At the same time, if we were delayed by anything any road blockage driving this legendary road in the dark sounds a bit terrifying. But still, people fear the road and take the I survived the Road To Hana T-Shirts Seriously. Ive written a whole slew of posts about the Road to Hana, but theres one question I get asked more than othersshould I drive the backside of the road to Hana? But there is more to it than that the enduring reputation that this is a dangerous road manifests itself in your mind. Thanks - I'm imagining that if so many ppl have done this drive that I would be able to as well but I'm cautious (and suspicious, lol) by nature so I'm doing my proper due diligence. **Paia Historic Town. I would def want to get there before dark the first day, though. 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. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Its mostly paved, but there are some portions that are gravel or a roughly graded cement. It wouldnt be fun to do that on the front side with all the traffic and narrow winding roads! Also you can't enter the Park to hike the Pipiwai Trail until 9 am. It is a long and difficult drive on a narrow winding mountain road. Narrowed it down to a certain location? It is such a unique and wonderful Road through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The Road to Hana is one of the best things to do in Maui! Since you are voiding your contract the rental agency will not come to help. Dont miss it! This will leave you with a deeper understanding and connection to Hawaii. The photo slideshow below shows each of these stops. Also to note, the Hawaii tourism people do encourage you to do a Road to Hana tour because of the potential dangers of the Road to Hana. Bring ones you don't mind getting muddy. : @kapenamorgan, What to expect driving the backside road to Hana. Our Hawaiian Food Guide to Hawaiis Must Try Foods, Best Beaches in Maui, Hawaii Our Ultimate Maui Beach Guide, How To Visit Maui on a Budget Saving money on your Maui, Hawaii Vacation. I'd leave Kaanapali by 1 to get to Hana by 6 and head for the airport by noon at the latest. The tarmac is smooth and well maintained. If you have serious doubts over whether or not the road is for you, or you are pretty convinced this type of driving is not your style then you have three options. Side Note: If youre looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. 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. Karakoram 'Friendship' Highway, China-Pakistan. They will be miserable. If you have ANY questions about planning your trip to Hawaii, you can join my free Facebook group here. However, the bridges are regularly inspected and are perfectly safe for light traffic. Paia is a small, laid back town on the Northshore of Maui. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! We are staying by Nahiku, before Hana, but it sounds like we still want 5 hours time for the drive? Read about my favorite luxury resorts, boutique hotels, honeymoon resorts, family friendly resorts, and condos (many under $100/night!). 13 years ago Save IMHO, it's neither dangerous nor scary. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Towels - It's most likely going to rain. The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. On average, that's one bend every 176 yards. I personally dont like to be on the road after dark at all, but once I make it to Kula (really even Ulupalakau), its fine driving back in the dark. The sheer remoteness of the area also plays on the mind. The other feature of the highway is the endless bridges. Mmmmkay, If you think any rental car company is going to come get you if you have a problem ANYWHERE, you have more faith in them than me. as Upcountry. Ive yet to see a current rental car contract that even mentions where you can or cant take the car on Maui (and I always read the fine print!). But, if you do keep driving, you will end up on what is known as the back road to Hana! PICTURED ROCKS MI The biggest mistake most people make when visiting Hana is trying to do it all in one day. Just my opinion, and I've done it several times. Parkings a bit tough, but arguably the best waterfalls on the Road to Hana. This road is also part of the daily commute for Maui's residents, so drive with aloha to avoid any frustration. Four wheel drive is 100% NOT necessary for driving the backside of Hana. So heres the scenario: people read about long lines of cars, limited parking spaces, and crowded hikes, waterfalls, etc. MAUI Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way to experience this side of Haleakala volcano . If youve just started your Hana research, heres how it works: the Road to Hana is considered to start in Paia on the north shore of Maui. The last gas station until you get to Hana is right next to Grandmas Coffee House which is one of the best breakfast spots on Maui. 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. 10 Best Museums In Chicago Which Museums Should You Visit In The Windy City? As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. The problem is we all confront fears in a different way. Ive written a lot here about this and I dont want it to sound scary, but I also want you to know EXACTLY what youre signing up for. It really is just better for everyone to pull over and just let less patient people past. You will need to allow more time than you have. And this is the part of the Road to Hana that I DO think is scary! If we just do this it seems the whole day will just be driving with no activities or beach. Kipahulu is home to some of the Road to Hana's most famous stops from the Pools at O'heo (Seven Sacred Pools), Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls. * *The final 5 stops are on the natural route along the Hana Hwy, but come prior to Mile Marker 0 *. 