03-31-2026
10 Day Big Island Itinerary
Ten Days on the Big Island of Hawaii
Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
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Explore the Big Island in 10 Days
Big Island of Hawaii 10-Day Itinerary Suggestions
At some point in planning your vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii, it’s probably going to hit you, “Wow, this is a lot harder than I thought it’d be... there’s so much to do.” Welcome to the state where the possibilities for activities and adventures are limitless, to where you’ll likely never find yourself bored unless you refuse to leave your hotel room. This portion of our website is here to help you focus on planning your trip and should allow you to organize what you want to do into simple itineraries. Planning your vacation doesn’t have to be a chore, and hopefully, our recommendations will be of assistance in your preparation.
We’ve designed our Big Island of Hawaii itineraries around a set number of on-island Big Island days: offering one, three, five, seven, and even ten-day itineraries for exploring the island, soaking in the best sights, and ensuring your precious time, and potentially money, on the Big Island of Hawaii are spent wisely. We’ve tried to balance our itineraries between those who seek adventure and those looking to find a good beach and relax. Overall, we want your experience to be exactly what you’ve dreamed of when planning your Big Island trip.
We’ve provided all Big Island directions via Google Maps when possible, as Google Maps works on all platforms and across all devices. You should be able to pop the directions into your phone or tablet and go. To help you visualize each day’s itinerary, we’ve also provided overview maps that help you get your bearings.
Our ten-day Big Island of Hawaii itinerary below includes many of the recommendations in our three-day Big Island itinerary, five-day Big Island itinerary, and seven-day Big Island itineraries, plus some additional sights, attractions, and activities for the extra two days on the island. Ten days is usually more than enough to thoroughly explore and discover most of the Big Island of Hawaii’s top attractions, and we’ve covered all of the highlights in the ten-day Big Island of Hawaii itinerary below.
Overview of Hawaii Island - the “Big Island”
Often called the "Big Island" to help distinguish it from the 1,500-mile-long archipelago with which it shares its name, Hawaii, the Big Island has certainly earned its nickname. Sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the landmass of the Big Island is approximately the same size as the state of Connecticut, about 4,050 sq. miles and still growing daily thanks to Kilauea Volcano on the eastern coast of the island. Composed of five major volcanoes, the island is the youngest in the Hawaiian chain with origins dating back some 800,000 years to the present day.
The Big Island of Hawaii, of course, is the largest landmass in the Hawaiian island chain- which consists of eight major islands and 124 islets. The archipelago is made up of numerous volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean stretching in a 1,500-mile crescent from Kure Island in the northwest to the Big Island of Hawaii in the east, encompassing an area of 6,459 square miles. The eight major islands at the eastern end of the chain are, from west to east, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii.
The vast majority of the Big Island's visitors stay in the western-sided Kailua-Kona area with its fantastic weather, abundant shopping, and vast array of dining options. This region also features a wide variety of accommodations, from high-end resorts and condominiums to quaint B&Bs and inns. The ocean off the Kona coast is clear and great for both snorkeling and diving. To the north of Kona is the Gold Coast of Kohala. While drier and more barren than Kona, the region offers amazing beaches, great weather conditions, and several luxury accommodations to choose from.
On the other (eastern) side of the island, you'll discover Hilo and the Puna region. These are good locations to base from if you're interested in exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This part of the island receives an abundance of rainfall that creates lush and green surroundings.
The Big Island of Hawaii seems determined to break the norm; the stereotype of the average tropical island, that is. Here you'll find the ongoing battle between green forests, black lava fields, the ocean, and the rain almost incomprehensible; the diversity is simply stunning. You may find yourself wondering, "Is this an ancient landscape or a future one?"
Hikers, horseback riders, and land lovers, in general, will find a wide variety of stunning peaks, valleys, forests, and lava fields to explore. Water lovers will find a plethora of water activities awaiting them, especially on the leeward side where the two giant volcanoes create near-pristine water and wave conditions year-round. Snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, SCUBA diving, and much more are superb here. In our daily itineraries, we’ll attempt to guide you to the very best the Big Island of Hawaii has to offer.
Those who prefer to stay on dry land will also enjoy a myriad of land activities. Golfers, beach lovers, and bird watchers can also take pleasure in knowing there are unmatched locations for each of their passions.
