Hawaii - Best way to get to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from Waikoloa?

Currently planning a vacation to the Big Island in July. Will be staying in Waikoloa for the first time, at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, and planning to visit Hawaii Volcanoes for a day.

My question is, what's the best/easiest/fastest way to get to Hawaii Volcanoes from Waikoloa? The way I see it, I have a choice of 3 routes - go around the north end of the island thru Hilo, take Saddle Road thru Hilo, or drive south thru Kona-Kailua. Obviously the southern route is the longest but I have driven this route before without any problems from Kona.

I will be traveling with 2 young kids as well, age 6 and 5, if that is any consideration.

The north route would probably be fastest; still some construction delays on Saddle, I believe.

Under no circumstances should you drive Saddle Road at night.

If you have the time, I'd consider taking the southern route outbound with maybe a stop at the Punalu`u Black Sand Beach to see the turtles (and the Ka`u Desert is awesome in its own way), and the northern route for your return. If you've driven on the Big Island before you know a couple of things: a) at night it is DARK. If there is any decent rain happening -- a good chance on some portion of the trip between Honoka`a and Hilo -- slow down and be alert in the "cuts" to any debris on the road; and b) the mainland "conservative" rule-of-thumb of 50 miles every hour readily goes out the window on any drive on the Belt Highway; sometimes 30 miles in an hour if in the rain and/or behind slow trucks, etc., is the best one will do.

The northern route will be faster and is the best road. You can go the southern route for variety of scenery or to stop at black sand beach but then I would do it in the morning.

It takes almost exact same time to Kona so I am guessing northern route to Hilton will be 45 minutes or so less.

We went north through Hilo, stopping just once, and it took us a little over 2 hours. The only caveat is that there weren't many restaurants until you got to Hilo, so don't get in the car hungry.

Just so you know, every car rental I have had there made me sign a paper saying that I will not not take the car over Saddle road. In the unlikely event that anything ever happened, they basically say that they are not responsible.

Also, if you've never been there, Volcano parks is HUGE, and if you want to take the Chain of Craters road all the way to ocean, be aware that it is a LONG drive just from the park entrance to the end of the road (20+ miles). After driving almost three hours to get there, we were not prepared to drive another hour to get down to the cliffs (without stopping for sightseeing). It was worth the drive, but we didn't factor in the almost two hours just for that part of it.

Many people suggest getting a cheap room in Hilo the night before so you can get an early start. I haven;t done that yet, but definitely see the wisdom in that idea.

I've done the north route out and Saddle Road back. Next time...helicopter. :D

I did the northern route....started early in the morning from Kona.
However, I stopped too many times to take pictures.:D

Ended up at the gate of the Volcanoes park early afternoon:eek:.

Then decided i did not have enough time ...so, basically turned around and came back Northern route....taking more pictures.. :D

So, next time, I plan to stay in Hilo area ...this way I will definitely get to see the park.

I do not regret not seeing the park at all. As every drive was so scenic!

On a separate note...I did the southern drive to the black sand beach. And stopped at many places on the way as well. There is just no way to get bored here!^

Thanks for all the advice. I have been to Hawaii Volcanoes several times before, but never driven the northern route through Hilo. Looks like I'll try that this time.

As for doing the park in a day, it's quite doable if you start the trek early.

The north route would probably be fastest; still some construction delays on Saddle, I believe.

To get there the fastest.. yes go through Saddle, and through Hilo.

For a scenic view, stay on the highway through Kona.. and drive past South Point and Black Sand Beach.

Under no circumstances should you drive Saddle Road at night....

I sort of disagree with this - with the new section complete, the Hilo section getting close to completion, the only difficult portion is adjacent to Parker Ranch - if there isn't too much fog and the driver goes slowly and carefully, the crossing should be quite doable for most good drivers now.

Before the new section, I'd agree with you 100%.

Frankly the worse time to drive Saddle Rd is during the morning or early evening when coastal commuters in their huge pickups are sailing through the Parker Ranch section at dangerously high speeds with little interest for the safety of tourists in rental cars.

I sort of disagree with this - with the new section complete, the Hilo section getting close to completion, the only difficult portion is adjacent to Parker Ranch - if there isn't too much fog and the driver goes slowly and carefully, the crossing should be quite doable for most good drivers now.

Before the new section, I'd agree with you 100%.

Frankly the worse time to drive Saddle Rd is during the morning or early evening when coastal commuters in their huge pickups are sailing through the Parker Ranch section at dangerously high speeds with little interest for the safety of tourists in rental cars.

I drove Saddle Road a couple times this Spring Break in Pitch Black.. a couple of other times heading to the observatory visitor center late afternoon, and into Hilo on a morning.. except for the 5 or so miles of gravel road, I thought the widening and newly paved roads were quite safe..

