The complete Road to Hana guide
64 miles, 600 turns, and dozens of waterfalls. The stops you cannot miss — and the ones to skip — on Hawaii's most legendary drive.
The Road to Hana is 64 miles, 600+ turns, and 50 one-lane bridges of pure Maui magic. Done right, it's a full day of waterfalls, black-sand beaches, and roadside food stands. Done wrong, it's six hours of car sickness.
Start early — like really early
Be on the road by 7 a.m. The drive itself takes 2.5 hours each way without stops. Add stops, lunch, and the return drive in daylight, and you need every hour you can get. Tour buses start hitting the road around 9 — beat them.
Must-stop spots
Twin Falls (mile 2) for an easy waterfall warm-up. Ke'anae Peninsula (mile 16) for dramatic lava cliffs. Wai'anapanapa State Park (mile 32) for the famous black sand beach — reservations required. The Pools of Oheo (mile 42) for swimming holes if open.
Skip these unless you have time
The Garden of Eden Arboretum is pretty but pricey. Ho'okipa Lookout is better on the way back. Most of the marked viewpoints between miles 30 and 35 are interchangeable — pick one or two.
Practical tips
Fill the tank in Paia. Bring cash for roadside fruit stands. Download offline maps — service drops out for long stretches. And drive slowly: the road is everything, the destination is just where you turn around.
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