Chain of Craters Road is one of the most remarkable drives in Hawaiʻi, and arguably one of the most unforgettable in the world. Beginning near the summit of Kīlauea at roughly 3,700 feet and descending 19 miles to the Pacific Ocean, the road winds through rainforest, ancient lava flows, pit craters, and dramatic coastal cliffs in a single drive. Few places let you experience such dramatic changes in landscape over such a short distance.
The road begins off Crater Rim Drive, about three miles from the entrance to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and ends where lava flows buried the original continuation of the highway. Plan on spending at least 2½ hours for the round trip, though we think a half day is ideal if you want time to hike, take in the views at the overlooks, and enjoy the coast.
If you’re staying at our Big Island bed and breakfast, you’re in one of the best possible locations to explore the drive. With Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park just minutes away, you can take your time at each stop instead of trying to squeeze everything into a rushed day trip from the coast.
Here are the stops we recommend you don’t miss.
1. Keanakākoʻi Overlook
Allow: 10–15 minutes
The drive begins at Keanakākoʻi Crater, one of the most historically significant places in the park. Long before it became a scenic overlook, Native Hawaiians came here to quarry dense volcanic rock used to make adzes (traditional stone tools for shaping wood and building canoes). The name reflects that history and translates to “the adze pit.”
Today, the overlook offers sweeping views across the crater and serves as the perfect introduction to the volcanic landscape you’re about to explore. Before you start descending toward the coast, take a few minutes to appreciate just how expansive the summit area really is.
2. Devastation Trail
Allow: 20–30 minutes
Just before Chain of Craters Road begins its drop, a short paved path called Devastation Trail cuts through one of the most striking sections of the park.
The paved path winds through an area that was buried beneath cinders during the dramatic 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption. The forest was stripped bare almost overnight, yet today you’ll see ʻōhiʻa trees, native shrubs, and ferns slowly reclaiming the landscape.
If you only have time for one easy walk along Chain of Craters Road, this is one of our favorites. It’s accessible, beautifully maintained, and offers a remarkable look at how quickly nature begins to recover after an eruption.
3. Lua Manu Crater
Allow: 10–15 minutes
Less than a mile after beginning your descent, you’ll reach Lua Manu, the first of several pit craters along the road.
Unlike explosive volcanic craters, pit craters form when underground magma drains away, causing the ground above to collapse. It’s a fascinating reminder that volcanic landscapes are constantly changing, even when there isn’t an eruption taking place.
There’s a convenient pullout here, making it an easy stop before continuing farther into the East Rift Zone.
4. Pauahi Crater
Allow: 15–20 minutes
The steep crater walls at Pauahi plunge dramatically below the overlook, and a short trail provides several excellent viewpoints. It’s easy to appreciate the immense forces that shaped this landscape while standing here.
Despite its rugged appearance, vegetation continues to reclaim the crater floor, creating an interesting contrast between fresh lava, older rock, and new growth.
5. Mauna Ulu
Allow: 20–45 minutes
Mauna Ulu, which means “growing mountain,” erupted almost continuously between 1969 and 1974, dramatically reshaping this part of the island.
The eruption sent lava all the way to the ocean, buried sections of the original Chain of Craters Road, and created hundreds of acres of new coastline.
There’s a viewing area as well as trails leading onto older lava flows. Even if you don’t venture far, it’s worth stepping out onto the lava to appreciate just how young this landscape really is. It’s one thing to read about volcanic eruptions. It’s another to stand on new rock that didn’t exist a few decades ago.
6. Kealakomo Overlook
Allow: 20–30 minutes
Around the halfway point of the drive, you’ll arrive at one of the best panoramic viewpoints in the park.
From Kealakomo Overlook, the land drops nearly 2,000 feet toward the Pacific Ocean, revealing an enormous lava field stretching all the way to the coast. Beneath those lava flows once stood the coastal village of Kealakomo, which was buried during the Mauna Ulu eruption.
This is one of our favorite places to stop for a picnic. There are several picnic tables overlooking the lava fields and ocean, and it’s a beautiful spot to take a break before continuing the drive. On a clear day, the views seem to go on forever, and the breeze off the coast makes it easy to linger a little longer.
7. Muliwai a Pele
Allow: 10–15 minutes
The Hawaiian name Muliwai a Pele means “Pele’s River of Fire,” and it’s easy to see why.
Here, lava once flowed like a river toward the ocean, leaving behind beautifully sculpted channels frozen in stone. If you look closely, you’ll notice the rippling textures and winding patterns preserved in the hardened pāhoehoe lava.
In places, remnants of the original roadway can still be seen beneath later lava flows, a powerful reminder that on the Big Island, the landscape is never truly finished changing.
8. Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
Allow: 45–60 minutes
Puʻuloa is home to more than 23,000 Hawaiian petroglyphs carved into the lava over centuries by Native Hawaiians. Many families traveled here to place the piko, or umbilical cords, of newborn children into natural holes in the lava, symbolizing a long, healthy life and a lasting connection to the land.
The round-trip walk is about 1.5 miles across uneven lava before reaching a boardwalk that protects the fragile carvings. Stay on the boardwalk, take your time, and remember that this is a place of deep cultural importance.
9. Hōlei Sea Arch
Allow: 15–20 minutes
Few places capture the meeting of fire and water quite like Hōlei Sea Arch.
The 90-foot lava arch rises above crashing Pacific waves, carved over centuries as the ocean slowly wore away softer rock beneath its surface. Like every feature in the park, it’s temporary. Someday the arch will collapse, continuing the natural cycle of change that defines Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
10. The End of Chain of Craters Road
Allow: 20–30 minutes
Eventually, the road comes to an abrupt stop where lava flows buried the former highway leading toward Kalapana.
It’s a fitting ending to the drive. You can walk beyond the parking area onto the old roadway, where pavement gradually disappears beneath hardened lava.
Take a little time before turning around. Watch the waves crash against the cliffs, enjoy the ocean breeze, and appreciate just how much you’ve seen in only 19 miles.
Before You Go
A little preparation makes the drive even more enjoyable.
- Plan on 2½–4 hours depending on how many stops you make.
- Bring plenty of water and snacks. There are no restaurants along the drive.
- Wear sturdy shoes if you plan to visit Puʻuloa or explore any of the trails.
- Pack layers. The summit is often cool and misty, while the coast can be warm, sunny, and windy.
- Cell service is limited in parts of the park, so download maps ahead of time.
- Before heading out, check the National Park Service website for current road conditions, closures, and volcanic activity.
Experience Chain of Craters Road
Whether you’re fascinated by volcanic landscapes, interested in Hawaiian history, or simply looking for one of the most scenic drives on the island, Chain of Craters Road is an experience you won’t soon forget.
When you’re ready to unwind after a day of exploring, Volcano Village Estates offers the perfect place to come home to. It’s one of the few places on the island where you can experience Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park without needing to rush the day around it. Just step out in the morning, follow the road as far as you like, and return when you’re ready for a quiet evening in the rainforest.
Book your stay and experience the wonders of Chain of Craters Road.