The Road to Hana is full of adventure and with many exciting things to see. The name of this road in Maui Hawaii is misleading because once you reach the town of Hana, the road continues and there is much more to do and see!
The key thing to remember is that the Road to Hana is all about the journey rather than the destination.
What can you expect on the Road to Hana?
As you begin your drive along the north coast of Maui headed for Hana, you will be surrounded by the beautiful lush tropical rainforest of Hana. To your left, you will get glimpses of the ocean as you make your way around each curve and hairpin turn of the road. Steep rugged cliffs below give breathtaking views.
Rain!
Expect some rainfall while driving with interrupted bouts of sunshine. Enjoy it since it is the “rain” forest afterall.
Waterfalls Gallore!
The Road to Hana has dozens of waterfalls. In the beginning, you will be tempted to stop at the first dozen you see and take a picture with the rest of the crowds. It will be hard to resist, but I suggest to keep going until you reach waterfalls farther down the road – they will have less crowds. Trust me, there will be plenty more waterfalls to see! More than you can count.
ONE OF MANY WATERFALLS ON ROAD TO HANA
Haleakala Park has dozens of waterfalls. This is a view of seven sacred pools within the park.
One lane bridges and hairpin curves!
Expect many one lane bridges across lovely streams of water. In fact, there are 620 curves and 59 bridges! The driving etiquette is to pull over and let one car pass at a time on each side.
ONE LANE BRIDGE ALONG ROAD TO HANA
In addition to what to expect, here are 4 Road To Hana Tips!
Road to Hana Tip #1 – Drive to the very end with limited stops and on your way back, stop at the places that caught your eye. This way, you will be able to better manage your time and insure you make it out of Hana before dark. The Road to Hana has many one lane bridges, blind curves and lanes with no shoulder, so it is best to drive in daylight!
With that being said… Tip #2 is to bring a good driver and someone comfortable with this type of drive!!! I have to admit, I was nervous in the passenger seat taking deep breaths for the first few miles! My driver was great, but the drive is still intense!
Road To Hana Tip #3 – Leave Early!
The drive alone can take up to 2.5 hours without stopping, just one way! Leaving early will give you plenty of time to leisurely enjoy your drive. There could also be traffic, so the earlier the better.
CROSSING A ONE LANE BRIDGE ALONG ROAD TO HANA
Tip #4 – Bring Snackies!
Every road trip needs snackies and water. While there will be local stands selling fruit and goodies like banana bread, some packed snacks are good just in case. I can suggest eating lunch in the town of Hana, however a packed lunch is also an option.
Tip #5 – Avoid Crowds!
There will be crowds and tour buses stopped at many of the view points and waterfalls, especially in the beginning. Remember tip #1? Well, to beat the crowds, drive past them to the end and you can make your stops later on your way back to avoid them. I did this and it was an awesome strategy!
SUNSET ON ROAD TO HANA – LEAVING JUST BEFORE DARK!
Tip #6 -To Plan or Not To Plan? That Is The Question!
Have in mind the things you would like to do, but leave room for spontaneity! A general idea of what you want to do, along with the tips in this post should suffice for an awesome trip.
I like leaving room for surprises and being in the moment! Freedom from following a plan precisely is liberating – besides, our lives at home is full of stress so why not leave the stressful mindset at home while on vacation.
If you are wondering what to do along The Road To Hana, read my blog post here! I will give you a list of my favorite things to see and do!
Learn about The Road To Hana here!
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