Originally Posted by
747FC
Now as to the exact time the journey takes, you should plan for more time because you will want to go slow enough to enjoy the sights, and carefully meander through the winding road.
The only "meandering" the road does any more is between miles 6 and 11, going through Kaumana in the upper reaches of Hilo and 3 miles beyond the edge of town. From mile 11 all the way to the "up road" (190) on Kona side, it is a re-aligned, modern, fast highway -
unless you deliberately turn off onto the "old" Saddle Road west of the army base.
Originally Posted by
747FC
Leaving Saddle Road to go up Mauna Kea is likely still prohibited in the car rental contracts.
Originally Posted by
bocastephen
Originally Posted by
747FC
Leaving Saddle Road to go up Mauna Kea is likely still prohibited in the car rental contracts.
There are no rental companies with restrictions on Saddle Rd anymore - that went away years ago even before the realignment project. Rental car companies do have standard restrictions on the use of any unpaved roads, which would negate driving up to the Mauna Kea summit, but essentially the summit parking lot is filled with nothing but rental cars.
Yeah, this. And even with the restriction on the use of unpaved/super-steep roads (don't go to Green Sands Beach, Maunakea Summit, or Waipio Valley), most if not all rental companies will tell you that it's fine to go up to the Visitor Station on Maunakea, where they have the public stargazing programs in the evenings.