One Day Road to Hana Itinerary for One Day – 2024

The road to Hana is an epic drive. The curvy, narrow road weaves its way along the coast of Maui to Hana. There are over 600 winding turns and more one-lane bridges than I could count. There is so much to do on the drive that it can be overwhelming. You need a Road to Hana Itinerary before you hit the road. This is a way to spend one day on the Road to Hana.

I tried it and did all of the research, so you don’t have to!

Why an Itinerary for one day on the Road to Hana?

Honestly, it’s just a time thing. It’s hard to give up two days on a trip.

Also, staying in Hana was going to be very expensive. Hana has fewer hotel options than other parts of the island.

The spot is stunning but not as accessible for a longer stay. If you’re looking for something relaxing, you may enjoy staying in Hana.

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Road to Hana Itinerary- Overview

Start- 7:00 am (or as early as you can)

Drive straight to Hana. You can stop some, but one of the perks is starting early, so you beat the traffic.

Plus, some of the best sites are in Hana and not on the road anyway!

In and Around Hana–

• Wailua Falls
• Haleakalā National Park – ‘Ohe’o Gulch
• Wai’anapanapa State Park
• Kaihalulu Beach
• Hamoa Beach
• Lunch

Stops on the Road to Hana on your way back:

• Coconut Glens- for Ice cream
• Pua’a Ka’a State Park
• Wailua Valley State Wayside
• Waikamoi Nature Trail

Things to Know Before You Go

The “Road to Hana” starts in Paia, at least 30 minutes from most hotels. Get gas in Paia before you continue on your journey. There isn’t a place to stop along the way, and it would be very stressful to be low on fuel during your drive. 

The drive to Hana is challenging driving. If someone is prone to motion sickness, bring medicine. 

If you get sketched out by curvy drives, be prepared to take some deep breaths. There wasn’t as much “I’m going to fall off of this cliff” as I expected, but it was still a drive that required attention. 

If you have an option for a smaller car with your car rental, take it. The narrow roads, small bridges, tight turns, and small parking lots make driving less stressful in a smaller car.

If you’re struggling to understand how it all fits together, I recommend staying a night in Hana.

If you don’t want to research or drive, take a tour so the guide can do the work for you. 

Alternatively, there are audio tours you can purchase to take with you, so it’s like a self-guided drive with a tour guide!

This is a road that locals travel on daily. They will drive much faster than you will be comfortable with. Let them pass as soon as possible when they come up behind you. You’ll both have a better day this way.

There are some places to stop along the way, but most are small local shops or stands. If you’re up for it, you should stop for a snack and support a small business as you make your way to or from Hana. But bring snacks and water too. It’s a long day; it will be no fun if you’re hungry or thirsty.

Bring or wear a swimsuit if you plan to get in the water at any of the beaches. Bring towels even if you don’t plan to get in the water. You can get wet or muddy just about anywhere you leave your car because this side of the island receives more rain.

How to Plan Your Day

As long as it’s light out, the earlier you can get started, the better. Every person you beat onto the Road to Hana is one less person you have to deal with along the way.

Try to be at the start of the road by 7:00 am. Some attractions may be closed later, but beating the crowds and tour buses is worth it.

Study the map before you go and have a plan for where you want to stop. See if your hotel has a paper map and take it with you. It helps you plan what you want to visit and track where you are on the road as you drive.

Note that the mile marks change while driving because the road’s name changes. Most maps note this, but this is one reason the hard copy of the map is helpful.

You will never be able to see everything! There is too much. Many stops along the road only have a few parking spots available.

Be flexible in your list.

A list of must-see places and a maybe list makes quick decisions easier.

You will be much happier if you start the day with a plan and don’t have to decide what to do on the fly.

Road to Hana Itinerary – Stops to Make

It’s recommended that you drive straight to Hana. In fact, my itinerary recommends driving straight through Hana to see some of the best sites. This will be a long day, so stopping back helps you gauge your time and energy levels.

Keep your camera ready as you drive.

There are waterfalls along the road, and you can get some good photos/videos as you drive. Don’t stop on the road or anything, but if you’re going early enough, you may have a couple of seconds to snap a photo. The drive will go pretty quickly if you don’t stop a lot on the way down.

Wailua Falls

Wailua Falls is past Hana on the right as you head out of the city. This 80 ft waterfall is just off the road. Pass the waterfall and look for parking on the left. Then, walk back for photos.