Accommodations on the Big Island of Hawaii & Where to Stay Summary
On the Big Island, you’re probably considering splitting your stay between the Kona side and Hilo side of the island, that’s smart - it will make visiting each respective side of the island’s attractions easier, because after all, the big island is, well, BIG. The last thing you want to do most days is to spend hours in the car driving to a destination on the other side of the island. If you haven’t yet decided where to stay on the Big Island of Hawaii, we can help with that too, be sure to check out our Where to Stay on the Big Island of Hawaii article for the best tips and suggestions on where to book your stay. Don’t worry if you’ve already booked your trip on just the Kona or Hilo side, or if your lodging isn’t even in Kone or Hilo, as there are a number of accommodations, b&bs, inns, etc scattered across the island. Regardless of where you’re staying, we’ll still help you plan accordingly.
Be sure to also read our Best time to Visit the Big Island article for an in-depth look at which time of year is best to visit the Big Island for your travel party.
Getting Around the Big Island of Hawaii
On Hawaii island, a rental car is definitely the best option for getting around the island and viewing all the sights we detail in our itineraries. This is especially true because of how spread out some of the various attractions are located geographically speaking. The rental rates in Hawaii are often some of the cheapest anywhere in the world because the competition is usually fierce.
There is no reliable bus service on the island and taxi services are both expensive and illogical for sight-seeing purposes.
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Summary of what to pack on your Big Island of Hawaii trip
Regardless of how much you’ve traveled in the past and where you’ve been, there is one good rule to follow when coming to Hawaii, leave as much as you can at home. Seriously, bring only what you’ll need during your stay and nothing more. For starters, schlepping around three suitcases is NOT what you want to be doing after getting off a long plane ride. Next, consider that long pants, dress clothes, and anything else formal really have no use in Hawai‘i (unless you are staying in a very exclusive resort). Chances are a pair of shorts and an old Aloha shirt are all you’ll need for even some fine dining.
As far as clothing goes, that’s usually a few pairs of shorts, several T-shirts, sandals or flip-flops (slippahs as Hawaii residents call them), and a good visor or hat, anything made of a cotton blend is usually good. A light jacket might also be nice for those visits to higher elevations.
With the motto, “less is more” in mind, here are a few other items to bring. Sunblock (the UV on Hawai‘i is typically 10+ in the spring, summer, and fall), a backpack (for any hikes) and a water bottle, slippers (flip flops, shower shoes, zoris), mask, snorkel, and fins (or rent locally instead), two bathing suits (one to wear while the other dries) and a cover-up, your phone or a camera, lightweight raincoat or poncho (for mountain/rain forest hiking), bug spray with DEET (for any forest hikes), flashlight (if the sun goes down before your hike ends or for night walks on the beach), hiking boots and hiking rods, and most importantly a list of all your troubles to leave behind. For more information on what to pack, seeing our What to Pack When Visiting Hawaii article.
Ten Day Itinerary for the Big Island
10-Day Big Island Wayfinder Guide
We'll officially kick off our itinerary suggestions by quickly covering the days you both arrive and depart. While they are not completely a wash in terms of planning something to actively do or participate in those days, we like to keep them open and use them for relaxing after we arrive and before we depart.
Arrival Day on the Big Island
Let the first day you arrive be a day to adjust to the islands. Grab a bite to eat, pick up supplies and/or groceries, enjoy your first Hawaiian sunset that evening, and get to bed early as it has likely been a long day. If you’re flying in from another island, as we often do, then some light sightseeing probably won’t be a problem once you’re set up with your new rental, etc. But generally, we advise people to take it easy the first day, soak in their local surroundings, and acclimate to Hawaiian time.
Departure Day from the Big Island
Like your arrival day, this day is meant to wind down from your trip and prepare for your jump to another island or for the journey home. We suggest grabbing a bite to eat from one of your favorite local restaurants near your accommodation and maybe some final souvenir shopping at some of the many stores and local shops around the island. Undoubtedly, the local community would appreciate your business. In Hawaii there are no “Goodbye’s” - so we’ll say A Hui Hou, which in Hawaiian means ‘Until we meet again.’ Aloha!
Big Island 10-Day Itinerary — Day by Day
Ten days on the Big Island is the full experience. You get time to explore every region at a real pace — both coasts, the volcanic interior, the Hamakua rainforest, the ranching country of Waimea, and the far south. No rushing, no choosing between beaches and volcanoes. You get both. Split your stay between Kona (Days 1-5) and Hilo/Volcano Village (Days 6-10).
For local food recommendations each evening, check out our best local dining articles and look for the Big Island section.