We saved a bunch of time driving Saddle road in pitch black.. took a left and went through Waikoloa Village down to the highway to make a right towards Mauna Lani.

No one was hardly driving on the roads that hour, so its quite a pretty safe commute if you just follow the signs.

Just so you know, every car rental I have had there made me sign a paper saying that I will not not take the car over Saddle road. In the unlikely event that anything ever happened, they basically say that they are not responsible.

That is a thing in the past.

Saddle road is PAVED all the way now with very good, smooth surface. The forbidden portion is NOT the Saddle road itself, but the road off Saddle Road to Mauna Kea Summit. We did a trip in March. Dollar had no issue to allow Saddle road - in fact it said on the contract that Saddle Road is permitted up to the road to the Mauna Kea Summit.

The thing to watch out on Saddle road is there are sections that you feel like you are driving on a roller coaster - that is not the surface but the road itself dips and then rises up and then dips again... with a large degree so you are not able to see far ahead for the oncoming traffic. In other words, you have blind spots AHEAD of you for a long stretch in several sections of the road. Other than that, Saddle Road probably has the best road surface in the whole island!


Also, if you've never been there, Volcano parks is HUGE, and if you want to take the Chain of Craters road all the way to ocean, be aware that it is a LONG drive just from the park entrance to the end of the road (20+ miles). After driving almost three hours to get there, we were not prepared to drive another hour to get down to the cliffs (without stopping for sightseeing). It was worth the drive, but we didn't factor in the almost two hours just for that part of it.

Unless things have changed recently. Due to the change of course of the lava flow, the NP has CLOSED the Chain of Craters Road since early March. When we were there in March, there is very little area one can drive to. It took less than 2 hours to finish the whole thing including a hike in an old lava tube.


Many people suggest getting a cheap room in Hilo the night before so you can get an early start. I haven;t done that yet, but definitely see the wisdom in that idea.

Or for the night as sometimes one can see the lava glow from the Jagger Museum in NP. Though the night we went there was nothing to be seen despite during day time we actually saw the smoke had a pink tint.

http://www.hawaiiweb.com/hawaii/html/sites/jagger_museum_and_hawaiian_volcano_observatory.htm l

We just got back from the BI in January. We though that the dips and curves on Saddle Road were a rush in a convertible Mustang. Fond memories of driving with the top down!!

Fond memories of driving with the top down!!


$60+ pd...pass. :td:

$60+ pd...pass. :td:

You can get a convertible for less than $60.. the minivan is the most expensive vehicle to rent in the Islands and I get it less than $60..

Pass on the pd.. get your regular vehicle insurance to insure your rental vehicles.

I went last November and took Saddle road. Some construction back then but it wasn't any major delays to write about. The drive was scenic. On the way back to Waikola Village I took the drive to Punalu`u Black Sand Beach first then drove thru kailua-kona to get back to Waikola Village.

As others said do not drive thru Saddle Road at night.

The thing to watch out on Saddle road is there are sections that you feel like you are driving on a roller coaster - that is not the surface but the road itself dips and then rises up and then dips again... with a large degree so you are not able to see far ahead for the oncoming traffic. In other words, you have blind spots AHEAD of you for a long stretch in several sections of the road.

Not sure why so many express concerns about saddle road at night - if anything it's a bit easier at night as you can actually see another car approaching with the headlights on and they can easily see you even with multiple turns and hilly terrain. We drove it several years ago before construction started after watching sunset at Mauna Kea and again last year returning pretty late from Hilo.

Not sure why so many express concerns about saddle road at night - if anything it's a bit easier at night as you can actually see another car approaching with the headlights on and they can easily see you even with multiple turns and hilly terrain. We drove it several years ago before construction started after watching sunset at Mauna Kea and again last year returning pretty late from Hilo.

For us, we've been there numerous times.. and I've driven Saddle road probably at least 12 to 15 times.. so I sort of know the terrain and its' actually quite convenient to drive, if you know how to drive it.

For newcomers to the island, or for those not used to Saddle road, it could be pretty challenging..

I would equate the Ranch part of Saddle road to be like the road to Hana except there is constant elevation changes as well as the sharp turns.. but once you get to the field of lava rocks, is basically smooth sailing until you hit the construction.. a the part under construction is pretty wide, so pretty safe..

as mentioned, there is a 6 mile stretch that is gravel, and there's a bunch of construction turns after the visitor centre turnoff and once you've crossed the lava rocks.. to look out for.

I stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa with my 4 & 6 year old back in February.

We drove to Volcanoes using the southern route and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also drove the saddle road round trip twice to visit the opposite coast one day and Hilo another. Both times we drove back to Waikoloa at night on the saddle road.

