Getting Around the Big Island

Getting Around the Big Island

The Big Island is 4,028 square miles. That makes it nearly twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined. The distances here are real — you can drive for hours and still have more coastline ahead of you. Planning how you'll get around isn't optional. It's the single biggest factor in whether your trip feels relaxed or rushed.

Rent a Car — No Exceptions

There is no practical public transit system for visitors on the Big Island. Hele-On Bus exists, but routes are infrequent and weren't designed for tourists trying to hit Volcanoes National Park, the Kohala Coast, and Waipiʻo Valley in the same week.

A rental car is not a nice-to-have here. It's essential. Book early, especially during peak season (December through March and June through August), when inventory gets thin and prices spike.

We recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental for the best rates from major agencies. They aggregate deals across Alamo, Budget, Avis, National, and others — often beating what you'll find booking direct.

One tip: if you plan to drive to the Mauna Kea summit, you'll need a 4WD vehicle. Most standard rental agreements prohibit driving on the summit access road. A few agencies offer 4WD SUVs that allow it — ask specifically when booking.

Two Airports, Two Sides of the Island

The Big Island has two commercial airports, and which one you fly into shapes your entire trip.

Kona International Airport (KOA) sits on the dry, sunny west coast. This is where most resort visitors land. The Kohala Coast luxury resorts (Mauna Lani, Waikoloa, Four Seasons Hualalai) are just 20–30 minutes north. Downtown Kailua-Kona is about 10 minutes south.

Hilo International Airport (ITO) is on the wet, lush east side. If Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is your priority, Hilo puts you 45 minutes away instead of 2.5 hours from Kona. Hilo itself is a great base — less polished than Kona, more local character, and significantly cheaper hotels.

Some visitors fly into one airport and out the other to avoid backtracking. It's a smart move if your airline allows it without a huge fare difference.

Key Driving Distances

Distances on the Big Island catch people off guard. Here's what to expect:

• Kona to Hilo via Saddle Road (Hwy 200): ~87 miles, about 2.5 hours
• Kona to Hilo via southern route (Hwy 11): ~125 miles, about 3 hours
• Kona to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: ~96 miles, about 2.5 hours
• Kona to Waipiʻo Valley Lookout: ~55 miles, about 1.5 hours
• Kona Airport to Kohala Coast resorts: ~20–30 minutes
• Hilo to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: ~30 miles, about 45 minutes

Build more time into your schedule than Google Maps suggests. You'll want to stop — the scenery between points is half the experience.

Saddle Road (Daniel K. Inouye Highway)

Saddle Road is the cross-island highway connecting Kona and Hilo through the interior. If you've read older guidebooks warning you away from it, ignore them. The road was completely rebuilt and modernized. It's now a smooth, well-paved, divided highway for most of its length.

The route climbs to nearly 6,800 feet as it passes between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. On clear days, the views of both massive volcanoes are staggering. The turnoff for the Mauna Kea Access Road (to the Visitor Information Station and summit) is along this highway at around the 28-mile marker from Hilo.

Expect cooler temperatures at elevation — it can drop into the 40s and 50s°F up top, even when it's 85°F on the coast. Fog and rain are common in the afternoon. Keep your headlights on.

Driving Tips for the Big Island

Traffic here is nothing like Oahu. There's no real congestion outside of small stretches in Kailua-Kona during rush hour. The challenge isn't other cars — it's distance and road conditions in certain areas.

Fill up your gas tank before heading anywhere remote. Gas stations are sparse between Kona and Hilo along the southern route, and nonexistent on Saddle Road itself. The stretch from Waimea to Hilo on Hwy 19 also has long gaps.

South Point Road drops steeply from the highway to Ka Lae (South Point), the southernmost point in the United States. The road is narrow, winding, and has no guardrails in spots. It's paved but demands attention.

Waipiʻo Valley Access Road descends 900 feet in less than a mile at a 25% grade. It's one of the steepest roads in Hawaii. Only 4WD vehicles are allowed down, and even then, it's white-knuckle. Most visitors park at the lookout up top and enjoy the view from there.

Chain of Craters Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is spectacular but dead-ends where old lava flows buried the pavement. Plan it as an out-and-back drive, not a through route.

Watch for one-lane bridges on the Hāmākua Coast (Hwy 19 north of Hilo). Yield to oncoming traffic already on the bridge.

Rideshare and Taxis

Uber and Lyft technically operate on the Big Island, but coverage is unreliable outside of Kailua-Kona and downtown Hilo. Wait times of 20–30+ minutes are common, and in rural areas you might not get a driver at all.

Taxis exist at both airports but are expensive for anything beyond a short hop. A ride from Kona Airport to the Kohala Coast resorts can run $60–80+.

Bottom line: don't plan your trip around rideshare availability. Rent a car.

Guided Tours

For certain experiences, a guided tour is the better call — even if you have a rental car.

Mauna Kea summit stargazing is the prime example. The summit sits at 13,796 feet. The access road above the Visitor Information Station requires 4WD, the altitude can cause serious symptoms if you're not acclimated, and conditions change fast. Professional tour operators handle the logistics, provide parkas and hot chocolate, and set up telescopes for some of the best stargazing on Earth.

Helicopter tours offer a perspective you can't get from the ground — flying over active volcanic areas, hidden waterfalls in the Kohala valleys, and the remote Hāmākua coastline.

Snorkel and dive tours along the Kona Coast access reef systems and manta ray sites that shore entry can't reach. The famous manta ray night dive off Keauhou is exclusively run by boat operators.