Waikoloa to VNP

How long will it take us to drive from Waikoloa to VNP (Crater Rim), assuming it is open for visitors.

And what route would you suggest.

THANKS

Waikoloa to VNP

Waikoloa or Waikoloa Beach?

I%26#39;m going to assume you%26#39;re staying in Waikoloa Beach since that%26#39;s where most tourists mean when they say %26#39;Waikoloa%26#39;, but it will help you avoid some confusion to use the proper place name.

Ideally you%26#39;d drive down the Hamakua way, through Hilo, spend the night in VNP or environs, and drive back up the other way, through Ka%26#39;u and North and South Kona. Neither route is very easy at night, and if you%26#39;re making it a day trip, you will indeed be returning at night. There are plenty of things along the way to justify some time also, but you really can%26#39;t take the time if you%26#39;re trying to make it a day trip.

It will take you about 2.5-3 hours to VNP from Waikoloa Beach with just small bathroom/snack breaks, driving either the Hamakua or South Kona route. The Hamakua route is moderately better for those prone to car sickness and is prettier, and it takes you through Hilo, which is nice.

Waikoloa to VNP

We are staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. I dont know whether it is at a beach or not. Sorry.

We will have one full day to go to the park, and will need to be back that same day, since we wont want to pay for another hotel room at the park.

I appreciate all of your thoughts on how to maximize our time.

Thanks

Leave early in the morning, take a lunch with you to eat in the park, drive the Hamakua route, if you get to VNP around 11am, you can spend a nice 4-5 hours or so, then head back before it gets too dark, driving back the other way (South Kona) to get a nice sunset drive back.

You can of course make it a much fuller day, stopping along the way or stopping to eat lunch, and leaving the park at night, but I think you%26#39;re better off to try to drive back earlier. If it%26#39;s lava you want to see, the best way to do it is from the air, presuming there are lava flows at all.

Oh, and the Hilton is at Waikoloa Beach.

On April 16th, we left the lava viewing area (South of Puna) around 5:30. We were to the town of Waikoloa (stopped at Sharky%26#39;s for a burger) in 2 hours going the North route. The town is roughly 15 minutes from the Hilton. However, we hit almost every stop light, and were not slowed up by slow moving traffic for very long.

As were drove down, I noticed a plane on the side of teh highway, about 1/2 mile from the first lava over the road. Later, on the news, we discovered that an Island Hopper plane had lost power and did and emergency landing on the highway. We had discussed booking a trip on IH, but decided to explore Hilo for a couple hours and drive to the viewing site. WHEW, glad we did. :)

We arrived around 4PM. There wasn%26#39;t too much traffic. With binoculars, we were able to see the lava flow into the ocean. Around 5:15 we could see it barely with the naked eye.

As we headed back to Hilo, around 5:30. a lot of traffic was heading South, but it might have been locals.

Re this confusion:

Waikoloa Village (not a town, but a residential community with a school and shopping center, churches and a post office), and has been around for decades. On the island, Waikoloa means the Village.

The recent development around Anaeho%26#39;omalu Bay was and is named Waikoloa Beach Resort, and other than the hotels and the Kings%26#39; Shops there was nothing much there ten years ago.

I think it annoys residents when people refer to Waikoloa Beach Resort as Waikoloa. It%26#39;s taking the name away from a community where people live and conferring it on two hotels and a bunch of condo complexes. Very tourist-centric.

Aside from that, you will get wrong answers and directions when you ask about Waikoloa and you really mean the Hilton!