Day #1 - North Kona & South Kohala
Ease into the trip on the sunny Kona coast. Head north from Kailua-Kona to the Gold Coast beaches. Kua Bay has that crystal-clear turquoise water you came for. Hapuna Beach is a wide crescent that is consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the state.
Stop at King's Shops in Waikoloa for lunch and check out the Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve — thousands of ancient carvings just a short walk from the shops.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Kekaha Kai / Makalawena Beach — Remote, uncrowded white-sand beach (requires a short hike in)
- 2 Kua Bay — Crystal-clear water, one of the best white-sand beaches on the island
- 3 King's Shops — Lunch and shopping in the Waikoloa resort area
- 4 Waikoloa Petroglyph Reserve — Thousands of ancient Hawaiian rock carvings along a short trail
- 5 Hapuna Beach — Wide crescent of sand, consistently ranked among Hawaii's top beaches
Day #2 - South Kona
Head south from Kailua-Kona for a day of history, snorkeling, and the island's best cultural sites. Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau (the Place of Refuge) is one of Hawaii's most significant historical sites. The snorkeling at nearby Two Step is world-class.
Kealakekua Bay has the best reef on the island — get there by kayak or boat tour for the full experience.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Kealakekua Bay — Pristine reef and the Captain Cook Monument, best by kayak or boat
- 2 Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau — Sacred place of refuge with carved ki'i and restored temple grounds
- 3 Two Step — Natural lava rock steps into the water, top-tier snorkeling with turtles
- 4 Kailua-Kona — Head back to town for dinner along Ali'i Drive
Day #3 - North Kohala
Drive north through ranch country to Waimea, then follow the Kohala Mountain Road to the island's northern tip. This stretch has a completely different personality — green pastures, cool air, small art towns, and the original King Kamehameha statue in Kapa'au.
End the day at Pololū Valley Lookout, then loop back south along the coast past Lapakahi State Historical Park and Pu'ukōholā Heiau.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Waimea Town — Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) country, great restaurants and cool mountain air
- 2 King Kamehameha Statue / Kapa'au — The original statue in a quiet North Kohala town
- 3 Pololū Valley Lookout — Dramatic clifftop viewpoint overlooking a black-sand valley
- 4 Lapakahi State Historical Park — Ruins of a 600-year-old Hawaiian fishing village
- 5 Pu'ukōholā Heiau — Massive temple built by Kamehameha I to unite the islands
Day #4 - South Hawaii
Drive south to Ka Lae (South Point), the southernmost point in the United States. The landscape down here is windswept and raw — very different from the resort coast. The hike to Green Sand Beach (Papakōlea) is roughly 5 miles round trip across an open lava field.
On the way back north, stop at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach to see Hawaiian green sea turtles basking on the jet-black sand. The Punalu'u Bake Shop nearby makes the best sweetbread on the island.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Ka Lae (South Point) — The southernmost point in the United States, wild and windswept
- 2 Green Sand Beach — Rare olivine sand beach reached by a 5-mile round-trip hike (do NOT take illegal shuttles)
- 3 Punalu'u Bake Shop — Famous for their Hawaiian sweetbread and malasadas, a perfect road-trip snack
- 4 Punalu'u Black Sand Beach — Jet-black sand and Hawaiian green sea turtles basking on shore
Day #5 - Tour / Excursion Day
A helicopter tour over the island gives you a perspective that no amount of driving can match — waterfalls hidden in valleys, active lava flows, the sheer scale of Mauna Loa. Book ahead; these sell out. Alternatively, spend the evening on a Mauna Kea stargazing tour — the summit sits above 40% of Earth's atmosphere, making it one of the best places on the planet for stargazing.
Either option makes for a memorable day. If you choose the helicopter in the morning, you could do Mauna Kea stargazing the same evening.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Helicopter Tours / Kona Airport area — Aerial views of waterfalls, lava flows, and hidden valleys (book in advance)
- 2 Mauna Kea Visitor Center — Stargazing at 9,200 feet with free telescope programs, or book a summit tour
Day #6 - Volcanoes Day 1
Today you cross the island to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Move your accommodation to Hilo or Volcano Village for the rest of your trip. The Volcano Village area has some of the nicest B&Bs on the island, nestled in the fern forest just outside the park.
