Bottom line: read the actual fine print of your contract and know YOUR situation with your personal insurance and dont just go on hearsay. Its mostly paved, but there are some portions that are gravel or a roughly graded cement. For most of the drive, a very narrow road winds through lush, green forests. Get on my Email list to see what Im up to and all the best travel content! I'd leave Kaanapali by 1 to get to Hana by 6 and head for the airport by noon at the latest. Now lets get to the exciting part the best stops along the backside road to Hana! If you have ANY questions about planning your trip to Hawaii, you can join my free Facebook group here. At last youve made it to Hana town. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. Everything we have said above is solely aimed at the section between Paia and Kipahula, beyond that, the road changes immeasurably! The road is endlessly winding and many corners are seriously blind. Right: Driving the back road to Hana is where you will find roads that can be dangerous or scary! Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. Travel Tip: Since the roads are sketchy at points, some rental companies do not want you driving through this area of Maui. In any one stretch of the road, there is a spot big enough for your car to pull over so the oncoming car can pass. The Road to Hana is one of the best things to do in Maui! These single-track lanes Crisscross our road network and are often used as rat runs so you also have to contend with Businessmen in Audis hurtling along the lanes to get to a meeting! We go into detail in the linked article, but, Spoiler alert! Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say "you're on your . We can now offer our visitors 20 years of expertise on this beautifully scenic drive. The Numbers really do not match the roads reputation. 1. And, they also did do another one-lane road drive on Maui and for that drive, they DID think that the West Mauis back road was scary! What did you do to mitigate them? You just have to keep your sight lines open and watch for cars coming in the other direction. The #1 best thing you can do to avoid crowds along the Road to Hana BY FAR is just getting an early start. On Another Note: If youre looking for a condo or vacation rental for your trip, I always book with Vrbo. Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. **Ho'okipa Beach Park. What makes it so dangerousIt's a road! 5. The Jungle Canopy envelopes the road leading to mild claustrophobia and an uncomfortable sense of being consumed. If you need proof, the best stops on the Road to Hana, which include vibrant beaches, lush rain forests, and cascading waterfalls, attract about 400,000 visitors each year. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. Theyre seriously the only company I ever use. An out and back drive if you will. The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. I personally dont like to be on the road after dark at all, but once I make it to Kula (really even Ulupalakau), its fine driving back in the dark. Hana Highway, also known as the Road to Hana, runs for more than 64 miles along state Highways 360 and 36, connecting Hana in east Maui with Kahului. Parking can be bad later in the day, but this stop is worth it. Once you leave the National Park, theres not really a ton of places I recommend to stop. Fatalities are rare and accidents often very minor. HAWAII EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS Maui's Road to Hana is one of the most famous (or infamous) drives in the world and in my opinion is the #1 don't miss thing to do on Maui. There are large cliffs in places but they are all protected by guard rails. I would def want to get there before dark the first day, though. You cant enjoy the drive with a angry local right up your back side, let them be on their way and you can relax! Overall i am a confident driver so it was fine, but I can definitely see many drivers not making this drive all the way to Hana town. We intend to stop only at Hanawi Falls briefly (1 hour), and we understand that it is otherwise a 2 hour drive. This part of Maui is known as Upcountry. as Upcountry. I wouldn't suggest driving through Kahakuloa to any tourists. Before I go onif you want to read my other Road to Hana posts, you can find them here: MY favorite Road to Hana itinerary, tips for driving the Road to Hana, and where to stay in Hana (in case you decide you want to spend the night). Their reasoning is that the popular sites closer to Hana would be less crowded by getting there earlier and then I guess they think that the crowds at the stops closer to Paia will have moved on towards Hana so by the time they retrace their steps theyll have all the popular spots to themselves. Since you are voiding your contract the rental agency will not come to help. It is then easy to imagine that people from Urban Los Angeles, used to colossal Freeways (which put the fear of God into us!) Besides that, I just dont think youre going to make that much of a difference on the crowd levels at each stop by doing it in reverse. Sustained by the Hanawi Stream, here you'll find that the lower waterfall cascades 200 feet into a freshwater pool. Oh, and 5 pm is really pushing it for a 7 pm (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Driving the stretch takes more than two and a half hours, even with no stops, because of the narrow, winding road and nearly 60 bridges with 46 that are one lane only. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. We respect your privacy. There are a variety of ways you can drive the Road to Hana: out and back in one day (classic route) stay in Hana as your basecamp explore the Road to Hana over multiple days The road to Hana is composed of three different roads highways 36, 360 and 31. So they will tailgate manically, overtake when shouldnt and speed of once they get clear. In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? It's very isolated, no cell service and prohibited by all the major (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? HAWAII VOLCANOES HI Even though it's only 64.4 miles long it takes the average tourists 2-3 hours to drive. have no issue at all, but it is narrower, more exposed, and in places has no asphalt topcoat (Dirt Track). Google maps said 2 hours but I guess this is what happens when a bot gives you directions? Grab a cup of coffee and try it with their lavender honey. Im just going to describe it as accurately as possible and relay my personal experiences so that you can make a decision that youre comfortable with. It is still manageable, and 99.99% (warning Made up Stat!) Along Maui's rugged eastern coastline is the peaceful town of Hna, considered one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers. The fear is in your head so some positivity might help get your head around it. 13 years ago Save IMHO, it's neither dangerous nor scary. So if the Road is not particularly dangerous, or even that scary why does it have such a fearsome reputation, and why are so many terrified of the road? Hana Highway: 617 turns and 46 one-lane bridges in Hawaii Located on the eastern side of Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Hana Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the world. The last gas station until you get to Hana is right next to Grandmas Coffee House which is one of the best breakfast spots on Maui. Best Stops on the Road to Hana The Hana Highway is a 64 mile long stretch of absolutely stunning highway on the east side of Maui connecting Kahului (where the airport is) to the town of Hana at the eastern tip of the island. To compare this road to other highways of death such as the North Yungas Road in Bolivia or the Brazils Road of death is ridiculous. Also, if you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Yes, it is long, hard work, challenging, and costs a full day of your vacation along with a precious lie-in, but there is so much beauty and wonder along this little highway it has to be right at the top of your bucket list. Serious accidents involving tourists on the Highway are rare, compared to the rest of the islands where tourists accidental deaths are higher than average! 3 Bears Upper Waikani Falls (MM 19) Another quick stop on the side of the road a must stop on the road to hana. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Mauis most charming towns. Yes, if you drive straight from Paia to Hana, you might see less people at the spots near Hana, but by the time you start working your way back to Paia those spots are still going to crowded. So many people dont really plan their trip to Hana and end up starting out late in the day and just stopping wherever they see cars so those stops along the north shore are still going to have visitors all day long. This part of Maui is known as Upcountry. 10 Best Museums In Chicago Which Museums Should You Visit In The Windy City? ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. We highy recommend doing a tour with large windows, an experienced local guide, and only going to safe, legal, epic spots! If you're leaving from Kaanapali and planning on a one-hour stop en route, yes, 5 hours to Hana. Travel to or from the region of Hana to any other major population center takes several hours by car. It becomes a dirt road for long stretches and even though we left for the day at 7AM, after a few stops and not really rushing we ended up in a situation where we were driving the most treacherous parts after dark (we almost hit a cow at one point, as herds will just wonder over the road in certain parts). Itll avoid the uncomfortable situation of figuring out how youre going to squeeze past (or backing up) once youre on them. If theyre open ; ) Ill note here that the National Park does NOT have water or snacks for sale so since the Kaupo Store is undependable, make sure you have everything you need once you leave Hana. I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. Heres my best tip for driving past Hana: always try to follow a car in front of you. The drive to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world with waterfalls, beaches, history, and views (you can even see the Big Island in some parts). Hamoa Beach (MM 51) Heading away from Hana, turn makai (toward the ocean) onto Haneoo Road when you reach it. Paia is a small, laid back town on the Northshore of Maui. This is a great place to use the restroom and grab snacks/food for a picnic somewhere on the road. It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. It REALLY isnt a bad road. We personally have no issues at all but the fear is very real in many people and cant be dismissed. Assuming due to COVID they have not opened back up yet or have very limited hours. PICTURED ROCKS MI While the frontside is super windy and youre in and out of jungles, the backside is flat, wide open, and you can see for MILES. Just my opinion, and I've done it several times. Hazards aside, you're not giving yourself nearly enough time in either direction. Distraction is a great way to keep the fear at bay. Check out these Hana guides to assist you on your travels. If you havent already, you will soon understand why thisis a perfect spot for them. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353050', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Napili beach as well. How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? Theyve got the largest selection of rentals youll find anywhere and you can easily filter to find exactly what youre looking for. What is the Weather Like in Chicago, Illinois? We have written extensively and lyrically about the road in our other articles and we imagine if you are seriously questioning the journey you are pretty aware of what the road is so we will not go in too deep here. . This road is also part of the daily commute for Maui's residents, so drive with aloha to avoid any frustration. The popular way is to start the Road to Hana is by passing through the town of Paia. 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