First of all we rented with National and there was no mention about being forbidden to drive the road, so I asked. The gal at National said it was fine.

I would also agree with one of the previous posters that now that the road is widened and paved its one of the nicest drives on the Big Island.

FYI, as a National Executive member I got to pick a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, and we drive all the way to the summit, as well as some off road driving ^

I stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa with my 4 & 6 year old back in February.

We drove to Volcanoes using the southern route and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also drove the saddle road round trip twice to visit the opposite coast one day and Hilo another. Both times we drove back to Waikoloa at night on the saddle road.

First of all we rented with National and there was no mention about being forbidden to drive the road, so I asked. The gal at National said it was fine.

I would also agree with one of the previous posters that now that the road is widened and paved its one of the nicest drives on the Big Island.

FYI, as a National Executive member I got to pick a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, and we drive all the way to the summit, as well as some off road driving ^


I agree saddle road is one of the nicest and convenient on the island..

Having said that.. there is still construction on 6 miles of the road when we were there.. the gravel was nicely laid out and easy to drive on.. but gravel is not pavement so please.. for those proceeding on Saddle road.. proceed with caution.

What's forbidden is probably the road to the summit of Mauna Kea..

FYI, as a National Executive member I got to pick a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4x4, and we drive all the way to the summit, as well as some off road driving ^

National does not permit their cars to be driven on unpaved roads, which means the road to the summit. Dirving off paved roads voids your contract, and you are liable for any damages to the vehicle.

National does not permit their cars to be driven on unpaved roads, which means the road to the summit. Dirving off paved roads voids your contract, and you are liable for any damages to the vehicle.

The unpaved section of Saddle would probably meet rental requirements.. but do double check..

I double checked with my rental company to make sure what was blatantly off limits.. don't want to be stuck with an exhorbitant tow bill.. even though I'm a member of CAA/AAA

We drove to Volcanoes using the southern route and thoroughly enjoyed it. We also drove the saddle road round trip twice to visit the opposite coast one day and Hilo another. Both times we drove back to Waikoloa at night on the saddle road.
^
I'm looking to do a similar drive on my vacation this month. I'm staying at the Mauna Lani Bay with my girlfriend for 5 nights. We're mostly looking to relax, so will be staying near the hotel, but we do want to dedicate 1 day to checking out Volcanoes National Park.

Would you say that driving the southern coast from Waikoloa to the park in the morning/early afternoon, checking out the park from afternoon to the evening, then driving back on Saddle Road works out for a reasonably efficient sightseeing experience? I'm thinking we can eat an early lunch around Kona, stop at the black sand beach, then head to the park. Look around the park for a few hours, maybe eat dinner in Hilo, then drive back on Saddle Road. Could anyone advise on a rough schedule for a day trip like that?

Would you say that driving the southern coast from Waikoloa to the park in the morning/early afternoon, checking out the park from afternoon to the evening, then driving back on Saddle Road works out for a reasonably efficient sightseeing experience? I'm thinking we can eat an early lunch around Kona, stop at the black sand beach, then head to the park. Look around the park for a few hours, maybe eat dinner in Hilo, then drive back on Saddle Road. Could anyone advise on a rough schedule for a day trip like that?

Well ...what you propose is a recipe for disaster. Leave with the light...come back with the light ALWAYS. Sun rises during July at approx 05:58 a.m and sets at approx 7:04 p.m.
I would NEVER drive "Saddle at night"..never. The Big Island tops the list in the State.... for those with some of the worst driving records.

You may not realize the times needed to travel the distances on the Big Island. It is just one lane each way. You can easily get behind someone pokey..or a big truck...and there you are stuck.
We always start our journey from Waikoloa Beach Resort....take the North route up and the North Route back for that matter. If you insist on returning via the South...make sure you are on the other side of Captain Cook by nightfall. It is a fairly straight forward drive up the Queen K to Waikoloa area at night. Not the Saddle at all at night....Fog, visibility, other drivers with poor driving records etc... never..

The various microclimates that you pass through can also affect the drive in many ways. I recall one of the first times we drove over to Hilo for the day of exploring (No VNP). WE left WBR at around 0700 hrs...toured the areas along the way making a few brief stops....Lunch in Hilo (Cafe Pesto).....and Farmer's Market , Big island Candies etc... The torrential rains started around noon in Hilo (It had been clear blue skies in WBR on departure in the a.m) We left Hilo around 4 p.m heading back the North route...so we still had a fair bit of light...but the visibility was atrocious ..with the torrential rains......water rushing off the rock cliffs over the road....rock slides galore...all this thru the gulches...where you would prefer a sunny day thru all of those switchbacks. What a nightmare.(And we were in a Big SUV)

Thank goodness..we were on the other side of Waimea when the sun set...and I don't want to think what would have been if we were passing through the gulches past sunset.
If you want to experience a Dinner on the East Coast...Stay the night.

