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National park: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, HI

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes: 2 Days from Kīlauea's Crater Floor to the Sea

A walk across a lava lake, then down Chain of Craters Road to a sea arch

Volcanic crater at sunrise with trees in the foreground
Photo: NPS Photo/J. Wei
Length
2 days
Difficulty
Moderate
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
Budget
$$$

Two days at Kīlauea: cross the Kīlauea Iki crater floor, see a lava tube and sulfur vents, and watch sunset at Uēkahuna. Then drive Chain of Craters Road to the Puʻuloa petroglyphs and Hōlei Sea Arch, based at Volcano House.

  • Hike the 3.3-mile Kīlauea Iki loop across a cooled lava lake
  • Walk through the Nāhuku lava tube
  • Sunset over Kīlauea caldera at Uēkahuna
  • Puʻuloa, Hawaiʻi's largest petroglyph field
  • Stand above Hōlei Sea Arch at the end of Chain of Craters Road

The story

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes is two volcanoes' worth of landscape that you can see in two days. Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth according to NPS, anchors the park, and its summit and the road down to the sea hold nearly everything a first visit needs.

Day one stays at the summit. Start with the Nāhuku lava tube before the crowds, walk across the cooled floor of Kīlauea Iki crater, breathe the sulfur at Haʻakulamanu and settle in at Volcano House for lunch. Late in the day, watch the light fade over Kaluapele, the Kīlauea caldera, from Uēkahuna.

Day two drops down Chain of Craters Road: the cinder-buried Devastation Trail, the petroglyph field at Puʻuloa and the Hōlei Sea Arch where the road meets the Pacific. Pack water and snacks for the road, and plan a late lunch back at the hotel.

Volcano House sits on the caldera rim, so both days begin a short drive from the first stop. Volcanic activity and road conditions change; check the current-conditions notes below before you go.

Day by day

Day 1

Kīlauea Summit

Cross the Kīlauea Iki crater floor, explore a lava tube and sulfur vents, then watch the light fade over the caldera.

Must do
Activity7:30 AM · 45 min

Nāhuku Lava Tube

Go first thing: NPS suggests visiting before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid crowds, and parking is limited. A short rainforest walk leads into a 500-year-old lava tube, once the channel of a river of molten rock. NPS says the tube is lit from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so bring a flashlight for an earlier start. Do not touch the walls or roots.

A lava tube lit by orange electric light, surrounded by rainforest
Photo: NPS Photo/D. Boyle
Time
30 to 90 minutes (NPS)
Reservation needed
No
Distance note
NPS lists 1.5 mi round trip on foot from Kīlauea Iki Overlook; this plan drives to the lava tube lot.
Nāhuku Lava Tube
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Hours: Tube lit 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (NPS)
Season: Typically open year-round; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Nāhuku Lava Tube (new tab)
Sources (2)
Must do
Hike8:15 AM · 2 h 30 min

Kīlauea Iki Trail

Start early, because NPS warns that parking at Kīlauea Iki Overlook is extremely limited. The loop drops through rainforest to the cooled floor of the crater, where a 1959 lava lake sat, and crosses it past steaming vents and the vent below Puʻupuaʻi cinder cone before climbing back out. NPS rates it moderate to challenging: steep and rocky with a 400-foot descent and ascent.

Volcanic crater at sunrise with trees in the foreground
Photo: NPS Photo/J. Wei
Distance
3.3 mi
Elevation gain
400 ft
Route
Loop
Difficulty
Moderate
Dogs allowed
No
Trailhead
Kīlauea Iki Overlook, Crater Rim Drive
Distance note
NPS gives a 3.3-mile loop from Kīlauea Iki Overlook, plan 2 to 3 hours, with a 400-ft descent and ascent (the 400 ft is the crater-floor drop, used here as the gain; the only gain figure NPS provides).
Kīlauea Iki Overlook (Kīlauea Iki Trailhead)
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Season: Typically open year-round; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Kīlauea Iki Overlook (Kīlauea Iki Trailhead) (new tab)
Sources (3)
Activity11:00 AM · 45 min

Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks) Boardwalk

Volcanic gas seeps from the ground here, staining the clay red and brown and depositing pale sulfur crystals, with few trees thanks to the underground heat. NPS says the Steam Vents parking lot gives access to the wheelchair-accessible trail across the road. NPS advises people with heart or respiratory problems, pregnant women and young children to skip it.

