It has 13 hairpins that will have you climbing from 5,617 feet above sea level to 6,677 feet above sea level in just three. Four wheel drive is 100% NOT necessary for driving the backside of Hana. There is no beach, but the rocky coastline is spectacular as far as scenery goes. Should I be confident in my ability to do this drive with precious cargo (my girlfriend's and my own life)? 1. **Kaulahao Beach aka Kuau Beach Park. We can now offer our visitors 20 years of expertise on this beautifully scenic drive. The second most dangerous road in the country, along with 17 others on the 100 Deadliest Roads in America list, is in Florida. If you need proof, the best stops on the Road to Hana, which include vibrant beaches, lush rain forests, and cascading waterfalls, attract about 400,000 visitors each year. Read about my favorite luxury resorts, boutique hotels, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, and condos (many under $100/night!). Preparation is an important part of safety, so make sure to plan your Road to Hana tour ahead of time. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. Check out our favorite Tours here. Need a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms? Get on my Email list to see what Im up to and all the best travel content! Subscribe for Hawaii Travel Tips, my Latest Content and Much More. In this guide about driving the back road to Hana, well go over what to expect, how long it will take, where it starts, all the best stops and any necessary tips youll want to know before embarking on this Maui road trip. Pretty much everybody and their dog knows about driving the Road to Hana on Maui. Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. Yum! On a calm day you are able to swim inside the pools. That's 2 extra hours after how many hours on the plane? This three-part waterfall is often called the Three Bear Falls for the Papa Bear-, Mamma Bear-, and Baby Bear-size cascades of water. Road to Hana Tips, Tricks and Advice How to Survive the Hana Highway! 'Death Road', Bolivia Officially known as North Yungas Road, this route usually goes by its more ominous moniker. The biggest hazards on the Hana Highway are mosquitoes and traffic. ROAD TRIP AMERICA As you can see, the. Located at the extreme southeast of the island of Maui, the city of Hana is like another island. Mile Marker 2 Hana Highway (360) Twin Falls. The road is endlessly winding and many corners are seriously blind. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353051', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rental car companies. Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, guide for sunrise at Haleakala National Park, 20 of the best adventure activities on Maui, the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. Maui Tourism Guide Our Guide to Travel and Tourism on Maui Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii Attractions All the Best Things to do in Maui, Hawaii, Best Place to Stay on Maui, Hawaii Our Guide on Where to Stay in Maui, Hawaii. Our guide had lots of experience in driving to Hana via the southern route, thus making it much safer compared to attempting it on our own! The Surface is pretty well maintained but is often wet, slippery, and covered in jungle debris. Waipahu, Oahu Harlan Sheppard/Flickr Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way to experience this side of Haleakala volcano . TSA lines have been very long. 5. Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. There's no doubt that Kahekili Highway is the most dangerous road in the US. If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. So take the time to research the road in advance and be . The tarmac is smooth and well maintained. 13 years ago Save IMHO, it's neither dangerous nor scary. Need a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing waterfall plunge? This is terribly unfortunate, The highway is really a real jewel in the already stunning Crown of Mauis natural beauty. There are 620 bends, many of them extremely sharp or hairpin turns, over the course of that 64 miles. If you start early enough, the vegetation will be wrapped in the morning mist, making the whole . If you havent already, you will soon understand why thisis a perfect spot for them. Why drive 1 hour to west side to trun around and come back to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 9) Is there anything I'm not considering that I should be considering? 4 The Road Is Winding. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353050', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Napili beach as well. Please keep in mind that youll encounter challenging turns and narrow bridges along the way, so its important to exercise caution and take your time. What are you wanting to do west? It's a well paved road, but you do need to keep your wits about you when you drive it because of the many sharp curves and one-lane bridges. What we wanted to do in the west was bathe in the waters of Kanapali (which we hear is a world class beach) and maybe (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. You need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight and it's a 3 hour drive from Wainapanapa IF you aren't behind a slow train(qnd the traffic will be very heavy during that time you are headed to the airport) also if weather caused a downed tree or landslide you are just stuck. Once you leave the National Park, theres not really a ton of places I recommend to stop. That said, of course DO take care while you are driving the Road to Hana! It won't take you 5 hours to get to Hana either. Fun fact: there are more than seven of them! It will make you feel like your on a wild foreign adventure tho. Bring ones you don't mind getting muddy. From there its about a two hour drive (with no stops) due east to the town of Hana. The southern route will save at the most 20 minutes off your drive. The road is such a stunning journey through the most amazing landscape we just want everyone to experience it. You can read Road to Hana tour reviews on getyourguide. Finally, the highlight of the back road to Hana is the Kipahulu entrance to Haleakala National Park. The Road to Hana actually goes beyond the town of Hana, all the way to Haleakala National Park. I guess the Internet has opened up so much more information and opinions (hello blog!) The Road to