HAWAII DAY TRIPS FROM VOLCANO
Explore with this 3-days of Hawaii day trips from Volcano
Spend a little time exploring with this 3-days of Hawaii day trips from Volcano. You can head South for wonderful beaches and the Volcano Winery or head North to the town of Hilo, Hawaii. And you don’t want to miss the Puna District! If you are looking for even more insider travel tips, be sure to check out our travel guide.
Day Trip Idea #1: Head South
- Ka’u Coffee Mill Located at 96-2694 Wood Valley Road
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is located at Mile Marker 55 on Highway 11.
- Grab lunch at the Punalu’u Bake Shop in the town of Naalehu located just a few miles past the Punalu’u Beach on Highway 11.
- Drive to South Point – “The SouthernMost Point in the United States”. The breathtaking cliffs are not to be missed! This is thought to be the location where the first Polynesians reached Hawaii. The South Point Road is located between Mile Marker 69 & 70. Approximately 20 miles to reach the end of the road.
- Green Sand Beach near South Point where the sand is actually green! This beautiful beach requires walking 3 miles, as the path is inaccessible by car. There are no facilities at this beach. Pack what supplies you will need (water & snacks are a must!). Leave no trash behind.
- Visit Volcano Winery on your way back for wine tastings! Open from 11am-5:30pm. Located at Mile Marker 30 on Pi’i Mauna Drive just past the golf course.
Day Trip Idea #2: Head North
- Farmer’s Market in Hilo is open 7 days a week 7am-4pm. Go early for the best selection of local & exotic produce, flowers, and crafts. Located on the Hilo Bayfront.
- Visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum located on the Hilo Bayfront.
- Beach Parks in Hilo – visit Carl Smith’s Beach Park or Richardson’s Beach Park. Both are located on Kalanianaole Street.
- Rainbow Falls is an 80” tall waterfall! Located off of Waianuenue Street near the Bayfront.
- Boiling Pots next to Rainbow Falls. Given the name Boiling Pots due to the rapidly moving water spinning around large holes in the river rock.
- Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens is located just 8 miles north of Hilo on the 4 mile “Scenic Route”. This 40 acre botanical garden is home to over 2,000 plant species. You could spend hours just wandering around admiring the diversity.
- Akaka Falls is located 11 miles north of Hilo, this 442” waterfall is not to be missed! This is a state park. Admission is $5 per person.
- Kaumana Caves is similar to the Thurston Lava Tube inside the National Park, Kaumana Caves is a lava tube for adventurers. Located just north of Hilo, up the old Saddle Road, spend all day exploring this extremely long lava tube. Be cautious and bring headlamps and wear long-sleeve shirts and pants, and sturdy shoes.
Continue north past for Hilo approximately one hour to Waipio Valley – “The Valley of the Kings”. Located near the town of Honoka’a, the view from the Lookout is spectacular. For the more adventurous travelers, get there early and walk down the road into the valley and enjoy the beautiful beach. Be aware that the toad is very steep and not for the light-hearted. Rental car agreements forbid driving down this road.
Day Trip Idea #3: Visit the Puna District & Go up Mauna Kea!
- Volcano Art Gallery offers guided rainforest walks Mondays at 9am and Saturdays at at 11am. Rainforest walk is still accessible on a self-guided basis during the hours that the Gallery is open. Open Monday through Saturday 9am to 4pm. Closed Sundays. Located on Old Volcano Road.
- Go on a Helicopter Tour flying over the volcano and active lava flows. All Helicopter tours leave from the Hilo Airport. We recommend Paradise Helicopters or Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
- Lava Tree State Park preserves lava molds of the tree trunks that were formed when a lava flow swept through a forested area in 1790. Located on Highway 132.
- Pohoiki Black Sand Beach was created from the 2018 lava flow. To get there, search your GPS for Isaac Hale Park.
- Akatsuka Orchid Gardens for a chance to see some of the world’s rarest orchids. Located at mile marker 22.
- Mauna Kea is the world’s tallest mountain from sea floor to summit. With truly spectacular and breathtaking views, Mauna Kea can be an all-day adventure. There are numerous hiking trails along Saddle Rd and Mauna Kea that give you a taste of several different climates. Stay for sunset at the summit, followed by star gazing tours and telescopes at the visitor center. Please note that Mauna Kea takes about 2.5hrs to drive to the summit. Also, it is advised to stop at the visitor center to accumulate before proceeding to the summit because of the drastic elevation changes.
"We just stayed in Akaka Falls Cottage and loved our week there so much. This was our 5th visit but will not be out last. Pua and Carlos are such gracious host there. The food is excellent for Breakfast."
Tim T
North Carolina
join our mailing list
Send us your email and stay updated on our news, new experiences, and specials at Volcano Village Lodge.