Steam rises from mineral deposits in front of a boardwalk
Photo: NPS Photo/J. Wei
Time
30 to 45 minutes (NPS)
Reservation needed
No
Distance note
NPS lists 1.2 mi round trip from the Kīlauea Visitor Center end.
Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks)
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Season: Typically open year-round; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks) (new tab)
Sources (2)
Eat12:00 PM · 1 h

Lunch at The Rim at Volcano House

The restaurant at Volcano House serves lunch with views across Kīlauea caldera. Its site describes freshly caught fish, grass-fed beef and vegetables, plus live local music. Lunch runs 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner here requires reservations by the site's own note.

Meal
Lunch
Cuisine
Hawaiian-influenced, local fish and beef
Reservation needed
No
The Rim at Volcano House
1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Hours: Breakfast buffet 7:00-10:30 a.m., lunch 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m., dinner 5:00-8:30 p.m. (official site)
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for The Rim at Volcano House (new tab) 808-930-6910
Sources (1)
Must do
Viewpoint4:45 PM · 1 h 30 min

Sunset at Uēkahuna

Uēkahuna sits at the highest point on the caldera rim and is, per NPS, an important site for Native Hawaiian ritual and cultural practice, so visit with respect. The overlook looks across Kaluapele (the Kīlauea caldera) and down into Halemaʻumaʻu crater, with Mauna Loa beyond. NPS says the crater produces a glow at night, depending on activity. Bring a jacket and flashlight.

The sulfur bank exposed during the 2018 collapse inside a large volcanic caldera
Photo: NPS Photo/J.Robinson
Time
About 90 minutes around sunset
Best time
Late afternoon through dusk
Reservation needed
No
Uēkahuna
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Season: Typically open year-round; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Uēkahuna (new tab)
Sources (2)
Stay

Volcano House

The only hotel inside the park, perched on the rim of Kīlauea caldera. NPS says it offers 33 historic guest rooms, a dining room, snack bar and lounge; its site adds 10 cabins and 16 campsites at 4,000 feet. Staying here puts both days' starting points minutes away. Check current rates and availability on the official site.

Front of a large red wooden building with a driveway and covered entrance
Photo: NPS Photo
Type
Hotel
Location
Inside the park
Booking
Book / details
Reservation notes
Check current rates on the official site.
Volcano House
1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Volcano House (new tab) 808-756-9625
Sources (2)
Day 2

Chain of Craters Road

Drive from the summit down to the sea, stopping at a cinder field, ancient rock art and a sea arch.

Activity8:00 AM · 1 h

Devastation Trail

A paved, wheelchair- and stroller-accessible path crosses land buried in cinder by the 1,900-foot lava fountains of the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption, with views of the Puʻupuaʻi cinder cone. NPS says it is about one mile round trip and takes about an hour. Stay on the pavement, do not climb the cinder cone, and drive carefully, as nēnē (Hawaiian geese) are often near the lot.

A man and woman walking on a paved path through a barren landscape covered by cinders
Photo: NPS Photo/J. Wei
Time
30 to 60 minutes (NPS)
Reservation needed
No
Distance note
About 1 mile round trip, paved (NPS); NPS publishes no elevation gain.
Devastation Trail
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Season: Typically open year-round; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Devastation Trail (new tab)
Sources (2)
Must do
Activity9:45 AM · 1 h 30 min

Puʻuloa Petroglyphs

A boardwalk crosses a roughly 550-year-old lava field to the largest petroglyph field in Hawaiʻi, with more than 23,000 images according to NPS. They include poho (cupules) where newborns' umbilical cords were placed. NPS calls Puʻuloa a sacred site used ritually for over 500 years, so walk quietly and stay on the boardwalk. Bring water and sun protection.