1. paia town. There are some spots that are popular with locals for camping and fishing, but I think those are best left unexplored by visitors unless youre taken there as a guest. Need to stay under a fixed budget? A lot of locals go off the road in there even and die. MICHIGAN We highy recommend doing a tour with large windows, an experienced local guide, and only going to safe, legal, epic spots! What makes it so dangerousIts a road! The Road to Hana (aka the Hana Highway) does not dead-end, so instead of turning around, it is possible to keep driving. Get your car inspected . I say if youre brave enough to get to Hana and Kipahulu, you might as well go the whole way around! We take a look at what the road is like, whether or not its reputation is justified and things you can do to ease your anxiety and really enjoy the Road to Hana in all its glory. But in general, I did not think the Road to Hana was dangerous or scary. If your other half wants to drive the road then a tour is not a good compromise. About 40 minutes into your drive youll spot the Kihikinui wind turbines. These activities past Hana town will still be considered Road to Hana activities since people typically do them as a part of their Road to Hana trip! Yes. There are literally signs posted telling you to honk as you go around the blind corners. Fun fact: there are more than seven of them! From the grounds you can get a great view of kaupo gap. My girlfriend. Google maps said 2 hours but I guess this is what happens when a bot gives you directions? 5) Is there any general safety advice you guys would give? The only sketchy part is if you're driving along the cliffs edge backwards into Hana on the waters edge. 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. This is the honey bee sanctuary. You are able to drive down the road to see the church up close or there is a viewpoint that overlooks the church on the bay after the bend in the road. The best stops along the backside road to Hana, Tips for driving the Reverse road to Hana, Alelele Falls which you can find on google maps here, Everything you Need to Know about Haleakala National Park, 10 Tips to Know Before you Travel to Maui, 21 Mistakes to Avoid on your First Trip to Hawaii, If youde like to see a video of driving the back way to Hana check out this. You can wear mosquito repellent, but there's not much you can do about the traffic. Also, is anyone planning a drive but is fearful of the road? Stop at the Laulima fruit stand next. The first of the road to Hana stops you'll come to is Paia town. As you continue driving down the Piilani Highway youll come up on some old homes and a bunch of run down old cars. On a calm day you are able to swim inside the pools. So avoid temptation and swim around the falls and NOT under. People that make it all the way to Kipahulu are usually the ones that ask about turning back and retracing their path back through Hana and on to Paia or driving through (continuing clockwise around the island) the backside of the Road to Hana. My favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free flights to Hawaii. UTAH Everything we have said above is solely aimed at the section between Paia and Kipahula, beyond that, the road changes immeasurably! You need to be at the airport 3 hours before your flight and it's a 3 hour drive from Wainapanapa IF you aren't behind a slow train(qnd the traffic will be very heavy during that time you are headed to the airport) also if weather caused a downed tree or landslide you are just stuck. (This is to say, they will say if something is scary, and the back road to Hana was not, to them.). . Three Bears Falls. 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. I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. There are quite a few places to stop to eat now, and quite a few restrooms now, What to Eat at Universal Studios, Hollywood, Chicago, Illinois Visitors Guide Basics. Of course if you only want to drive the back side of the road to Hana because you want to reach Haleakala National Park Kipahulu District sooner, you can turn around after exploring the park and drive back the way you came. There's a great souvenir shop here, and also a wide selection of food varying from island style tacos to kalua pork to classic hotdogs or mac 'n cheese! Well over 50 in total and most of the single lane for both directions. ), this will be on your mind all day ruining the trip. The Road to Hana is an absolutely stunning road trip to take on any Maui vacation, and is 100% a must-do. 