Thanks for the feedback, Executrip. Based on the previous discussion on this thread it seemed like Saddle has been re-paved and is a safe drive at night - was your experience recent?

We did want to stay at Volcano National Park for the sunset then do a night drive back.. doubtful we will stay the night as we're already booked for our stay on the west side, and intend to make use of the room. Based on the previous comments from Ancien Maestro, MKEbound, and azepine00, it seemed like a long but reasonable day trip. I'm prepared to drive carefully on the way back for the 3 hours.

I'm looking to do a similar drive on my vacation this month. I'm staying at the Mauna Lani Bay with my girlfriend for 5 nights. We're mostly looking to relax, so will be staying near the hotel, but we do want to dedicate 1 day to checking out Volcanoes National Park.

Would you say that driving the southern coast from Waikoloa to the park in the morning/early afternoon, checking out the park from afternoon to the evening, then driving back on Saddle Road works out for a reasonably efficient sightseeing experience? I'm thinking we can eat an early lunch around Kona, stop at the black sand beach, then head to the park. Look around the park for a few hours, maybe eat dinner in Hilo, then drive back on Saddle Road. Could anyone advise on a rough schedule for a day trip like that?

I'm going to offer different advise. There is nothing wrong with driving Saddle Rd at night - if you do your homework and know what to expect. Much of the middle portion of the road is a 4 lane freeway with a 65mph speed limit and the Hilo-end is being finished up as we speak. I've driven it frequently during the day, at sunset, at sunrise and at night. No problem - for those who are prepared.

The Parker Ranch side, closest to Waikoloa, will sometimes get fogged in - and sometimes that fog can be blinding. If you're in a foggy patch, just slow down until you reach a speed that you can comfortably pick your way along the road, keep your headlamps on lowbeam, turn on your 4-way flashers (if visibility is way down) and don't worry about the cars behind you until you can safely pull over and let them pass.

The Parker Ranch side also has a number of dips where it might be hard to see oncoming traffic in the dip, so slow down and pay attention to who has the right of way on the few one-lane bridges.

Here is what I would suggest - and make sure you get LOTS of rest the day and night before you do this trip. Leave the hotel first thing in the morning, head south along 19 then 11, way down to the Black Sand Beach, have your stop, then go to the Volcano, have your stop, then continue to Hilo. Stop there for dinner, then follow the local roads onto Saddle Rd to the Mauna Kea Access Rd and head up to the Visitors Center after sunset (bring along warm clothes) for star gazing - after finishing, follow Saddle Rd back to 19 and return to your hotel.

Split the driving up so no one gets too tired and have some coffee at the VC before driving back to the hotel as it's easy to get drowsy on that stretch in the dark.

We are frequent long term visitors to the Big Island and have put on a good number of miles travelling about....including many trips over to the East Coast there. We travel to the Big Island roughly 2-3 times a years..for a period of 8 weeks annually.
The Saddle road has seen significant improvement over the past few years....undeniable....
Would I drive it at night..when there are other options available....Nope.

Re-read some of the posts on this thread with specific focus on "Saddle at night" There are some folks that find the drive no big deal. Depending on your travel style...and we all have varying ones.. there is mention of "blinding fog"..."Get lots of rest"...nerve wracking stretches.
There are folks that travel it frequently and at night...their comments may not apply to your situation as a first time driver of the Rd and visitor to the Island.
And you are suggesting you want to attempt this after your long exhausting Travel day to the east? This is me...shaking my head.
Folks admittedly tell you that there is the potential for "falling asleep" We already know the high statistics of poor driving records for many of the folks on Island.
It is curious to me why one would choose to accept such risk? Much of the advice is given with a "qualifier" Be prepared for the drive they say...What does that mean? It is a harrowing driving experience that is frequently engulfed in blinding fog....

Poster No#3 cblaisd is a Mod here on FT and offers up some sage advice. You will find the many posts shared here by cblaisd to be a wealth of information and a most valuable resource.
If you choose to drive it during the day (clear day)..Have at it..

But never would I recommend a return trip on Saddle at night after a loooong day. Too much risk for me.

Well ...what you propose is a recipe for disaster. Leave with the light...come back with the light ALWAYS.

Amen.

You will probably be fine with your proposed itinerary (although it leaves no time for the serendipity that ought to be a part of any travel on the Big Island). Most tourists who drive Saddle at night survive it. But locals can tell you of more than a few horrific accidents. And it takes a a long time for emergency personnel to respond.

But you'll probably be fine. Your choice whether to chance it. I've driven Saddle once at night and will never do it again. But you'll probably be fine.

