Visiting Maui every year has allowed me to craft the perfect Road to Hana itinerary. After all, it’s a bucket list destination for anyone exploring the island.
If you’re unfamiliar, the Road to Hana is a 64.4-mile stretch of highway that connects Kahului to the town of Hana in east Maui. It may not sound like a day trip for such a short distance, but when you factor in the narrow, windy roads and 30 mph speed limit, it can easily take upwards of 5 hours without stopping.
Of course, the view is worth every second. Even if you drive nonstop, you’ll get some of the best coastline views in Hawaii. But if you have time, I suggest pulling off to check out the surrounding hiking trails, restaurants, and local farm stands.
As you can imagine, such an infamous drive means it’s often congested with tourists. To make sense of the crowds, I’ve created the perfect itinerary for the Road to Hana, which includes what to prioritize, what to skip, and tips for staying safe.
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Road to Hana Itinerary
Most people start the drive from north to south, beginning in Paia, so this itinerary follows that order.
Personally, when the road is open I prefer driving the Road to Hana backward and doing the full loop. The backside of the road is a bit rougher, but nothing you can’t handle in a rental car sedan if you drive slow. If you’re game, flip the order of this Road to Hana itinerary and read my tips at the end for making the drive in reverse.
The backside of Road to Hana is currently closed, so you can’t drive the road backwards at the moment. Keep an eye on updates for when it reopens.
Keanae Lookout
mile marker: 17 (get directions) | what is it? viewpoint | entry fee? no | best for: rugged black rock coastline
A lot of people begin their road trip with stops before the Keanae Peninsula. Namely, Twin Falls (a string of waterfalls at mile marker 2 on private property that requires a $10 entry fee), the Eucalyptus Rainbow Trees (natural rainbow-colored bark trees at mile marker 7), and The Garden of Eden Arboretum. However, I don’t find them as impressive as later stops on Hana Road, so I’d skip them to save time.
Instead, I’d start your Road to Hana itinerary with Keanae Lookout about an hour east of Paia. The peninsula is only 0.5 miles long, but the coarse black rock formations and crashing waves are breathtaking and definitely worth snapping a few photos.
Pro tip: On your way from Paia to Keanae Lookout, you’ll pass Kaumahina State Wayside Park. There’s a viewpoint here, but more importantly, flushing toilets.
Aunt Sandy’s Banana Bread
mile marker: 17 (get directions) | what is it? bakery | entry fee? no | best for: banana bread
When I first started visiting Maui, I was surprised to learn how seriously they take their banana bread, especially along the Road to Hana. You’ll find just about every farm stand sells their homemade version, but Aunt Sandy’s takes the cake (no pun intended). And since it’s conveniently located next to Keanae Lookout, it’s a tasty way to start your Road to Hana itinerary.
If you want to get your hands on a warm, moist mini loaf, you’ll want to get there early. They’re open until 3 PM or whenever they run out, which is often the case on weekends. Keep in mind there’s a minimum $10 charge for credit cards, so you might as well tack on a chili dog or kalua pork sandwich.
Wailua Valley State Wayside
mile marker: 18 (get directions) | what is it? viewpoint | entry fee? no | best for: waterfall & valley views
The Wailua Valley is a small lookout, so it’s a quick stop that shouldn’t take you more than 10 minutes. You’ll get expansive views of lush vegetarian with two falls in the distance. The parking lot is tight, but people come and go pretty quickly so I’ve never seen it too congested.
Upper Waikani Falls
mile marker: 19 (get directions) | what is it? viewpoint | entry fee? no | best for: waterfalls
One of my favorite waterfall stops on the drive is Upper Waikani Falls. Granted, it’s small, so it’s another quick stop, but I love how you can get super up close and personal with the falls. It’s also one of the few spots where you can go swimming.
Pro tip: Between here and your next stop, you’ll pass Hanawi Falls and Makapipi Falls, but they aren’t as impressive as Waikani, so I’d either skip them or make really quick stops to snap pics. If you need to use the restroom, stop by Pau’a Ka’a Falls for their flushing toilets.
Coconut Glen’s
mile marker: 27 (get directions) | what is it? farm stand | entry fee? no | best for: vegan ice cream
What better way to treat yourself on a long drive than a pitstop for delicious vegan ice cream? Coconut Glen’s is a quirky spot serving ice cream made with Maui-grown coconuts from a retro-fitted minibus. Get the lilikoi flavor if they have it. It’s a local variety of passionfruit that gives the ice cream a bright flavor and irresistible crunch.
