Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Two of the world’s most active volcanoes, steaming craters and lava fields that run into the sea.
Photo: Brocken Inaglory · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hawaii Volcanoes guide: Kīlauea and its summit caldera, Crater Rim Drive, the Nāhuku lava tube, Chain of Craters Road, seeing lava, eruption updates, volcanic gas and the best time.
What to expect
On the Big Island, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park protects Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, and the upper slopes of Mauna Loa. Kīlauea has erupted often in recent years, and its summit crater changed dramatically in 2018, when the floor of the caldera collapsed by hundreds of meters.
Crater Rim Drive leads to overlooks above Kaluapele, the summit caldera, and to the Nāhuku Lava Tube, a short walk through a cave formed by flowing lava. Chain of Craters Road descends about 1,100 meters over 30 kilometers to the coast, where the Hōlei Sea Arch stands and the road ends at an old lava flow.
Whether you can see glowing lava depends on the volcano: during eruptions, the glow from the crater can be seen from summit overlooks at night. Check the park and USGS updates before you go, and note that volcanic gas, called vog, can bother people with breathing or heart problems.
The park is about 45 minutes from Hilo, and Volcano Village just outside the entrance has lodging and restaurants. The summit sits at about 1,200 meters, so it is often cool, windy and wet even when the coast is hot.
Hawaii Volcanoes: top things to do
- 1Overlooks above Kīlauea’s summit caldera
- 2Walking through the Nāhuku lava tube
- 3Chain of Craters Road down to the Hōlei Sea Arch
- 4The glow of lava at night during an eruption
Hawaii Volcanoes: best time to visit
All year. Check eruption updates before you go and bring warm layers for the summit at night.
Hawaii Volcanoes: insider tips
- Check the eruption status on the park and USGS websites the day before.
- Stay on marked trails; cracks, steam vents and cliff edges are dangerous.
- Fill up in Hilo or Volcano Village, as there is no gas on Chain of Craters Road.
Fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $30 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Motorcycle | $25 per vehicle, 7 days |
| Per person (on foot or bike) | $15 per person, 7 days |
| Annual pass for this park | $55 per year |
- America the Beautiful pass accepted: $80 a year for US residents, $250 for others (also covers the $100 fee).
- Viewing areas open and close with volcanic activity; check the eruption status before you drive in.
- US residents enter free on a few fee-free days.
Checked Oct 26, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
2 gas stations within 20 km
- 2.1 km Kilauea Military Camp Gas Station open 24 hours
- 6.0 km Ohana Fuels
No fast (DC) chargers within 20 km; plan to arrive with enough range.
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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