The Ultimate Road to Hana Guide

Garden of Eden Road to Hana — Puohokamoa Falls – Garden of Eden

The Road to Hana is one of the most popular activities to do in Maui! In my opinion, this is a must-do on any Maui Itinerary. The Road to Hana offers some of the most breathtaking sights on the island and is loaded with adventure around every corner. Each twist and turn brings a new enchanting sight to behold including lush rainforests, serene waterfalls, and otherworldly beaches. My Ultimate Road to Hana Guide will detail everything you need to know to make the most of your Road to Hana adventure!

Here is My Road to Hana Guide

What is The Road to Hana?

In case you’re not quite sure what the Road to Hana even is, it is a scenic road trip on the island of Maui that includes numerous picturesque stops along the way. Each stop is unique but typical stops include viewpoints for waterfalls and coastlines, hikes through the jungle, stunning beaches, lush botanical gardens, and much more! The Road to Hana eventually leads to the small remote town of Hana. The town itself doesn’t have much going on, but the sights leading up to and around the town are what this road trip is all about. The road itself is famous for being difficult to drive. The Hana Highway includes over 600 curves as well as 56 one-lane bridges. Because of these conditions, it is essential to drive slowly which adds to the amount of time needed for the trip.

How long is the Road to Hana?

How long it takes to complete The Road to Hana depends entirely on how you plan your trip! If you drive the entire highway from Paia to Hana without any stops and with moderate traffic, the trip will take you around 2 hours. However, this road trip is meant to include stops and these stops will add up quickly. If you include only a few of the most important stops in your itinerary, you could do the Road to Hana in one day. However, I would recommend allowing at least two days for your Road to Hana adventure – possibly even three!

When I drove the Road to Hana, I had planned just one day. However, I quickly found out this was not enough time! We ended up having to drive back on another day of our Maui trip to squeeze in some of the sights we didn’t get to on the first day. If you have enough flexibility in your schedule, I would highly recommend taking three days for the Road to Hana and spending two nights in the town of Hana. However, the trip is also possible to spend just one night in Hana or not spend the night at all. Even if you don’t spend the night in Hana, I would still recommend planning on using two whole days for your Road to Hana journey.

Twin Falls Road to Hana Guide — Twin Falls

Planning Your Road to Hana Trip

The Road to Hana does require a bit of planning in order to get the most out of your trip! First of all, you need to decide on your top stops and where they are along the trip so that you don’t miss them. Stops can be easy to miss and it is extremely difficult to turn around on this road so knowing when to stop is essential.

Gypsy Guide App

My best piece of advice is to download the Gypsy Guide app and purchase the Road to Hana – Maui tour for $9.99. Purchasing this tour made our trip completely stress-free and I cannot recommend it enough! The tour will use your location to guide you along the Hana highway and will alert you when you are approaching a stop so that you don’t miss anything. This in-app tour will also act as your own personal tour guide and provide information on the sights you are passing by.

Make Reservations

My next best piece of advice is to make any necessary reservations. If you plan on visiting the Black Sand Beach at Wai’anapanapa State Park, you will need to make a reservation quite a bit ahead of time. Similarly, if you plan on visiting Haleakala National Park for sunrise, you will also need to make an advance reservation. Just remember when making your reservations, to make them for a time that easily fits into your whole road to Hana trip!

What to Pack

There are a few things you will want to bring with you to fully enjoy your Road to Hana journey. Make sure to wear clothes that are suitable for the outdoors such as hiking or athletic wear. In addition to this, you will want to make sure you have hiking shoes, water shoes, and a swimsuit and towel. Other essentials include bug spray, insulated water bottles, and light snacks.

The Ultimate Itinerary

After traveling the Road to Hana a few different times on my trip, I have come up with what I think would be the most enjoyable way to make the journey. If I were to do the trip again, this is how I would do it! Start day one in Paia and use the Gypsy Guide app to stop at your top destinations along the route before settling into your hotel in Hana. On day two, enjoy the calm of Hana and spend the day finding the Red Sand Beach and then relaxing at Hamoa Beach. At the start of day three, catch the Sunrise at Haleakala National Park before traveling back down the Hana highway. On your way back you can catch any last stops you missed on the first day of your journey. This would also be a good day to make your reservation for Wai’anapanapa State Park. This itinerary might not work for every trip and can be modified for the amount of time you would like to spend in Hana!

