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Things to do nearHawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, on the Big Island of Hawaii, draws visitors with active lava flows, ancient craters, and otherworldly volcanic landscapes.

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Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, honoring its outstanding geological and biological significance. The park sits atop two of the world's most active shield volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, both of which have shaped the landscape of the Big Island for hundreds of thousands of years through continuous eruption cycles. Kīlauea has been erupting in various forms for decades, and the ever-shifting activity means no two visits are alike.

Crater Rim Drive loops around the summit caldera, passing steam vents, sulfur banks, and overlooks that frame the vast Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The Chain of Craters Road descends more than 3,700 feet from the summit to the coast, crossing miles of hardened lava flows and offering views of pit craters formed by ancient collapses. The Thurston Lava Tube, a naturally formed tunnel carved by flowing lava, lets visitors walk through the hollow interior of a volcanic system.

Beyond geology, the park shelters rare native Hawaiian ecosystems, including ʻōhiʻa lehua forests and habitat for endangered birds such as the nēnē, the Hawaiian state bird. The Kīlauea Visitor Center provides context through exhibits on Hawaiian geology and indigenous cultural connections to the land, including the significance of Pele, the volcano deity central to Native Hawaiian tradition. The surrounding community of Volcano Village offers small restaurants and lodges for those who want to linger.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a place that reminds visitors, quietly and unmistakably, that the islands beneath their feet are still being made.

Hawaii, USA

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Tips for visiting Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Visit the Jaggar Museum overlook area at night to watch the glow of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater against the dark sky, a sight most striking on moonless evenings.

Bring a headlamp and sturdy closed-toe shoes if you plan to walk any lava tube trails, including the Thurston Lava Tube, where the path can be uneven and dimly lit.

Arrive at the park early in the morning to beat afternoon clouds that can obscure crater views along Crater Rim Drive.

Stop at the Kahuku Unit on the park's southern boundary for a quieter hiking experience through ranching history and native vegetation far from the main crowds.

Pick up a free paper map at the Kīlauea Visitor Center and check the daily ranger talk schedule, as conditions and accessible areas change frequently due to volcanic activity.