Hana is about 65 miles long, but don't let this relatively short distance fool you. If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! You can help by pulling over to let people faster than you by, there is nothing to be gained by holding someone up, they will get increasingly angry, more erratic, and make your trip far more uncomfortable. Important Note* The first one and a half hour stretch of the back road to Hana is usually forbidden by rental car companies and is stated in the rental car agreements. Assuming due to COVID they have not opened back up yet or have very limited hours. The Pools at O'heo. As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. Some parts are of the road are unpaved and it gets narrow and twisty. If your other half wants to drive the road then a tour is not a good compromise. We go into detail in the linked article, but, Spoiler alert! And to finish with my most solid argumentif a big tour bus can drive the backroad to Hana, so can you ; ). This park contains one of. (Highlighted above is the most dangerous stretch of the Kahekili Highway - 4.5 miles of what amounts to barely more than a golf cart-sized lane etched into the side of a cliff) So the idea started in the old capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Lahaina, otherwise known as a cozy little tourist town along the western shore of Maui. And, they also did do another one-lane road drive on Maui and for that drive, they DID think that the West Mauis back road was scary! Get your car inspected . Hanawi Falls. There are closer beaches to the airport like in Kihei which is considered south Maui. The Road to Hana is an absolutely stunning road trip to take on any Maui vacation, and is 100% a must-do. This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. Be sure to take your lunch and dont e xpect a bathroom break! The backside road is VERY different from the front road and definitely worth experiencing. In ancient times most of the Hawaiians lived in this area opposed to current day West Maui or South Maui. You can drive the road to Hana yourself, or take a tour in a van . Then once they've reached their intended destination, they will turn around and drive back the way they came. What are your fears and doubts? Kaumana Trail, Saddle Rd, Hilo, HI 96720, USA 13. However, many people who do not get caught up in the hype head to the road and come away scarred with tales of doom and dread of a hells highway that is near impossible to drive! The main thing that makes people fear the road is reputation! 10 Best USA Road Trips Drive These Before you DIE. Our Hawaiian Food Guide to Hawaiis Must Try Foods, Best Beaches in Maui, Hawaii Our Ultimate Maui Beach Guide, How To Visit Maui on a Budget Saving money on your Maui, Hawaii Vacation. Does the inside lane/outside lane play more into the safety of it than the road conditions themselves? There are beaches in the Hana area. This is one of the best things to do in Maui on a budget. Click here to search for Maui vacation rentals for your trip. Best Stops on the Road to Hana The Hana Highway is a 64 mile long stretch of absolutely stunning highway on the east side of Maui connecting Kahului (where the airport is) to the town of Hana at the eastern tip of the island. Along this coastal drive, you'll find a number of hikes, waterfalls, rainforests, and gorgeous beaches. These falls are some of the best waterfalls that Maui has to offer. Here the road is exposed to some fairly large drops, however, these are all behind Armco rails and there are no large unprotected drops. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. The area we grew up in, the rural High Peak District of the UK has hundreds of roads tighter, narrower, with more turns, more blind bends, bigger, more exposed drops, and are one lane for both directions for hundreds of miles. We did the Road many years ago when it was more of a cow path. Try to leave Paia by 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and plan on being back in Paia before dark. It REALLY isnt a bad road. The Road to Hana, also known as the Hana highway, is a 64.4 mile-long stretch of Hawaii routes 36 and 360 with connects Kahului with the town of Hana in east Maui. Left: Driving the Road to Hana from Paia to Kipahulu is relatively safe. There is nothing but sharp - blind turns, one way roads, one car bridges on roads that continuously turned and not wide enough for two cars. We are aware for some the road is a terrifying prospect and we are not trying to diminish that. The average visitor is not going to think twice about the number of people they encounter along this road unless they were truly thinking they would be the ONLY ones driving to Hana. JEWEL CAVE SD, HAWAII TRAVEL PLANNING GULF ISLANDS FL If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). other than a slight hindrance to your rate of progress there is nothing to worry about. Sustained by the Hanawi Stream, here you'll find that the lower waterfall cascades 200 feet into a freshwater pool. Am I missing something youre trying to tell me? I think nearly all of us have some kind of phobia, some irrational, spiders, birds, outdoors, speeches, heights, flying. My girlfriend. And if you just want more details (more! Travel to or from the region of Hana to any other major population center takes several hours by car. The road is narrow (a generous one lane road with plenty of spots to pull over and let someone pass) and winding and there are quite a few blind corners, but generally speaking, the road also isnt very high up in these portions as it is on the front side. Was it worse or better than your fears? We know for most people the Hana Highway is fine. Its a must do! These are the main reasons people find the road uncomfortable. Check out these Hana guides to assist you on your travels. Narrowed it down to a certain location? Peru is a destination for nature lovers, hist, Hiking in and out of Haleakala Crater on Maui is o, Sunset state of mind . By car than a slight hindrance to your rate of progress there is nothing to worry about 20 years expertise. Once they & # x27 ; s no doubt that Kahekili Highway is really real! Cave SD, Hawaii travel PLANNING GULF ISLANDS FL if I could sign up twice, would... Really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you unlikely... 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