles, and (5) Yield near the single-lane bridges to allow oncoming traffic to pass safely.
Road To Hana Sightseeing Tours: If you’re not a seasoned driver or would like to enjoy the scenery instead of driving, you could use one of many local tour companies in Maui that offer guided sightseeing tours along the Road To Hana, including – Road to Hana Tours, Valley Isle Excursions, and Temptation Tours. Most of the Road To Hana tours are offered in a luxury van with expansive windows, comfortable seating, onboard water & snacks, well narrated & well-paced, and stops at all major attractions.
Lodging & Dining In Hana: If you have enough time on the island of Maui, I highly recommend staying overnight at Hana, which will give you enough time to explore some of the pristine areas and hike a couple of trails. While Hana might not have many lodging options like other regions of Maui, you would still find a few decent hotels and bread & breakfasts in Hana – Hana-Maui Resort, Hana Kai Maui, and Bamboo Inn On Hana Bay. While there are not many fancy restaurants along the Road To Hana, you will find a few quaint local eateries and roadside stalls – Hana Ranch Restaurant in Hana, Huli Huli Chicken, also in Hana, Hana Pizza Company, and Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread, known to serve the best banana bread on the Road To Hana.