We are frequent long term visitors to the Big Island and have put on a good number of miles travelling about....including many trips over to the East Coast there. We travel to the Big Island roughly 2-3 times a years..for a period of 8 weeks annually.
The Saddle road has seen significant improvement over the past few years....undeniable....
Would I drive it at night..when there are other options available....Nope.

Re-read some of the posts on this thread with specific focus on "Saddle at night" There are some folks that find the drive no big deal. Depending on your travel style...and we all have varying ones.. there is mention of "blinding fog"..."Get lots of rest"...nerve wracking stretches.
There are folks that travel it frequently and at night...their comments may not apply to your situation as a first time driver of the Rd and visitor to the Island.
And you are suggesting you want to attempt this after your long exhausting Travel day to the east? This is me...shaking my head.
Folks admittedly tell you that there is the potential for "falling asleep" We already know the high statistics of poor driving records for many of the folks on Island.
It is curious to me why one would choose to accept such risk? Much of the advice is given with a "qualifier" Be prepared for the drive they say...What does that mean? It is a harrowing driving experience that is frequently engulfed in blinding fog....

Poster No#3 cblaisd is a Mod here on FT and offers up some sage advice. You will find the many posts shared here by cblaisd to be a wealth of information and a most valuable resource.
If you choose to drive it during the day (clear day)..Have at it..

But never would I recommend a return trip on Saddle at night after a loooong day. Too much risk for me.

I don't have a problem driving Saddle road at night.. I've probably driven Saddle Road 3 times at night this past spring break..

Its not that bad.. but there is a stretch where its quite windy (sharp turns and ups and downs)..

Ensure that you're alert and not falling asleep at the wheel.. and take your time where its windy (sharp turns and ups and downs)..

Thanks all for the advice - it is truly appreciated. I think we'll make a decision once we're there and have a lay of the land (and our rental car). I suppose we can also see how the day goes and leave earlier/later as needed.

As an alternative, how is the drive along the northern coast on 19 at night? I've heard it's a beautiful coastline, but is it boring in the dark? And is it notably safer than Saddle? I'm pretty sure we want to spend our morning drive on the southern coast to see the black sand.. but would it be better to do northern in the morning and southern coast at night?

In that case I guess we could save the Mauna Kea stargazing for another night, and just make it a direct solo trip there from Waikoloa. At least we can avoid driving the eastern part of Saddle at night that way. As an SF native, I'm used to driving in completely fogged out conditions near the Golden Gate Bridge while commuting to work in Marin for years. I used to called it "Mordor" during carpool...

This will be our 1 day out of 5 with a hectic schedule - we hope to get lots of serendipity during our 4 days of relaxing :)

I say this with the warmest Aloha...
...All the very best to you and your adventure.
Re- read the thread responses...you will see. that your questions have been answered...
I maintain that..as a first time visitor....Best Practice would be to Leave by the light and return by the light.
If you MUST return by night...very very DARK Pitch Black....nothing to see...Choose the same route back to be on a somewhat familiar path.
Saddle road is NEVER an option for us at night.

Thanks all for the advice - it is truly appreciated. I think we'll make a decision once we're there and have a lay of the land (and our rental car). I suppose we can also see how the day goes and leave earlier/later as needed.

As an alternative, how is the drive along the northern coast on 19 at night? I've heard it's a beautiful coastline, but is it boring in the dark? And is it notably safer than Saddle? I'm pretty sure we want to spend our morning drive on the southern coast to see the black sand.. but would it be better to do northern in the morning and southern coast at night?

In that case I guess we could save the Mauna Kea stargazing for another night, and just make it a direct solo trip there from Waikoloa. At least we can avoid driving the eastern part of Saddle at night that way. As an SF native, I'm used to driving in completely fogged out conditions near the Golden Gate Bridge while commuting to work in Marin for years. I used to called it "Mordor" during carpool...

This will be our 1 day out of 5 with a hectic schedule - we hope to get lots of serendipity during our 4 days of relaxing :)

I say this with the warmest Aloha...
...All the very best to you and your adventure.
Re- read the thread responses...you will see. that your questions have been answered...
I maintain that..as a first time visitor....Best Practice would be to Leave by the light and return by the light.
If you MUST return by night...very very DARK Pitch Black....nothing to see...Choose the same route back to be on a somewhat familiar path.
Saddle road is NEVER an option for us at night.

Well if CheDigital wants to stargaze on Mauna Kea.. he will have to leave during the night..

One tip I can give is sufficient headlights.. so flip on the long range when you can..

Travelling on 19 is just as dangerous at night if its raining.. so going through Hilo and doing 19 isn't necessarily safer.. and there are 3 instances 19 goes sharp turns into the river valleys.. and construction to improve the 19 seems never ending..