A pool is at the end of a slippery path if you are brave enough to venture down. On a hot day, it may have been worth it.

‘Ohe’o Gulch

Also known as the 7 Sacred Pools, this is a must-see stop and the last furthest point you’d be driving to. The pools are in Haleakalā National Park. 

If you haven’t already gotten your pass to Haleakalā and don’t have an annual park pass, be prepared to pay park admission of $30 (good for 3 days).

If you’re headed to The Big Island, an annual pass is a good idea since you’ll probably visit Volcanoes National Park, too.

Even early in the day, this part of Maui is warm, so have water and put on your reef-safe sunscreen. There are restrooms at the visitor’s center.

The hike to the pools is only a .5-mile round trip. The 80 ft of elevation gain isn’t bad, but you’ll be in the sun, so it is a little warm.

One of the reasons it’s essential to push through the drive is to access the pools without a crowd.

Driving straight through to the pools meant that we beat most people and had several minutes to admire the pools without other people around. I could also take pictures without working around others.

The waterfalls cascade and land in seven different “pools .” Swimming access used to be available, but it is no longer safe; please don’t try it. It’s closed for a reason. There are excellent places to photograph the pools from the cliff edge. Just be careful not to get too close.

There is also the Pīpīwai trail, which is a 4-mile round trip through a bamboo forest. This was too much for us to consider tackling in a day.

You could try it if you’re staying in Hana or are braver than us. With only one day on the Road to Hana, you won’t have time for multiple hikes; stay in Hana if you want to explore more.

Hana

Hana is a small town that has avoided much development. It’s charming in that way. Hana is a great place to slow down and disconnect.

There are great beaches around Hana, and you will only be able to spend a little bit of time at them, unfortunately.

Honestly, I wasn’t interested in getting sandy and wet and then climbing back in the car for a long drive. I opted to check out the beaches but not go for a swim.

You do you! The beaches are worth visiting.

Wai’anapanapa State Park

This black sand beach at the state park is a must-see on your Hana adventure day. The park is so popular that a reservation system is in place. Reservations fill up, and you will need one to get in.

Parking costs $25, plus $5 in admission for each person. We met a family that drove the entire road back to Wai’anapanapa a second time because they didn’t know and couldn’t get into the park on their first attempt. Don’t be them.

The passes are sold in four different windows:

7:00 a.m. – 10 a.m
10:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

It is difficult to know what time to pick. You can select multiple slots in the same time slot if you’d like to stay longer or have some flexibility. Make sure you arrive during your window and leave before it closes.

On a hot day, the sand can get very hot. The beach is in a semi-protected cove, but there can be a strong current and some rough breaks in the waves.

As usual in Hawaii, enter the water with caution. I had to put my feet in!

You can also cross the beach and continue hiking along the rugged lava rock cliff line. The waves will crash as you walk, sending a welcome spray to cool you down.

Kaihalulu Beach

This red sand beach in Maui is only accessible by a short but not trivial hike. Since there isn’t a parking lot nearby, you may need to search for parking.

This beach is on private property, and a prominent sign warns about how dangerous the hike is. I’m a rule follower, so continuing beyond this sign was stressful for me.

Everyone seems to ignore those signs. Maybe it shouldn’t have bothered me so much.

Use Google Maps and a little bit of trail finding to locate the start of the trail.

A landslide took out the original train, and now the hike follows the cliff line on some loose red dirt. There are a couple of steep/slippery hills to climb up and down.

At one point, the trail is barely a foot wide. This can be stressful and dangerous if you aren’t used to hiking.

It wasn’t a problem for us but only attempt it if you feel you can do the hike safely. If you have doubts, turn around, and don’t risk putting yourself or rescue personnel at risk. Nothing could ruin your trip quicker than a fall.

As you arrive at the beach, you’ll turn a corner and see a brilliant cove with red sand.

The intense blue water crashes fiercely on the lava rocks that protect the cove. Take in the scene from the trail before you descend to the beach.

It is one of the most striking views you’ll find anywhere.

The cove is cut into the Ka’uiki Head Cinder Cone. Ka’uiki Head is also an important cultural site for Hawaiians: the site of battles and the birthplace of Queen Ka’ahumanu.

The sand is rocky, and it hurts your feet. It was a pain to put my shoes back on.

