The Best Road to Hana Full Loop Day Trip Itinerary (2024)
Want to know the best way to drive the Road to Hana full loop in one day? We’ve got you covered with this exact itinerary we followed when we drove the full Road to Hana loop!
Driving the Road to Hana Full Loop is the best experience you could possibly have on Maui!
It is an absolute must do, weather permitting.
Before you embark on this excursion, there are a few things you need to keep in mind though, which we have included later on in this post.
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The Best Road To Hana Full Loop Day Trip Itinerary
You can check out our full itinerary in this video on our YouTube Channel.
In this post, I’ve added in some time stamps, so you can get an idea of how long it takes to get from place to place and how long we spent at each spot.
This will help you plan out your day a little better!
👉 Click Here To Download Your Road To Hana Full Loop Self-Guided Tour Today!
✅ Ho’okipa Beach
This is your first stop on the Road to Hana.
We arrived here at 7:15 am.
It’s a quick 5-10 minute stop to just enjoy watching the waves and the sun rise.
✅ Twin Falls
We arrived at Twin Falls at 7:35 am.
It is only a 5 minute walk to this first set of falls.
We just went to this point and back, but it’s possible to hike further if you’d like.
We were back at our car by 7:50 am.
The complete trail is 1.8 miles out and back and goes to 3 waterfalls.
It can be a moderate to strenuous hike depending on recent rain levels.
If you’re planning on doing the full Road to Hana Loop, I would just do the first set of falls and move on.
But if you’re only going to Hana and back, then you should have time to do the whole thing.
✅ Waikamoi Ridge Trail
Your next stop is Waikamoi Ridge Trail.
We arrived here at 8:20 am.
So it took roughly 30 minutes to get from Twin Falls to here.
This trail is about a mile round trip with some uphill and downhill sections, so bring water with you!
We completed this trail by about 8:45 am.
I would plan for this stop to take about 30 minutes.
✅ Garden Of Eden Arboretum
This is a popular stop, but we skipped it since we were driving the full loop.
If you’re just going to Hana and back, this would be good to add to your itinerary.
Just check their hours and pricing before going!
✅ Kaumahina State Park
Another popular stop that we had to skip.
It was closed due to Covid restrictions when we visited.
You can get great photos of the peninsula here and there are public restrooms if you need them.
✅ Ke’anae Arboretum
This is one of the stops I was looking forward to the most on the entire Road to Hana.
Ke’anae Arboretum is home to the Rainbow Eucalyptus Forest.
We arrived here at 9:10 am, so it was roughly a 20-25 minute drive to this next stop.
The full trail through the arboretum is about a quarter mile each way.
We only took it to the Rainbow Eucalyptus Forest and back since we had many more places we wanted to stop at throughout the day.
It only took us 10 minutes to explore this area and we were back on the road by 9:20 am.
✅ Aunty Sandy’s
Everybody will tell you you must stop here and they are right.
You have to get a loaf of banana bread.
It’s made hot and fresh every day, but they sell out every single day, so stop in early.
We arrived at 9:30 am, just a 10 minute drive from the Ke’anae Arboretum.
This was just a 5 minute stop for us while we got our banana bread, then we ate it in the car as we continued our drive.
✅ Ke’anae Peninsula
From Aunty Sandy’s to the Ke’anae Peninsula is only a 10 minute drive.
We arrived at 9:45 am and stayed until 10 am.
Looking back I thought we spent at least 30 minutes here, but because everything is so close, it didn’t take that long to see it all.
This stop has public restrooms and after being on the road for 3 hours already, it was in the perfect spot.
The Ke’anae Peninsula is most known for this old church that was the only building left after a tsunami wiped out this community.
The coastline is also really cool with all of the black rocks jutting out all along the beach.
I could’ve stayed here for hours watching the waves crash against the shore!
✅ Halfway to Hana
This is the official halfway point to Hana!
We recommend stopping here for another snack.
It’s only a 10 minute drive from the Ke’anae Peninsula.
We got here at 10:10 am and only stayed for 5 minutes while we got our treats.
We opted for the pineapple smoothie, but they also have shaved ice and other snacks.
✅ Wailua Valley State Wayside Park
This stop is only about a 5 minute drive up the road.
Here you’ll head up this staircase to overlook the Wailua Valley.