Petroglyph of a human figure in gray rock
Photo: NPS Photo
Time
About 1 to 1.5 hours (NPS)
Reservation needed
No
Distance note
NPS activity page lists 1.4 mi round trip (the place page says 1.5 mi); moderate; NPS publishes no elevation gain. Trailhead coordinates are from the NPS thing-to-do record.
Puʻuloa Petroglyphs
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Season: Typically open year-round; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Puʻuloa Petroglyphs (new tab)
Sources (2)
Must do
Viewpoint11:30 AM · 45 min

Hōlei Sea Arch

The road ends at the sea cliffs, and a short walk past the gate leads to a roughly 90-foot arch of lava rock reaching into the Pacific. NPS says the observation area is about 1,000 feet past the gate; the first part is paved, but the path just before the viewpoint crosses rough, uneven lava rock. Cliffs may be unstable, so stay within the designated area.

A sea arch extending into the ocean from black cliffs with a bush in the foreground
Photo: NPS Photo/J. Wei
Time
20 to 30 minutes on foot (NPS)
Best time
Midday stop at the end of the road
Reservation needed
No
Hōlei Sea Arch
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Season: Typically open year-round; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Hōlei Sea Arch (new tab)
Sources (2)
Eat1:15 PM · 1 h

Late Lunch at Uncle George's Lounge

Back at Volcano House after the drive up from the coast, the lounge is a casual option for lighter fare, beer and wine with caldera views. Its official site lists hours of 11:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with food until 9:00 p.m., which suits a late return from Chain of Craters Road.

Meal
Lunch
Cuisine
Casual, lighter fare, bar
Reservation needed
No
Uncle George's Lounge at Volcano House
1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Hours: 11:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m., food until 9:00 p.m. (official site)
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Uncle George's Lounge at Volcano House (new tab) 808-756-9625
Sources (1)

Where to stay

Stay

Kīlauea Lodge

A small inn in Volcano Village with about 12 rooms, an outdoor jacuzzi and tropical gardens, one mile from the park entrance per its own site. The on-site restaurant serves dinner daily, so it makes a handy mid-range base. Check current rates.

Type
Hotel
Location
Outside the park
Booking
Book / details
Reservation notes
Check current rates on the official site.
Kīlauea Lodge
19-3948 Old Volcano Road, Volcano, HI 96785
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Kīlauea Lodge (new tab) 808-967-7366
Sources (1)
Stay

Volcano Village Lodge

Five suites in the Volcano Village rainforest, about five minutes from the park entrance by the lodge's account, with in-room breakfast included daily and fireplaces for cool evenings. A comfortable splurge; check current rates.

Type
Hotel
Location
Outside the park
Reservation notes
Check current rates on the official site.
Volcano Village Lodge
19-4183 Kawailehua Road, Volcano, HI 96785
Website for Volcano Village Lodge (new tab) 808-985-9500
Sources (1)
Stay

Nāmakanipaio Campground

A grassy tent campground among eucalyptus and ʻōhiʻa trees at about 4,000 feet, with restrooms, water, picnic tables and barbecue pits. NPS lists 16 tent-only sites at $15 per site, first come, first served with no reservations, operated by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Lodge Company. Nights are cool at this elevation.

Tent camping among trees at Nāmakanipaio Campground
Photo: NPS/S.Geiger
Type
Campground
Location
Inside the park
Price per night
From $15 (as of 2026-10-06)
Reservation notes
$15 per tent site (NPS); first come, first served; park entrance fee also applies.
Nāmakanipaio Campground
1 Crater Rim Drive, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718
Season: Open all year per NPS standard hours; check current conditions.
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Nāmakanipaio Campground (new tab)
Sources (2)

Where to eat

Eat

Dinner at Kīlauea Lodge Restaurant

Volcano Village's best-known sit-down dinner, per its official site: locally sourced, Hawaiian-infused cooking in a wood-filled dining room with a fireplace. Dinner is served daily 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., so go early. Reserve through the lodge's online system.