Spend the day on Crater Rim Drive, visiting the overlooks, the Thurston Lava Tube, and hiking the Kīlauea Iki Trail — a 4-mile loop that drops into a solidified lava lake. Dinner at the Volcano House restaurant with caldera views.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Kīlauea Visitor Center — Get oriented with ranger talks and current eruption updates
- 2 Halema'uma'u Overlooks — Multiple viewpoints of the actively steaming Kīlauea Caldera
- 3 Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) — Walk through a 500-year-old lava tube surrounded by tree ferns
- 4 Kīlauea Iki Trail — 4-mile loop hike across a solidified lava lake, one of Hawaii's best hikes
Day #7 - Volcanoes Day 2
Return to the park for Chain of Craters Road, a 19-mile descent through old lava flows to the coast. Stop at the Pū'u Loa Petroglyphs to see over 23,000 ancient Hawaiian carvings, and end at the Holei Sea Arch.
The Pu'u Huluhulu trail offers elevated views across the rift zone — a short hike with a big payoff.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Chain of Craters Road — 19-mile drive descending 3,700 feet through layered lava flows
- 2 Pu'u Huluhulu Trail — Short uphill hike to a forested cinder cone with panoramic rift zone views
- 3 Pū'u Loa Petroglyphs — Over 23,000 ancient Hawaiian rock carvings along a 1.4-mile trail
- 4 Holei Sea Arch — Natural lava rock arch at the end of Chain of Craters Road
Day #8 - Hamakua Coast
The Hamakua Coast is the Big Island's green side — waterfalls, tropical gardens, and valleys carved by centuries of rainfall. Start at Waipi'o Valley and work your way south along the coast toward Hilo.
Stop at What's Shakin' on the 4-Mile Scenic Loop for the best fruit smoothies you will ever taste. The Hawai'i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden is worth the admission fee.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Waipi'o Valley Lookout — Jaw-dropping view of the "Valley of the Kings" 1,000 feet below
- 2 Laupahoehoe Point — Scenic coastal park with a powerful history and crashing surf
- 3 'Akaka Falls — Easy 0.4-mile loop trail to a 442-foot waterfall plunging into a gorge
- 4 What's Shakin' / 4-Mile Scenic Loop — Legendary smoothie stand and a jungle-canopied back road
- 5 Hawai'i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden — Over 2,000 species of tropical plants in an oceanfront valley
Day #9 - Hilo Exploration
Hilo is the Big Island's real town — not a resort, not a tourist zone, just a rain-soaked Hawaiian city with character. Hit the Hilo Farmer's Market early (Wednesday and Saturday mornings are biggest) for tropical fruit, flowers, and local food. Then explore Rainbow Falls and the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center.
Walk Banyan Drive and visit Lili'uokalani Gardens, a Japanese-style garden on the bayfront. Coconut Island is a short footbridge away. End the day browsing downtown Hilo's shops and galleries.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Hilo Farmer's Market — Tropical fruits, flowers, crafts, and local food (biggest on Wed and Sat mornings)
- 2 Rainbow Falls — 80-foot waterfall easily visible from the parking area overlook
- 3 'Imiloa Astronomy Center — Where Hawaiian culture meets astronomy, with a planetarium
- 4 Lili'uokalani Park & Gardens — Beautiful Japanese-style garden on Hilo's bayfront
- 5 Coconut Island — Small island connected by footbridge with views back across Hilo Bay
- 6 Downtown Hilo — Local shops, art galleries, and vintage buildings along Kamehameha Avenue
Day #10 - Central Exploration
Your final day takes you through the island's interior. Start with Kaumana Cave just outside Hilo — a lava tube you can explore on your own (bring flashlights). Then take Saddle Road across the island between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the largest volcanoes on Earth.
Stop at Pu'u Huluhulu on Saddle Road for a short hike through native forest, and finish at the Mauna Kea Visitor Center at 9,200 feet for panoramic views. If you are heading back to the Kona side for your departure, Saddle Road drops you right down into Kona.
Stops for the Day
- 1 Kaumana Cave — Lava tube just minutes from Hilo, bring your own flashlight to explore
- 2 Pu'u Huluhulu (Saddle Road) — Short hike through native forest between the island's two massive volcanoes
- 3 Mauna Kea Visitor Center — At 9,200 feet, panoramic views and stargazing programs
This itinerary is a suggested framework — adjust based on your energy, weather, and what grabs you. Also check out our one, three, five, and seven-day Big Island itineraries. A rental car is essential for this itinerary.
Published by: John C. Derrick
Founder & certified Hawaii travel expert with 20+ years of experience in Hawaii tourism.
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from some travel partners (like Amazon or Expedia) which helps us maintain this site. These links are at no extra cost to you and don't impact our honest & unbiased recommendations. Remove all the ads →
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