The water was chilly in January, so swimming seemed like a tough ask.

Hamoa Beach

Hamoa Beach is just outside of Hana. Look for parking marked along the road, and then be prepared to take the path or stairs to the beach. It’s steep.

Take care with all of your beach-going equipment. This beach is stunning with its white sand and lack of lava rock! There are no lifeguards on duty, and the surf can be intense.

Swim with caution. The beach has showers, foot washing stations, and restrooms, another rarity on public beaches on Maui.

Of the beaches listed, this is the pick for spending a day on comfortable sand with the amenities. It’s stunning but not all too different from many other beaches. I liked the uniqueness of the black and red sand beaches for our trip.

Eating Lunch

There are only a few options for lunch. You can plan to pack a lunch with you for the road. You can also eat in Hana.

We opted for option 2.

There are many food trucks in the city that are worth checking out. The Thai food was delicious, and the portions were massive. It was one of my favorite gluten-free meals on Maui. There aren’t restrooms nearby, so plan to use the facilities at one of the parks.

Stops You Should Consider Making

Coconut Glen’s

I was not hungry for ice cream when we got to Coconut Glen’s. I’d noticed the signs for vegan ice cream when we drove by that morning and made a note to stop by on the return trip. Lilikoi is passionfruit, and the ice cream was delicious.

Pua’a Ka’a State Park

There are restroom facilities at this stop, as well as some picnic tables. A waterfall is near the picnic tables at the top of the hill. This is a popular spot for tour stops, so you may see some vans with groups in the water. There are also waterfalls you can see from the road. There are no sidewalks, so it can get a little sketchy making your way to see them. Use your judgment. It may not be worth it. Traffic was light when we were visiting, so I could safely scurry over to get a picture and look at the waterfalls.

Wailua Valley State Wayside

This overlook is easy to miss. There is a small parking lot and some stairs up to a lookout. The stop won’t be long, but you get an incredible view of the Ke’anae Valley and Wailua. Some very Jurassic Park waterfalls are on the opposite side of the overlook. If you’re short on time or the weather is cloudy or rainy, this could be skippable, but if you have a chance, the view is impressive.

Waikamoi Nature Trail

This one is a little misleading… I don’t recommend taking the hike, but look for this area and find a pull-out to admire the rainbow eucalyptus trees up close.

Driving by the colorful trunks on your way to Hana is cool, but seeing it up close is something extra special. It’s almost like a little glimpse into a children’s book.

Ke’anae Arboretum OR Garden of Eden

Either of the two gardens on the road to Hana would be a good stop. The rainbow eucalyptus trees can also be found at the Ke’anae Arboretum. It’s not likely that either of the gardens will be open on your drive to Hana. We planned to stop at one of the gardens but were too tired on our drive back. See how you feel. I don’t feel I missed out by not visiting since the trip felt like driving through a botanical garden.

One Day Road to Hana Drive- Maybe Skip These

Hanawi Falls

Look for it on your way to Hana and try to take a picture from the car. Even though the waterfall is beautiful, there is little parking for it. There are parking spots made in front of no parking signs. On a light day, you may be able to get away with it, but it’s probably not worth it.

Twin Falls

This is the first stop on the way to Hana. There is a large parking lot, and many people get sucked into stopping for it. Don’t be those people. You’re going to see loads of waterfalls. These are not so special and will put you behind a crowd of tourists. Stop on the way back if you feel you need to see them.

Kuamahina State Wayside

This wayside is an excellent stop if you need to use the bathroom on the way down. If you have a drone, you can get incredible shots of waterfalls and scenery from Jurassic Park movies. We don’t have one, but we saw some from another traveler. Otherwise, keep driving.

Ho’okipa Beach Park

This beach park could be an excellent afternoon spot for watching surfers on the waves, whale watching, and soaking in the beach fun. It’s such a good spot it gets busy. On our way home, we drove through the one-way parking lot but decided not to take a spot from someone who was there to surf. This would be a great place to spend some time on a different day.

Opana Point

This is a lookout for watching surfing and looking for whales. You can stop if you have time or check it out another day on your way back.

Road to Hana Itinerary- for One Day

The drive to Hana is a bucket list experience for anyone who enjoys a scenic drive, waterfalls, or beautiful beaches.

When deciding whether to attempt the Road to Hana in a day, make sure you plan well and are prepared for a 12-hour day.

Enjoy the drive!