Take your time.. and if it feels you can't react quickly.. nothing wrong with slowing down.. traffic on saddle road is pretty light at night..

...At least we can avoid driving the eastern part of Saddle at night that way.

It's the western part you want to avoid. Still a goodly stretch of awful road, the site of some horrific accidents.

I say this with the warmest Aloha...
...All the very best to you and your adventure.
Re- read the thread responses...you will see. that your questions have been answered...
I maintain that..as a first time visitor....Best Practice would be to Leave by the light and return by the light.
If you MUST return by night...very very DARK Pitch Black....nothing to see...Choose the same route back to be on a somewhat familiar path.
Saddle road is NEVER an option for us at night.

Once again, you give very akamai advice. ^

And, I'll repeat: another issue is response time for emergency personnel. Driving the Belt Highway on the Hamakua Coast (aka northern route) there are police and EMT stations in Hilo, Laupahoehoe, Honoka`a, Waimea, and just south of Kawaihae.

another issue is response time for emergency personnel. .

So true...so so true... sadly..

I went up the Hilo side a couple times last week, and the construction zone for the current phase of the realignment is miles 11-19, Hilo side, but I'd say you're only on gravel for the bottom 2-3 miles of that - the upper 5-6 miles have at least one or two layers of new pavement down. And even the gravel is pretty much realigned now.

Below that - miles 6-11 - you still have the old road, which is narrow and winding in places, especially the four turns in the inhabited areas between mile markers 6 and 8 (coming downhill there's a 20mph curve just below 8, then a 25mph a short distance below it, then between 7 and 6, two 30mph ones).

I've driven in the dark from Hilo to the visitor station or vice versa, probably... well, "hundreds of times" would be a conservative estimate. So I'm more used to that side, but even before they fixed it all, I'd have taken it any day over the west end with its one-lane bridges and blind curves.

I've driven Waikoloa to VNP on two trips. Take the northern route, leave early and stop at the various sights. Akaka Falls, Umauma Triple Falls and the World Botanical Garden, Pololu lookout (though I'd advise making a day trip of this, including the hike down to the beach), Waimea overlook. Stop in Hilo for lunch.

On the trip back, time a stop at the observatory visitors center about an hour after sunset. After all the "Don't Drive the Saddle Road!!!" warnings, I kept looking for all the dangerous spots. All the way into Waikoloa. I never did find them. Unless your afraid of driving back country roads at night (i.e. you're a city dweller), there's really not much to fear, IMHO.

I went up the Hilo side a couple times last week, and the construction zone for the current phase of the realignment is miles 11-19, Hilo side, but I'd say you're only on gravel for the bottom 2-3 miles of that - the upper 5-6 miles have at least one or two layers of new pavement down. And even the gravel is pretty much realigned now.

Below that - miles 6-11 - you still have the old road, which is narrow and winding in places, especially the four turns in the inhabited areas between mile markers 6 and 8 (coming downhill there's a 20mph curve just below 8, then a 25mph a short distance below it, then between 7 and 6, two 30mph ones).

I've driven in the dark from Hilo to the visitor station or vice versa, probably... well, "hundreds of times" would be a conservative estimate. So I'm more used to that side, but even before they fixed it all, I'd have taken it any day over the west end with its one-lane bridges and blind curves.

Thanks for the update!

Glad to see that the constructing is moving along quickly.. Looks like completion of the Saddle Road is on the horizon..

...Unless your afraid of driving back country roads at night (i.e. you're a city dweller), there's really not much to fear, IMHO.

The testimony of locals who have experienced the horrific accidents and unavoidably slow response times by emergency personnel to western Saddle Road accidents notwithstanding, sure, go for it.

You'll probably be fine.

Probably.

If not, hopefully you bought the air evac insurance as well, since any serious trauma will likely entail a medevac flight to Queen's Hospital. Or, in the event of the worst, hopefully there are plenty of frequent flier miles to help get your next-of-kin to Hawai`i.

...over the west end with its one-lane bridges and blind curves.

Which are even more fun at night, particularly if it's cloudy or moonless.

Thanks for the update!

Glad to see that the constructing is moving along quickly.. Looks like completion of the Saddle Road is on the horizon..

Well, that horizon is a bit farther off than many of us first thought. The Army and the Parker Ranch did a land deal a couple of years ago that has caused the realignment of that last western stretch to have to be relocated and re-engineered. It will be quite a while before the remaining one-lane bridges and sharp curves in that sector are a thing of the past, but the overall picture is already so much improved that most of us who live here already see Saddle road as "new and improved."

I never was afraid to go up there at night for the stargazing and sheer isolation of the place, but I have done it dozens of times, so that makes a difference. Newbies should exercise caution, but a day trip while road is still somewhat wild would be fun.