It only takes a couple minutes each way, then you can stay on top of the overlook as long as you’d like.
We arrived here at 10:20 am and left at 10:25 am.
✅ Waikani Falls (3 Bears Falls)
The road passes right by the falls, so you won’t have to stop or get out of your car for this one.
Waikani Falls is only a few minutes up the road from the last stop.
We drove through here at 10:30 am.
✅ Wailua Iki Falls
This is technically on private land, but it has never been enforced as such.
So we cannot legally recommend that you go in here, but if you choose to go, this is what you’ll see.
The trail is 0.8 miles round trip.
If there has been recent rain, this path may be washed out or muddy.
We arrived at 10:35 am and it took us 10 minutes to get to the waterfalls.
We stayed there for a few minutes and then headed back to the car to continue on the Road to Hana.
✅ Ka’eleku Caverns (Secret Lava Tube Cave)
There is pretty limited parking, but if you started your day early, there shouldn’t be too many people here yet.
This little cave opening leads you into a secret lava tube cave and then out the other side through a forest.
We thought it was only one way in and one way out so we waited about 5 minutes for the people in front of us to come back out and they never did, so we just went on in.
You can come back out this way, but if you just keep going forward it will let you out just to the right of this cave entrance.
We arrived around 11:15 am and left around 11:30 am.
✅ Nahiku Marketplace
This is a great stop for food after being on the road for 5 hours already.
We arrived right at noon and looked around for about 10 minutes doing all the little photo ops.
But don’t worry, there is more food ahead in Hana.
✅ Wai’anapanapa State Park – Black Sand Beach
I can easily say that this is THE biggest highlight of the Road to Hana.
They are implementing a reservation system, so depending on when you’re reading this, you may need a reservation before visiting.
We arrived at 12:30 pm and there were plenty of people already here.
I’m sure some Road to Hana travelers head straight here, bypassing all the other stops along the way.
We stayed here until about 1:15 pm, easily making this our longest stop of the day.
The first thing we did was walk down the steps to the black sand beach.
From there, you can go up the other side where there is a blow hole and you can overlook the black sand beach.
It’s very scenic and makes for great photos.
Especially with the mountains and the cloud coverage in the background.
✅ Hana Town
You’ve made it to Hana! It is only 10 minutes up the road from Wai’anapanapa State Park.
We highly recommend checking out the food trucks here, especially if you weren’t able to stop for lunch yet.
By 1:20 pm we were driving through Hana.
At 1:30 pm is when we came across all of these food trucks and decided that this is where we were going to stop for lunch.
That way we could each get whatever we wanted all in one place.
We stayed here until 2:00 pm while we ate our lunch out on the picnic tables.
From the Ae’s Thai Kitchen food truck I believe we tried the coconut crusted mahi mahi for $16, which came with rice and veggies.
However, this could also be chicken.
It’s been so long I forgot!
The other food truck we tried was called Hana Fresh.
I believe the sandwich we tried was a Mahi Mahi Grilled Fish Sandwich, also for $16 and it came with two sides.
👉 Click Here To Download Your Road To Hana Full Loop Self-Guided Tour Today!
Beyond Road To Hana Highlights
Should you choose to continue on past Hana and complete the full loop, this is what you’ll see!
✅ Koki Beach
This isn’t THE red sand beach, however, it is A red sand beach and that was good enough for us!
This is just 5 minutes outside of Hana and you can park right upon along the beach, so no walking trails are involved.
We were in and out of here by 2:20 pm.
You can see on that island out in the water that there is one lone palm tree right at the top.
If you use the Shaka Guide to take this drive, they tell you the whole story behind why that is.
✅ Wailua Falls
This is a section of the Road to Hana where you can see a handful of scenic views without stopping!
By about 2:40 pm we started driving through this area.
All of this scenery is just within a few minutes of each other.
I loved that the sky cleared up over here to see the water.
✅ Pipiwai Trail at Haleakala National Park
This is another big highlight of the Road to Hana.
The park closes at 5 pm (at least it did in February 2020), so you must arrive by at least 3 pm if you want to do this trail before the park closes.
We arrived exactly at 3 pm and had to walk quickly on the way back to get back to our car in time.
It is a 3.75 mile round trip hike with lots of things to see along the way.
There are huge trees, waterfalls, and bamboo forests.
