Originally Posted by
bocastephen
I was there 7/21 - the odd thing was the website did not show any bookable 4x4 of any kind for 3 weeks before our pickup, so we ended up reserving at Waikoloa, but the KOA location was able to rebuild our reservation and save us the Uber ride to Waikoloa, so we drove away in a 4 door Wrangler.
If anyone is thinking of driving to the summit of Mauna Kea, make absolutely sure you have a true 4x4 and know how to shift into 4LO because the rangers WILL check both before releasing you for the drive up.
This was not my experience at all. Moreover, I don't recall needing to engage 4Lo on the drive up. If you have a wrangler (as I did), 4Hi will be more than enough, those things are true beasts.
What I will advise people is to ensure you fill the tank up before heading over. I had about half a tank and didn't think anything of it. You use a lot more fuel than you think on that drive, and I was genuinely concerned I wouldn't make it back. There are no gas stations nearby to the mountain.