Black Sand Beach Road to Hana — Black Sand Beach

Road to Hana Stops

Ultimately, what everyone wants to know when planning their Road to Hana adventure, is what the best stops are! It’s not always possible to make every stop, so you’ll want to make sure you see the best ones. My Road to Hana guide includes all of the most essential stops on the Road to Hana in order of where they are along the route!

Twin Falls

After leaving the town of Paia, Twin Falls is the first stop you’ll reach along the Road to Hana. This stop is at the very beginning of the highway and it is a good idea to start early as the parking lot often fills up by late morning. Twin Falls includes a stop at three different waterfalls and each one is worth exploring! The trail is about 1.8 miles long and takes about an hour to complete without any stops. However, I would plan on spending about two hours here. The third waterfall is where you’ll want to spend the majority of your time. Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit so you can go for a swim under the falls!

Garden of Eden

The Garden of Eden is a beautiful botanical garden along the Hana Highway. The garden is popping with color along its various walking trails and includes breathtaking coastal views. The garden also includes a viewpoint to see the stunning Puohokamoa Falls. I would plan 30 minutes to an hour for this stop depending on how leisurely you want to explore!

Kahanu Garden

Kahuna Garden is another tropical botanical garden worth exploring. The garden showcases a collection of plants from the Pacific Islands with a focus on plants that are valuable to Hawaiian culture. The Garden is also home to Pi’ilanihale Heiau which is a colossal lava-rock structure constructed by the Native Hawaiians in the 14th Century.

Wai’anapanapa State Park

Wai’anapanapa State Park is home to the remarkable Black Sand Beach. The contrast of colors on this beach is simply breathtaking. From the ebony black sand to the turquoise blue waters and lime green surroundings, this beach is truly one of a kind. Make sure to make a reservation well in advance as you don’t want to miss this stop! If you can, I would try to schedule this for the early morning slot. When we went, we got the first time slot and were one of the first people on the beach!

Hamoa Beach

Hamoa Beach is a beautiful picturesque beach that is perfect for a relaxing day in Hana. The beach is crescent-shaped and surrounded by cliffs with only two points of access. If you have time in your schedule, plan this stop for a day where you can take your time and soak in the laid-back vibes and calm surroundings.

Red Sand Beach

This is my favorite stop along the Road to Hana! The Red Sand Beach is probably one of the most unique beaches you will ever see. The beach is nestled in a cove of red lava rock and is contrasted by Kool-Aid blue water. The trail to the beach is technically closed due to its slick conditions but if you’re cautious, it is a completely doable hike. That being said, I wouldn’t recommend bringing children or elderly folks with mobility issues on this hike.

If you’re using the Gypsy Guide tour, it will not include this stop on its route. The trail to the beach can be tricky to find so make sure you know where you’re going ahead of time. For more detailed instructions on how to find the Red Sand Beach, read The Best Beaches in Maui: A Map & Guide.

Wailua Falls

Wailua Falls is the last stop before reaching Haleakala National Park. The falls are easily spotted from the road and you can conveniently park your car in the lot across the street. If you have time, take a dip in the plunge pool and swim beneath the majestic falls!

Pipiwai Trail

The Pipiwai Trail is another one of my favorite stops along the Road to Hana! The trail is located inside Haleakala National Park and is about 4 miles long. This hike will lead you through a lush bamboo forest and ends at the base of the stunning Waimoku Falls. I would allow about 2-3 hours to complete this trail. When we did this trail, we completed it in about 2 hours. However, we were going fast in order to finish the trail before sunset!

Pools of O’heo

The Pools of O’heo is a very short trail inside Haleakala National Park. Once you finish the Pipiwai Trail, you can simply walk straight in the opposite direction and complete the short hike to the viewpoint. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Pools leading out to the sweeping coastline.

Sunrise at Haleakala National Park

No Road to Hana Guide would be complete without mentioning Sunrise at Haleakala! This is the final stop along the road to Hana – although I recommend staying the night in Hana and making this your first stop on day two or three. Watching the sunrise at Haleakala is one of the most popular ways to view the park. To watch the sunrise, you will need to make a reservation here. You will start your day by driving to the very top of the mountain where you will be transported above the clouds. You will then be rewarded with one of the most serene sunrises of your life!