Meal
Dinner
Cuisine
Hawaiian-influenced, locally sourced
Kīlauea Lodge Restaurant
19-3948 Old Volcano Road, Volcano, HI 96785
Hours: Dinner daily 5:00-8:00 p.m.; breakfast Mon-Fri 8:00-10:00 a.m.; weekend brunch 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (official site)
Open in Google Maps (new tab) Website for Kīlauea Lodge Restaurant (new tab) 808-967-7366
Sources (1)

Map of places

  1. Nāhuku Lava Tube (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  2. Kīlauea Iki Overlook (Kīlauea Iki Trailhead) (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  3. Haʻakulamanu (Sulphur Banks) (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  4. The Rim at Volcano House (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  5. Uēkahuna (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  6. Volcano House (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 1
  7. Devastation Trail (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  8. Puʻuloa Petroglyphs (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  9. Hōlei Sea Arch (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  10. Uncle George's Lounge at Volcano House (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Day 2
  11. Kīlauea Lodge (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  12. Nāmakanipaio Campground (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option
  13. Kīlauea Lodge Restaurant (opens Google Maps in a new tab) Option

Good to know

Current conditions (as of 2026-10-06)

  • Private-vehicle entrance fee is $30 (NPS Data API, as of 2026-10-06).
  • NPS alerts list no closure of Chain of Craters Road, Kīlauea Iki Trail or Devastation Trail. NPS's conditions page warns of closures and delays from a two-year summit construction project.
  • Keanakākoʻi side of Kīlauea is closed for volcanic unrest: old Crater Rim Drive, the overlooks near Keanakākoʻi crater and the Crater Rim Trail to the crater (Devastation lot stays open). This plan does not use that area.
  • The Sulphur Banks Bridge is closed until further notice; the Haʻakulamanu boardwalk and trail are open from the west side near Steam Vents.
  • Kīlauea is erupting in episodes; NPS says eruptions can last hours and pause for weeks. Check USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory before planning night viewing. For eruption viewing at Kīlauea Overlook NPS suggests avoiding 5-9 p.m. due to heavy traffic.
  • Tephra (ash and glassy strands) at the summit can irritate skin, eyes and lungs; NPS suggests eye protection, long sleeves, a hat and a dust mask.
  • Other NPS notices (not on this route): Mauna Loa Road closed past the second cattle guard 2026-09-23 to 2026-10-29; Hilina Pali Road weekday shoulder work to 2026-11-19; Kīpukapuaulu Trail closed for hazardous trees.
  • Welcome Center hours: 9:00 a.m.-4:45 p.m. daily (NPS). The park is open 24 hours.
  • Volcano House dining hours (official site, as of 2026-10-06): The Rim lunch 11:00-2:30, dinner 5:00-8:30 with reservations required; Uncle George's Lounge 11:00-9:30.

Evergreen tips

  • Weather swings quickly at 4,000 feet; NPS recommends water, hat, sunscreen and rain gear.
  • NPS says summit parking lots typically fill by 10 a.m., so do the popular stops early.
  • Stay on marked trails and away from cliff edges, earth cracks and steam vents; do not climb the cinder cone at Devastation Trail.
  • Fuel up and bring snacks before Chain of Craters Road; the plan returns to Volcano House for lunch.
  • Nāhuku and Kīlauea Iki share limited parking; NPS suggests alternate trailheads if full.
  • Several areas here are sacred to Native Hawaiians: Uēkahuna and Puʻuloa in particular.
  • Distances: Kīlauea Iki is a loop; Devastation Trail and Puʻuloa are given as NPS round-trip figures.

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Sources

Good to know: distances and drive times are typical figures without live traffic, and where routes are shown the route data comes from OpenStreetMap contributors. Toll amounts are estimates and change often, so check them in the DriftKin planner or with the toll authority before you plan around them. Opening hours, fees, prices, permits and closures also change, so confirm with the park or business before you go.