East Maui Chocolate
mile marker: 30 (get directions) | what is it? farms tand | entry fee? no | best for: single-source chocolate
I always make it a point to stop at East Maui Chocolate on our drive. The owner is a bit gruff, but there’s no denying the chocolate is good quality. They make all the chocolate using cacao grown on the island and even sell fresh cacao alongside locally grown fruit. When you visit, make sure to say hi to the pig, Chanel!
Hana Lava Tube
mile marker: 31 (get directions) | what is it? viewpoint | entry fee? $15 pp | best for: exploring a cave
This eerie underground cave is one of my favorite stops along the Road to Hana. Carved out by lava almost 1,000 years ago, it’s totally unique and honestly quite creepy, especially if you’re alone in the caves like we were. The tour is self-guided, so you can take your time along the ¼ mile trail. They provide a flashlight and trust me, you need it. The ceilings are tall in some spots and your phone flashlight won’t cut it.
Pro tip: Head 2 minutes down the road to Hana Farms for some local baked goodies and flushing toilets.
Waiʻānapanapa State Park
mile marker: 32 (get directions) | what is it? hike | entry fee? $5 pp + $10 per vehicle for non locals | best for: black sand beach & light hiking
This is one of the best black sand beaches in Maui. It’s part of Waiʻānapanapa State Park and consists of a small black sand beach adorned with sea caves, lava tubes, and a gentle hiking trail along the coast.
The only downside is that since COVID, they’ve required reservations (which you can make here) to deal with the increasing crowds, but it’s 100% worth it. Just make sure to reserve a little extra time for yourself since you’ll probably want to stay longer than you think!
Get lunch in Hana
You’ll probably have worked up an appetite once you’ve officially made it to the town of Hana. Funny enough, despite being one of the most remote parts of Maui, there’s a budding food scene with a variety of options.
Right before you get into town, veer off the main road to seek out Kilo’s Kitchen, an awesome food truck serving Maui-raised beef burgers and loco moco.
If you’d like to eat in the downtown area, check out Thai Food by Pranee. Their hours are unreliable, so I still haven’t made it after three attempts. But if they’re open when you go, give it a try because people rave about it.
If Pranee’s isn’t open, check out Ae’s Thai Kitchen down the road for excellent green curry. It’s part of a food cart pod that’s always bustling with people.
A short walk from Ae’s pod is another pod with carts like fan-favorite Troy’s Plate Lunch. If you have a large group, do a little food crawl and try a bunch of carts between the two pods! For a picnic lunch, head to Kaihalulu Beach, a.k.a. the “secret beach” in Hana with gorgeous red sand.
If you’re visiting on a Friday, the Hana Farmers Market runs from 3-4:30 PM. It’s small, so it shouldn’t take you long to check out the local vendors and buy some souvenirs.
Koki Beach Park
mile marker: 51 (get directions) | what is it? beach | entry fee? no | best for: red sand beach
This red sands beach is just on the outskirts of Hana, and while I’m partial to the hiking trails of Waiʻānapanapa, it’s worth a quick stop to take in the beautiful rust-colored sand.
Still hungry? Huli Huli chicken is another food option right next to the beach.
Pīpīwai Stream Bamboo Trail
mile marker: 42 (get directions) | what is it? hiking | entry fee? $30 per vehicle | best for: bamboo forest
Pīpīwai Stream Trail is widely considered one of the best hikes on the island. The trail is part of Haleakalā National Park and begins at the Kipahulu Visitor Center. Once there, you can take a quick detour to check out the ‘Ohe’o Gulch (or “Seven Sacred Pools”), then embark on the easy 4-mile roundtrip hike.
You’ll pass a massive Banyan tree and lush bamboo forest before ending at Waimoku Falls, where you can cross a stream to get right beneath the falls. The hike should take you about 2 hours, so pay attention to sunset times when you visit.
Laulima Farm Fruit Stand
mile marker: 42 (get directions) | what is it? farm stand | entry fee? no | best for: fresh fruit & coffee
One thing you’ll notice a lot of along the Road to Hana is farm stands. They seem to be literally everywhere, but Laulima is one of the most elaborate and my personal favorite. Here, you’ll find a variety of fruit, which you can get as a sampler platter so you can try new ones you’ve never heard of before. They even make their own coffee and sell coconut meat.
