Can you Drive to the Kilauea Volcano?
When you start your day at the Volcano Village Lodge, you are but a few miles away from the most active volcano in the world, Kilauea. You are so close that you can jump in your car and be at the Kilauea Visitor Center in less than ten minutes.
Many guests as us, “Can You Drive to Kilauea Volcano?” and they tend to think of the Kilauea Volcano as being the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, which is part of the Kilauea Caldera. You can drive as far as the old Jagger Museum and get out to look over the crater to but there is so much more to the Kilauea Volcano. Expect to spend at least most of the day exploring the area and driving the Chain of Craters Road. Add in some hikes and you might want to come back the next day and continue exploring as there is so much to see.
At the Doorstep of Kilauea
When you start out, stop at the visitors center and grab a map of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and make an itinerary for the day’s excursions. Because of ongoing volcanic activity, you can also get up-to-date info on specific locations that may be currently closed within the park.
After leaving the Visitor Center, turn right to go to the top of Kilauea. As you head up to the caldera, there are several overlooks and places to stop along the way, where you can learn about the unique history of this ever-changing volcanic landscape.
A Legendary Drive with Legendary Views
After viewing the caldera, head back towards the visitors center and go past as if you are exiting the park, turn right on the Chain of Craters Road. Undoubtedly one of the most scenic drives in the world, you will descend from the 4,000-ft elevation of Kilauea’s peak down to the water’s edge, with countless places along the way to hike and explore. The road was finished in 1965, the Maunaulu eruption, which spanned from 1969-1974 and as you drive you will see the various lava fields from different eruptions.
Ancient Hawaiian villages in this region, like Kealakomo, were entirely consumed by lava flows. One of many must-stop viewpoints as you make your way towards the ocean, the Kealakomo Overlook is a testament to the power of Kilauea. As you look towards the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, you’ll see a massive lava field covering the area where the village of Kealakomo once stood, a stunning example of Kilauea’s geological force.
Where the Road Ends and the Lava Begins
At the terminus of the Chain of Craters Drive, you’ll reach one of the most unique and photo-worthy dead-ends in the world. Due to several eruptions over the last few decades, over 9 miles of road have been buried by lava at different times. Various stretches of road have been rebuilt and reopened, only to be eventually covered again; such is the reality of maintaining a road system within miles of the most active volcano on the planet.
At the end of your drive, you will reach a point where you can drive no further. Here you can do a mile-long hike and get right up the edge of where the lava fields have overtaken the road. It’s an unforgettable experience and a road trip with an ending unlike any other or take a short walk to view the infamous sea arch that still stands today.
Book your stay today, and epic drives await you