It took us one hour to reach the far end of the trail, the waterfall.
Then we rushed back in about 45 minutes, to leave around 4:45 pm.
This is another good place for a bathroom stop along the Road to Hana!
Since it’s a National Park they have a whole visitor center area and public restrooms.
✅ Charles Lindbergh’s Grave
I had no idea this was here, but it was on the Shaka Guide and they explained the whole story so of course we had to stop!
This place is so beautiful, so I can see why he chose this spot.
We arrived here at 5:00 pm and stayed for about 10 minutes or so while we walked around the property.
We were the only ones there!
✅ Sunset Views
The rest of the drive is basically just completing the loop back to civilization.
It’s scenic in it’s own way and provided great sunset views.
Depending on when you’re driving through here, Maui Wine is open during the day most days.
We didn’t get a chance to go because it was too late, but it is high on my list when we return.
By 6:15 pm we were officially done with the Road to Hana Full Loop!
Using The Shaka Guide To Navigate The Road To Hana Full Loop
We’ll let you in on a little secret – download the Shaka Guide app onto your phone and you won’t regret it!
When you download the app, purchase whichever Road to Hana drive you want to do (or purchase the complete bundle like we did).
The options include the Road to Hana drive there and back, Road to Hana full loop, or the Road to Hana full loop in reverse.
We HIGHLY recommend the Road to Hana full loop (weather permitting).
The way the app works is that you download the audio tour onto your phone before your drive begins.
Then, once you’re ready to go, open the app and turn on the audio tour.
It will use GPS to track where you are and automatically play the tour as you reach specific points along the route.
The guide will talk you through the entire drive.
He tells you where to stop and why, what to see and do while you’re there, and of course provides PRECISE directions through the entire thing.
It is the equivalent of being with a tour group and just following along with the crowd.
This app is the best money you will ever spend.
We came across it in several Maui travel groups on Facebook and everybody swore by it!
We are now those people!
👉 Click Here To Download Your Road To Hana Full Loop Self-Guided Tour Today!
Road to Hana Full Loop Code of Conduct
The Road to Hana Code of Conduct outlines all of the do’s and don’ts of this drive.
Please make sure everyone in your party reads this before departing.
Some of the highlights include only parking in designated areas, no trespassing on private property, and DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE enter the water when it is raining or if there are other flash flood conditions.
You do not want to be the tourist that drowns and dies because you didn’t listen.
Also please check the weather before you embark on this journey.
If it is an especially rainy day, some parts of the road may be washed out and you could get stranded.
Some areas can take hours to get help.
Some other things to keep in mind:
- Let cars pass you if traffic is building up behind you or if you’re a slower driver in general
- DO NOT SWIM UNDER WATERFALLS!!! You never know when a boulder or anything else deadly will come flying down over the edge and hit you.
Road To Hana Full Loop Frequently Asked Questions
Before you go, look up some of the highlights of the Road to Hana itinerary so you can pick and choose which stops are most important to you.
You may or may not have time to do it all in one day, so planning ahead is crucial.
We started this drive exactly at 7 am and did not get back to our resort until 8:30 pm.
That is how long of a day it is!
With that in mind, make sure you have a full gas tank when you begin the drive.
✔️ Is The Road To Hana A Full Loop?
Now you might be wondering, is the Road to Hana a full loop?
Well, not exactly.
Most visitors just drive the Road to Hana and back the way they came from Kahului.
This itinerary is called the “full loop” because you continue on past Hana to the other side of the island, officially ending your tour in Kula, then driving on to wherever your accommodations are.
If you’re staying in Kahului, then yes, the Road to Hana itinerary is technically a full loop.
✔️ Can You Drive the Road To Hana Full Loop In Reverse?
You can!
For the first half of the drive you probably won’t be going against too much traffic, because that early in the day everyone will still be around Kahului.
Then once you reach Hana, where most visitors end their tour, you’ll be driving in the same direction as everyone returning to Kahului.
The downside to this route though is that you’d be getting to some of the more popular stops at peak times and it may not be possible to find parking.
If you think you’re only going to do this drive once in your life time, then I recommend the regular Road To Hana Full Loop.
However, if you’ve done it before and want to change it up, then I say go for the reverse route!
👉 Click Here To Download Your Reverse Road To Hana Self-Guided Audio Tour Today!