Well, that horizon is a bit farther off than many of us first thought. The Army and the Parker Ranch did a land deal a couple of years ago that has caused the realignment of that last western stretch to have to be relocated and re-engineered. It will be quite a while before the remaining one-lane bridges and sharp curves in that sector are a thing of the past, but the overall picture is already so much improved that most of us who live here already see Saddle road as "new and improved."

I never was afraid to go up there at night for the stargazing and sheer isolation of the place, but I have done it dozens of times, so that makes a difference. Newbies should exercise caution, but a day trip while road is still somewhat wild would be fun.

I think navigating the last gravel part especially in the rain is more dangerous than any paved part of Saddle Road.. At night coupled in the rain.. makes it doubly dangerous..

remember Hilo is amonst the wettest areas in the US..

At night coupled in the rain.. makes it doubly dangerous..

remember Hilo is amonst the wettest areas in the US..

I live ten miles from Hilo, so I know that, LOL. We're just so used to it that we don't even notice the rain . . . we adjust without even thinking.

I live ten miles from Hilo, so I know that, LOL. We're just so used to it that we don't even notice the rain . . . we adjust without even thinking.

Sorry.. I posted that for other readers who are reading who may not know that..

I'm glad they are getting Saddle Road done for the locals finally.. I frequent the Fairmont Orchid, and many of the employees live in Hilo..

The employees described some accidents on that road over the years.. and there was one employee that told us about her accident.. but she still drives it..

It will be alot safer and quicker to travel when the paving is done.. a first class highway..

The testimony of locals who have experienced the horrific accidents and unavoidably slow response times by emergency personnel to western Saddle Road accidents notwithstanding, sure, go for it.

You'll probably be fine.

Probably.

..

Given the number of roadside memorials with pictures flowers etc around various Big Island roads (indicating i assume fatal accidents) my impression is that the saddle road is actually one of the safest. I drove there twice again past weekend and for the life of me i can't see how it is any more dangerous than Hawaii Belt road. That being said, a first time visitor should exercise common sense and control downhill speed around winding hilly sections.

Given the number of roadside memorials with pictures flowers etc around various Big Island roads (indicating i assume fatal accidents) my impression is that the saddle road is actually one of the safest. I drove there twice again past weekend and for the life of me i can't see how it is any more dangerous than Hawaii Belt road. That being said, a first time visitor should exercise common sense and control downhill speed around winding hilly sections.

Interesting concept..

I've seen many memorials throughout the island.. but come to mention it.. I didn't really see that many on Saddle Road..

Perhaps the weary tourist don't drive Saddle road.. or awareness is heightened resulting in increased safety..

But like any other road, fatalities can happen with carelessness.. even on the clear straightaways..

I haven't visited the Hawaii forum in sometime, so it was interesting to see how some people on this thread are convinced anyone who dares drive the Saddle Road is laughing in the face of certain death.

All I can say from my experience of visiting the Big Island earlier this year, I had no issues or concerns of driving the Saddle Road, with my 4 & 6 year old kids, in pitch black darkness - twice.

Perhaps it's because I grew up in rural Wisconsin where there are plenty of hilly roads with no street lights and plenty of gravel roads too, but I didn't find the driving conditions on the Saddle Road to be anything special.

And, for the person who said there is nothing to see on the Saddle Road after dark, you're wrong. On a clear night the darkness is some of the best I've ever experienced. I pulled over and was treated to some of the best star gazing of my life.

The star gazing is incredible, you are right.

And I guess the folks who visit once in awhile are more to be heeded than the folks who live there and have had friends and acquaintances killed or maimed on the western end of Saddle at night.

This topic reminds me of another travel subject, "Don't come to Kuai! It's awful! You'll hate it!" :)

I haven't visited the Hawaii forum in sometime, so it was interesting to see how some people on this thread are convinced anyone who dares drive the Saddle Road is laughing in the face of certain death.

All I can say from my experience of visiting the Big Island earlier this year, I had no issues or concerns of driving the Saddle Road, with my 4 & 6 year old kids, in pitch black darkness - twice.

Perhaps it's because I grew up in rural Wisconsin where there are plenty of hilly roads with no street lights and plenty of gravel roads too, but I didn't find the driving conditions on the Saddle Road to be anything special.

And, for the person who said there is nothing to see on the Saddle Road after dark, you're wrong. On a clear night the darkness is some of the best I've ever experienced. I pulled over and was treated to some of the best star gazing of my life.

Agreed..

I think the other two highways out of Hilo is just as dangerous.. but that's just me..

At least the rain subsides on Saddle Road towards the Mauna Loa observatory turn off in most cases..

I have a one year old and a five year old.. no problems driving at night and the road was pretty much unused..

The star gazing is incredible, you are right.

