Big Island

We are planning a trip to the Big Island in March and are planning on staying in the Keahou area. Which is the best way to get to the volcano? About how long will it take? We would greatly appreciate any other advice.

Big Island

If you want to see the volcano, I%26#39;d suggest staying a night in Hilo; it%26#39;s going to take over two hours to get to the volcano from Keauhou- probably more like three.

Otherwise, I suppose you could go north to where you go east to Hilo, and then follow the signs to the park from Hilo. To get back you could go south and thus circle the island, but I%26#39;d really suggest staying over a night in Hilo- you can explore the Park better and enjoy the scenery as you drive better.

Big Island

the best is via hiway 19....allow 3 to 3.5 hour drive that way Leave Keauhou bo 0700

You want to travel the east coast in the morning when it is sunlit. and in its best

Driving south is shorter 2.5 hours... but pretty ugly and really nothing to see or stop at and no services....return back to Kona via 11 leaving the park by 1500

Thanks! What is the name of the road that goes east to Hilo?

Sounds like it will be a long day! Do you think that allows enough time to explore the park?

Hiway Nineteen (19) dont look for hiway signs or milage on our roads.... there is only 1 road around the island... one south of Hilo and Kona it becomes hiway (11) eleven

Again, there will be no sighs

It%26#39;s do-able in a day. I%26#39;ve done it several times. Just start early. I%26#39;d suggest a good guidebook to help you get around the island and the park. Map out what you want to do and stick to a schedule.

Thanks. Any advice on which way to go and what to stop and see along the way?

For very general questions like what is there to see, there are tons of resources already on the forum. Check out existing topics on the drive, there are hundreds of them. Also to read a guidebook or website that lays out the island and its sights for you is IMHO the best first step before planning through forum questions.

It will tell you what there is. People here give you advice you can%26#39;t get from a book, once you know the basics.

Check out trip reports as well as other people%26#39;s itineraries. Itineraries show what people want to do; the reports tell what was possible to do. Both are posted in the forum.

On the left menu, Things to Do shows attractions and traveler articles. The Map link will show you the island roads.

There are signs for the highways at the junctures; there are just not signs all along the highway. There are mileage markers. Signage saying how many miles to this or that is very sparse, but you will find it at the main towns. It is hard to get lost.

Your car rental drive map is actually enough for the main drive.

I did run into a woman with the worst map ever who was lost in Waikoloa Village thinking she was on Kawaihae Rd/19. Her little map from some magazine didn%26#39;t even show Waikoloa Rd so she had no idea where she was. (Waikoloa Rd is a main route and every map SHOULD show it.)

From Keauhou you can either take the upper highway (Mamalahoa) to Waimea or take Queen Ka%26#39;ahumanu the lower highway and then cut up to Waimea via Waikola Rd or Hwy 19.

The upper highway is rather narrow and winding in parts, parts having no shoulder. If you want a straight highway with a shoulder to it, then take the lower highway.

Check out the Google map link on the left menu like I said. It will let you scroll around ... click on the satellite view to see the actual terrain with the roads superimposed.

Thanks so much for your very helpful advcie!

Yes 2 1/2 hours each way south and it is not an ugly drive, I love that drive, and find it very interesting. If you go that way stop at Punalu%26#39;u Black Sand Beach and Punalu%26#39;u Bakery!