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. It is a tough question to answer as if we accept this is an irrational fear it can be hard to put your finger on what exactly is the trigger! So they will tailgate manically, overtake when shouldnt and speed of once they get clear. It really is a unique experience, its totally different in the rain too, hopefully the waterfalls were in full flow they can dry up a little in the summer. Eventually, the Hana Highway turns into the Piilani Highway. If you take the road past Oheo Gulch (Seven Pools) and past Lindbergh's grave and continue around the south side of Maui to go all the way around, you will have to drive on about 5 miles of unpaved dirt and gravel road. I grew up riding ATVs and driving on trails in Colorado (I also drive a Jeep and a 4Runner) so I consider this drive FUN and not at all scary, but I can definitely see how if youre not a confident driver or youve only ever driven in the city it could be stressful. Its 11 miles past Hana town and takes a little over half an hour to reach with no stops. The Pools at O'heo. The Road to Hana is generally known for it's 52 miles of winding turns, liable to cause nausea and dizziness among even the most experienced road trip enthusiast, as well as it's 59 Lara Croft-esque stone bridges nestled in the thick Hawaiian jungle. Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! Most of the photos courtesy of Natalie Brown Photography. 1. Ive written a ton of posts that will help. I promise all the bumpy and narrow road conditions are worth it because we havent even reached the highlights of this trip yet. The biggest hazards on the Hana Highway are mosquitoes and traffic. You just have to keep your sight lines open and watch for cars coming in the other direction. Running from Kahului (or "where the airport is," as you might otherwise know it) to Hana on the east of Maui, the Hana Highway is a clifftop and a coastal road. As we made our way along the southern coast of Maui, we found the scenery to be beautiful and varied. You want to go back the way you came, most likely, rather than going around the back way. We respect your privacy. 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 Check out our favorite Tours here. Carretera a los Yungas ( Bolivia) Locally known as the 'route of death', this Bolivian road is 80 km long and considered by many as the world's most dangerous road. Yikes. The Road to Hana is high up on many peoples Must-Do Maui itineraries. If you get above 30 mph you are doing well! **Kaulahao Beach aka Kuau Beach Park. What did you do to mitigate them? At this historic store you can purchase snacks and use a restroom if you are a customer. Remember if you push on you have to come back this way (or the scarier, riskier back route! Click here to search for Maui vacation rentals for your trip. This being said, travel at your own risk. Driving in a caravan (even when you dont know the other people) takes away a LOT of the stress of creeping around blind corners plus the lead car has to sort out all of the passing issues with other cars ; ). I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. If you aren't planning on stopping at any of the waterfalls, trails, scenic viewpoints, etc., the drive straight from Lahaina to Hana will take a good 2.75-4 hours, depending on time of day. There is almost nothing about the drive that causes anxiety in us. HALEAKALA HI What about a convertible? Quite a few people continue on past Hana to the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park where you'll find the Oheo Gulch (aka Seven Sacred Pools) and the Pipiwai Trailhead. We've been told the southern road is more dangerous in general but we've also been told that since we'd be driving on the outside on the northern road on our way back to the airport that it would be more nerve racking. Even though the road covers a relatively short distance, the turns and low speed limits . This trip takes approximately 7.0 hours to complete and the Road to Hana is considered the 5th most dangerous road in the world. Alternatively, you may use. How long to travel Maui? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114353082', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui to start the RTH? These falls are some of the best waterfalls that Maui has to offer. Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! Id start with my 15 favorite resorts and hotels on Maui. In terms of the road, no there aren't cars falling off of it all the time (I mean, it happens, but) and it's not that scary to me if you are used to winding mountain roads. Heres my best tip for driving past Hana: always try to follow a car in front of you. It is not a place for nervous drivers, and if even attempting the Hana Highway is questionable for you, do not even consider the back route. It sounds like its changed a lot since you drove it, sounds more fun like that! GRAND CANYON AZ Yes, it is long, hard work, challenging, and costs a full day of your vacation along with a precious lie-in, but there is so much beauty and wonder along this little highway it has to be right at the top of your bucket list. Okay, once you pass this portion (the first 3-5 miles past Kipahulu), the road clears up nicely into a wide open terrain. more! My husband and I are going in June and we will be doing it as hes not a nervous person ? I did not want to drive this most scary and dangerous part, and I walked part of the back road to Hana. and 59 bridges, 46 of which are one lane. The road leads you through flourishing rainforests, flowing waterfalls, plunging pools and dramatic seascapes. 9) Is there anything I'm not considering that I should be considering? In about the same amount of time as it would take you to go back the way you came, you can see a side of Maui many miss. Yeah we are not overly phased by these things but some people really do. Along this road, there are 620 curves (who counted all of those?) Safer and more dangerous parts of Road to Hana Jul 16, 2022, 5:27 PM Save Hi, We are planning a trip to Hana on Aug 7. 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