And I guess the folks who visit once in awhile are more to be heeded than the folks who live there and have had friends and acquaintances killed or maimed on the western end of Saddle at night.

Saddle Road requires some planning and respect, but it's not that much different than many roads throughout the country that are dangerous or have unique quirks drivers need to be wary of.

The roads here in South Florida have the worst and most violent drivers in country - but plenty of tourists are still driving around every day even though the daily death and injury toll on I-95 in just one county exceeds what Saddle Rd experiences in a year.

People need to be careful, research their route and drive carefully no matter where they live or visit.

Let's grant for the sake of argument that all of you who see no problem with the road and believe it's just like any other rural road are right, I would still much rather be within 10-15 minutes of EMT and firefighters (which is the case pretty much anywhere between Volcano and Waikoloa via the Belt Highway) than what could be 30 minutes from Waimea. As I said upstream, the statistics suggest you'll probably be fine. Most folks, locals or tourists, don't have accidents after all. But some will. And I know folks whose injuries might not have been nearly so serious if they'd had EMT assistance in 10-15 minutes instead of 30 minutes. You also might get lucky and find the folks from Pohakuloa Army Base would get to you, but it's far from a sure thing.

I'm back in one piece from our trip to the Big Island, and thought I should give a detailed report back. We had a great trip, and didn't come close to seeing everything there. I'll have to return some day. We ended up having two days with a bit of night driving involved.

The first was a day trip to the volcano. We ended up doing a full clockwise loop of the island, departing the Mauna Lani in Waikoloa at about 7am and returning at about 11pm. We had breakfast in Waimea (at Hawaiian Style Cafe - delicious), then made stops at Akaka Falls (20-30 min), the Botanical Garden (about an hour), and Ken's Pancakes in Hilo (30-40 min). Our goal was to make it to the volcano ranger tour scheduled for 1:30pm, and we got there perfectly at about 1:15pm. We did the 1:30pm tour as well as a second 3pm ranger tour through the Thurston Lava Tube, then checked out the steam vents and Jaggar. The overlook at Jaggar was incredible, and there happened to be a massive rainbow directly above the caldera right when we were there. We left the park southbound at around 5:30pm, and made it to Punaluu with plenty of light. Hung around there for a while then started the drive back. The sun set a little bit after we left Punaluu, and we did most of the west coast drive in the dark. Stopped in Kona for a late dinner at Lemongrass, then made it safely back to Waikoloa. All told, a busy but fulfilling day.

We decided to visit Mauna Kea as a separate trip, so the next day we had an early-ish dinner in Waimea, then headed to Saddle Road afterwards. We got through the tougher part before sunset, and by the time it got dark we were on the beautifully paved highway. Made it up to the visitor's center, stayed for a couple of hours, then headed back. We left following one of the star tours, so there was a mini-caravan of folks headed back to Waikoloa in the dark. We made it without any issues. It was definitely good that I went through the western part of Saddle in the light first so I had an idea of what it was like on the way back in the pitch black.

I'll echo some of the other tourists in the thread and say that while the driving isn't easy, it's perfectly doable. I'm thankful for the warnings from Executrip and cblaisd - they certainly made me extra careful, and care is definitely needed. But with that in mind, I don't think travelers should be scared of the roads and/or cancel any plans because of them.

I'm no FT veteran, but I can see that most FTers are intelligent, careful, and adventurous travelers. cblaisd - your point about emergency services is well noted, and it's definitely good information to have in case of a worst-case scenario, but I don't think it's completely fair to tell folks to skip something like Mauna Kea stargazing entirely because of the driving conditions. I agree with bocastephen - one needs to research and be careful just like many other places in the world. I don't think that driving Saddle at night falls into the "under no circumstances" danger zone at all.

I should point out.. in addition.. driving to the summit of Mauna kea is not advisable under any circumstances without a rental agreement allowing to do so, and a 4x4.. But with many officials at the observatories, I imagine there must be a contingency safety plan in case of a breakdown or something..

We should get official word on the emergency services offered on Saddle Road, before making finalized conclusions..

If half of the western U.S. (especially the mountain states) kept their driving to within locales offering 30 minute EMT arrival windows, we'd be stuck at home for the rest of our lives.
Let's get a grip.

No need for the insult :(

You are, of course, correct - but my point is when one has a choice (as in this case) it would be prudent to take the alternative that has better emergency services.

Sorry, no insult meant, I just think that planning travel based on distance from emergency personnel is a real downer. I would offer advice to anyone on unfamiliar roads to be wary, and drive safely. (For example, speeding through bridges without looking or honking on the way to Hana, or coming to a dead stop in the middle of the road at 11,000 feet to watch the elk while being followed by 20 cars!) :p

FF programs are available to identify flight availability.. is there a tool to determine the levels of emergency responses?