✔️ How Long Does the Road To Hana Full Loop Take?
We were staying in Ka’anapali, near Lahaina, so our day took from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm.
We left our hotel at 6:30 am so that we could be on the official route before 7 am.
Getting an early start is key!
We reached the official end of the route at 6:30 pm.
From there we drove to Lahaina for dinner, then back to our hotel, getting back to our room at 8:30 pm.
So I would plan for the drive itself to take about 12 hours.
This will depend on if you want to stop at all of the stops and how long you want to spend at each one.
So maybe add an hour or two to either side depending on your travel style.
✔️ What Do I Need to Bring With Me On the Road To Hana Itinerary?
Whatever you bring with you, do not leave anything visible in your car.
This route notoriously has cars broken into regularly.
You’ll definitely want to bring some water with you and maybe a few snacks in case you get hungry between the major stops where food is available.
I wouldn’t bring anything that could melt, unless you can keep a cooler in your trunk.
Additionally, you’ll want sunscreen to re-apply throughout the day as needed.
Hats and sunglasses are nice to have too.
You’ll also want your camera or phone to take photos and videos throughout the day.
Bring chargers for those too!
I also recommend wearing gym shoes or hiking boots.
If you don’t want to wear them all day, just bring an extra pair of shoes that are comfier for the shorter stops that don’t require hiking.
Bring an extra pair of socks in case yours get wet.
You may even want to lay down a towel in your car to keep from bringing in too much mud or dirt or sand throughout the day.
Don’t forget to bring money with you, but don’t leave your wallet in the car.
You’ll definitely be able to get by with just a credit or debit card, but it never hurts to have a bit of cash just in case.
Lastly, you may want to bring a swimsuit in case you want to go in the water at any of the waterfalls or beaches.
I don’t recommend swimming under waterfalls since you never know when something will come flying off there!
But there are a lot of opportunities for swimming throughout the day.
Bring water shoes if you’re getting into any pools or the ocean.
The Best Place To Stay On Maui
You want to stay somewhere fairly centrally located, with the amenities that matter to you, and be in your price range.
This place has all of that!
☑️ Ka’anapali Beach Club
Ka’anapali Beach Club is a Diamond Resorts property in Ka’anapali, near Lahaina.
Diamond Resorts has recently been bought out by Hilton Grand Vacations, and is being re-branded accordingly.
Regardless, this is a wonderful property to stay at during your time on Maui.
The Deluxe Oceanview One Bedroom units have full kitchens, a jetted bathtub, and a balcony off of the living room and bedroom overlooking the ocean.
You can see our full room walk-through in this video on our YouTube Channel.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Ka’anapali Beach Club Stay Today!
More Fun Things To Do On Maui After The Road To Hana Full Loop
There are so many things to do on Maui no matter how many times you’ve visited.
Here are the best activities on the island.
☑️ Maui Ku’ia Estate Chocolate Tours
This cacao farm tour is complete with a chocolate tasting in a treehouse overlooking the island.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Cacao Farm and Chocolate Tasting Tour Today!
☑️ PacWhale Eco-Adventures Deluxe Whale Watching Tour
This whale watching tour departs from Ma’alaea Harbor and includes snacks and drinks during your 2 hour excursion.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Whale Watching Tour Today!
☑️ Haleakala National Park One Day Itinerary
This itinerary shows you how to visit the summit of Haleakala during a one day excursion.
☑️ The 7 Best Luaus On Maui
There are many luau options when you visit Maui.
Though this one is on the smaller side, it makes it a more intimate experience.
☑️ All The Best Things To Do on Maui
This blog post highlights all of the best things to do when you visit Maui, all in one place!
☑️ Must Try Foods on Maui
This blog post features the best restaurants on Maui that you must try when you visit the island.
☑️ Maui 6 Day 5 Night Itinerary Overview
This itinerary overview shows you how to fit all the best sightseeing and dining into a 6 day, 5 night itinerary.
Conclusion: The Best Road To Hana Full Loop Itinerary
As you can see, there is so much along the Road to Hana full loop that it really takes a whole day.
You could even spread it out over a couple of days if you wanted!
Weather permitting, it is definitely worth the extra effort to take the full loop, rather than returning after Hana.
Pin This Road To Hana Full Loop For Later!
