Most of the road is one lane with pullouts. The main thing that makes people fear the road is reputation! The Numbers really do not match the roads reputation. The main part of the Road to Hana which is not particularly dangerous means the drive that most people do. Certainly not for tourists. Some more reasoned, I imagine people living in the Serengeti are very justifiably fearful of lions, and Bull elephants, Soldiers have a real and healthy fear of the enemy! Its a cumulative thing that adding in the fairly stressful driving conditions can tip people over the edge to the point the drive is just no longer fun. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353050', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Napili beach as well. Need a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms? Assume about 45 minutes of direct driving time from Lahaina to Kahului, then another 2.5 hours (53 miles at 25mph), plus stops on the Road to Hana itself. Need a coffee or fresh fruit after your refreshing waterfall plunge? Be prepared. 9. Other parts get windy and are on a side of a cliff. We will land in the morning, rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. Break up the drive with a great hike Kaumana Trail. Alternatively, you may use. Well, you get the picture. Try to leave Paia by 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and plan on being back in Paia before dark. If the (only) road from Kaanapali to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If you leave Paia by 8AM (and hey earlier is even better), I promise you that youll be ahead of 90% of the people planning to drive to Hana that day. The first of the road to Hana stops you'll come to is Paia town. Dont miss some of my most popular (and favorite) posts about Maui: my Maui favorites, the best Maui itinerary, how many days to spend on Maui, Maui vs Kauai, where to see turtles on Maui, my favorite road to Hana itinerary, guide for sunrise at Haleakala National Park, how to bike down Mauis volcano, my review of the Maui Pineapple Tour, 20 of the best adventure activities on Maui, 5 Maui day trips, and the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. The road is such a stunning journey through the most amazing landscape we just want everyone to experience it. What are your fears and doubts? There are many adventures to have in Hana so I always recommend staying a night or two in Hana to be able to experience all that Hana has to offer. That's 2 extra hours after how many hours on the plane? NORTH DAKOTA The Best Stops on the Road to Hana Early Stops Most of the big waterfalls and impressive black sand beaches are later on in the drive, so for the first hour or so, just enjoy the road and get as far along as you can to keep the crowds way behind you, especially if your objective is to do the Pipiwai Stream Trail Hike: Take your valuables with you or at the very least keep them out of sight. Also through yourself into the Navigation. Its worth a stop if you have time. Sounds fun? If you are in charge of the directions and finding the stops, that is one less thing to distract the driver and gives you something to do. They are indeed blind corners (you cant see if anyone is coming around the other side), but its not actually that scary. As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. Theyve got the largest selection of rentals youll find anywhere and you can easily filter to find exactly what youre looking for. ALL OF THIS BEING SAIDif this makes you nervous, if youre not an easy driver, if youre not used to trail driving or driving outside of a city, if you have an overwhelming fear of heights or significant anxiety, or if you question the safety for ANY reason, its always best not to go! You can drive the road to Hana yourself, or take a tour in a van . Also, once youre at the National Park, its quicker to drive the back way instead of backtracking through Hana and around with all the traffic. The Road often apps up in worlds most dangerous roads lists, along with other such shock journalism. Hawaii is known for some of the world's most beautiful waterfalls, and Maui is no exception. SNORKELING SHIRTS Even though the road covers a relatively short distance, the turns and low speed limits . Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, guide for sunrise at Haleakala National Park, 20 of the best adventure activities on Maui, the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. If your other half wants to drive the road then a tour is not a good compromise. 6) I am not a daredevil but I'm a careful driver who has never been in an accident in 32 yrs of driving due to being defensive and aware on the road. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases that gives me a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decided to make a purchase. You will need to allow more time than you have. 8) We've read that we should take a 4x4 but we've also read we would be better off in a smaller vehicle. My friend and I visited Maui in 2019 and neither of us was brave enough for the drive. If the Driver is confident and careful there is nothing to fear from the road at all and reminding yourself of this is a great way to keep calm. I did not want to drive this most scary and dangerous part, and I walked part of the back road to Hana. Road to Hana. This trip takes approximately 7.0 hours to complete and the Road to Hana is considered the 5th most dangerous road in the world. Grab a cup of coffee and try it with their lavender honey. Risks include tow trucks that take a long time and costs lots of money. If youve narrowed down the area of the island you want to stay, but need help picking a specific hotel, read these posts about where to stay in Wailea, Kihei, Kaanapali, Lahaina and Kapalua, and Hana. Avengers Campus Disney California Adventure- Ultimate Guide, 10 Best Things To Do In Chicago, Illinois Our Guide to the Top Attractions in Chicago, Illinois. So if you're interested in the Road to Hana, then you may also be interested in these top things around Maui: Waianapanapa State Park Nakalele Blowhole Lahaina Banyan Court Hookipa Beach Maui Ocean Center (Aquarium of Hawaii) Iao Valley State Monument Haleakala National Park Yes, it would not be fun to break down on the backside of the road to Hana or have a flat tire, but guess what? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353132', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui backs up, as it often does, it could well be longer. But really, we want people to experience the road for themselves. The Pipiwai Trailis a moderate hike that is 4 miles out and back. There is almost nothing about the drive that causes anxiety in us. The most iconic part of Bayburt-of Road is called Dereba Turns. The next and last stop until you get to Ulupalakua (Maui Wine and the Ranch Store) is the Kaupo Store. And we have some questions that we're hoping you lovely folk can help answer: So avoid temptation and swim around the falls and NOT under. 808/572-1693), a good stop for drinks or snacks for the ride. Encourage them to take things easy and to explain themselves when driving. I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. Hanawi Falls is located right after Mile Marker 24 on the Road to Hana. My go-to airline is Southwest (seriously, I ONLY fly Southwest) so I use this Southwest Rapid Rewards card to rack up points every time I fly. It is then easy to imagine that people from Urban Los Angeles, used to colossal Freeways (which put the fear of God into us!) As you can see, the. Driving a car is dangerous. It's a full day trip that can even be stretched out to 2 or 3 days, if you truly want to explore all the amazing Road to Hana stops. ***Want to get FREE flights to Hawaii? You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. Shortly after the ranch store is Mauis only winery. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. In the end, was it all worth it for YOU? Maui Tourism Guide Our Guide to Travel and Tourism on Maui Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii Attractions All the Best Things to do in Maui, Hawaii, Best Place to Stay on Maui, Hawaii Our Guide on Where to Stay in Maui, Hawaii. Pullover for quicker drivers, Take the widest line on blind corners, Give way on the single-lane sections if you are not sure others will. Fatalities are rare and accidents often very minor. It has an arid quality. Sipping pineapple wine is an unusual thing to do in Maui and is one of the best things to do Upcountry Maui although I recommend that you spend a separate day exploring as there are many cool things to do Upcountry. This is the honey bee sanctuary. The Scariest thing I have ever had to confront in my lifeMy wedding speech! We've been researching the attractions on the Hana Highway since 2002 when the highway first made a major and incredibly positive impression on us. 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. The first lookout on the left is Koki Beach overlook but you can skip this and continue to Hamoa Beach further ahead. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353117', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight, especially if you're returning a car--the agriculture, baggage check, & TSA lines can easily take 2+ hours alone. You land in the morningcoming from mainland or another island? 1. Just curious why do you feel this to be a better choice than enjoying a couple hours at the beach first? These are the main reasons people find the road uncomfortable. If we arrive at the airport at 10am, you would suggest to simply start driving out east to Nahiku and not see the west at all? But this doesn't stop many adrenaline junkies from taking on the route which separates Bolivia's capital, La Paz, and Coroico in the Yungas region. ), read my reviews of staying at the Four Seasons and the Fairmont Kea Lani. For full transparency,I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. I would def want to get there before dark the first day, though. Is the Road to Hana Worth it? It is also known for having a lot of one-lane bridges that only allow cars to drive through in one direction at a time. Besides the black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park, this really is the crown jewel of the Road to Hana. Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. **Ho'okipa Beach Park. GULF ISLANDS FL : @kapenamorgan And some of those narrow and windy parts of the road are without a guard rail. Want to read more? the answer is an unequivocal YES! 4 The Road Is Winding. Get your car inspected . ARIZONA Among the recent ocean-related fatalities around Maui, one stands out to Keanae resident Napua Hueu the death of a 38-year-old Lahaina man who hiked the Puka Maui trail and became unresponsive . Its 11 miles past Hana town and takes a little over half an hour to reach with no stops. This is the "safe" route. Drive Defensively, there may be idiots on the road but pre-empting them and driving n a defensive manner ensures you are less likely to get into trouble. But, if you do keep driving, you will end up on what is known as the back road to Hana! road to Hana. If you have a solid plan for where you want to stop and you just keep moving along, youll stay in front of the crowds all day and youll have a great time. Was it worse or better than your fears? The Road to Hana is over 50 miles along Maui's rugged north shore and east side with 600+ tight turns and about 50 one-lane bridges. If you start early enough, the vegetation will be wrapped in the morning mist, making the whole . I know it may sound tempting but swimming under the falls is dangerous as rocks get unlodged and fall from the top of falls which can knock you in the head. 5. That said, of course DO take care while you are driving the Road to Hana! Report inappropriate content dusty56438 Saint Cloud. Dont miss it! Sustained by the Hanawi Stream, here you'll find that the lower waterfall cascades 200 feet into a freshwater pool. Malama Aina which means take care of the land. Most visitors tend to zip to and from Hana with a checklist of sights to photograph. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! It really is just better for everyone to pull over and just let less patient people past. (Highlighted above is the most dangerous stretch of the Kahekili Highway - 4.5 miles of what amounts to barely more than a golf cart-sized lane etched into the side of a cliff) So the idea started in the old capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, Lahaina, otherwise known as a cozy little tourist town along the western shore of Maui. My favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free flights to Hawaii. If you ask them directly, theyll hem and haw (they give you the strong impression that its forbidden) but basically what it comes down to is they wont come and get you if you have a problem.. I carry AAA independently (plus my auto insurance and credit card cover this) so I always decline all extra insurance. And to finish with my most solid argumentif a big tour bus can drive the backroad to Hana, so can you ; ). After growing up on these the road to Hana was no problem. Fun fact: there are more than seven of them! ROAD TRIP AMERICA Exploring and discovering are all part of the journey and a van tour is often a long and pretty boring way to see the road, even if you get a great guide and they show you all the best locations. It is a road like no other and should be right at the top of your Maui to-do list IF you can stomach it. Have a great time, and enjoy your visit to Hana and the rest of Maui. ZION UT Period. You'll battle the traffic with other day trippers, missing some of the drive's highlights due to time constraints and eventually running out of . Be sure to take your lunch and dont e xpect a bathroom break! Does this add a lot to the drive, having the top down? SLEEPING BEAR DUNES MI The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. We go into detail in the linked article, but, Spoiler alert! That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. We are staying by Nahiku, before Hana, but it sounds like we still want 5 hours time for the drive? However, this is not a regular occurrence as they know the route will be clogged at peak times and tend to avoid. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. Once you leave the National Park, theres not really a ton of places I recommend to stop. More posts about where to stay on Maui: Trying to figure out where to stay on Maui? Really just understanding that the Road is actually perfectly serviceable and 99% of the fear is in your mind can help overcome that fear. OAHU . The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . It was ok, not really our thing. And tend to avoid sounds like we still want 5 hours time for the drive okipa Beach.! My auto insurance and credit card cover this ) so I always decline all extra insurance the?..., of course do take care while you are driving the road to Hana hour to reach with no.! 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Trucks that take a long time and costs lots of money cup of coffee and try with. Things easy and to finish with my most solid argumentif a big tour can. The backroad to Hana was no problem we go into detail in the morning mist, making the whole rail!

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