Pro tip: This farm (like many others) is cash only, so make sure to hit up an ATM before you start the drive. Also, it closes at around 4 pm, so if you won’t make it here in time, visit before your bamboo trail hike.
Manawainui Gulch
mile marker: 42 (get directions) | what is it? viewpoint | entry fee? no | best for: unobstructed coastline views
This stop isn’t accessible from Laulima Farms right now because of an obstructed bridge. Check for updates on when the road opens.
The route between Laulima Farms and here is honestly one of my favorite parts of the entire drive. I prefer it to the dense forests in the north part of the Road to Hana, namely for its unobstructed coastline and wavy grass fields. It’s probably the sketchiest part of the road, but it’s not insurmountable if you drive slow and with caution.
Once you park, the winds can get surprisingly rough, but it’s worth it to watch the waves crash into the surrounding canyons. Don’t be surprised if you see some mountain goats munching in the fields or climbing the canyons.
Pro tip: If the full Road to Hana loop is open, you’ll only have about an hour drive from here back to Paia to conclude your Road to Hana itinerary.
However, when the bridge is closed blocking a visit to Manawainui Gulch, you’ll have a ~2.5 hour drive back the way you came from Laulima Farm Stand to Paia. Keep an eye out on the time if you don’t want the majority of your drive to be in the dark.
Tips for your Road to Hana road trip
Here are some of my top tips to keep in mind before you embark on your Road to Hana itinerary.
Consider driving the Road to Hana backwards
This isn’t possible right now because of an obstructed bridge. Check for updates on when it opens.
Like I mentioned in my 5-day Maui itinerary, there’s a very good reason I prefer taking the drive backwards…it avoids traffic and lets you experience the more interesting part of the drive first before you get tired. However, note that this part of the road is rougher. I’ve done it in a rental car sedan and was fine, but it requires caution.
If you’re game, start with Waiakapuhi Lava Fields as your destination to force Google Maps to tell you the route and drive east on Highway 31, hitting up the stops on this Road to Hana itinerary in reverse order.
Visit on a weekday
This may seem obvious, but a bulk of the Road to Hana crowds are visiting over the weekend. If you can swing it, try visiting in the middle of the week when most tourists are either coming or going. If it’s raining, even better!
Download offline maps
There is no (literally, no) cell service for most of the drive, which is really nice if you’re looking to unplug and enjoy the sights. Unfortunately, this also means GPS tracking is impossible without downloading offline maps ahead of time.
Fuel up
Once you leave your hotel for the road trip, there are no gas stations until you get to Hana, so leave with a full tank.
Leave early and spend the day
The drive alone will take you at least 5 hours since you can’t go above 35 mph the entire drive. If you plan on making pit stops, eating, or spending time in Hana, I suggest leaving super early in the morning or spending the night so you can take your time heading back.
Bring cash
Many farms and smaller shops only accept cash, so stop by an ATM before you head out.
Wear layers
Regardless of what time of the year you visit, you’ll definitely encounter some rough winds and even rougher waters. I usually visit in February, and even then I’m surprised by how chilly it can get standing on the beaches, so bring sufficient layers just in case. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray while you’re at it!
Keep valuables out of sight
The Road to Hana is very popular and populated, which means there’s always the risk of cars getting broken into. I make sure to travel light and leave anything of value at the hotel or in the trunk.
Let people pass versus causing traffic
There’s only one lane each way on the Road to Hana and several narrow bridges allowing only one car at a time. I’ve learned after all these years, it’s usually way less of a headache to let people pass rather than go bumper-to-bumper and cause more traffic. Locals will thank you!
Road to Hana map
Here are the Paia to Hana and the Hana to Laulima Fruit Stand Google Map directions plotting all the stops in this Road to Hana itinerary. Note, I left off Manawainui Gulch because the road to it from Laulima is closed.
Want to plan your own road trip along the Road to Hana? Or perhaps plan the rest of your Maui vacation? Here is the map I’ve curated over the years. It includes my favorite spots, ones recommended to me, and some I’d suggest skipping altogether.
If you still need help planning a custom trip through Hawaii, let me do it for you! I’m a licensed travel planner and can do all the work so you just have to show up.
More resources or planning your Maui trip
Here are my other Maui guides to help you make the most of your time on the island.
