Have you ever dreamed about renting a campervan and going on a road trip across the Big Island of Hawaii? The trip planning might seem overwhelming at first. However, this travel guide has everything you need to kickstart your planning, including camper van rental information, campground recommendations, a sample itinerary, phenomenal sites to see, and the best places to eat and drink.

This post is based on notes from Lauren Ember from @afamwithavan and on one of her podcast appearance on The RV Atlas. All photos are also by Lauren Eber. Thanks Lauren!

Campervan at Laupahoehoe

To get started on your Hawaiian road trip, book a flight into Hilo or Kona, which have the island’s major airports. Consider using one as a starting point and one as an ending point, allowing you to start and end your road trip in different parts of the island. Or, you can plan a grand loop and circle the whole island. While in town, pick up a rental vehicle and groceries, and you’ll be all set for adventure.

While it is common to sleep inside a camper van on the mainland, some campgrounds in Hawaii do not allow visitors to sleep in vehicles. Be sure to research this before booking a campground. If needed, plan to take along a tent and camping gear.

While there aren’t many options for renting a camper on the Big Island of Hawaii, you will find some good choices if you plan early, including:

To hear more tips for planning a campervan road trip across the Big Island of Hawaii, click on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Akaka Falls

Instead of renting a camper, it’s also possible to have a grand adventure by renting a car. Across the island, you’ll find various types of accommodations available within the national park and beyond, including hotels, cabins, and glamping rentals.

Camping options are included in the sample itinerary below!

Campsite at Spencer Beach Park

Lauren Eber and her family did an epic tour of Hawaii’s Big Island in a 1990s VW Westfalia. Here is Lauren’s recommended itinerary for a 1-2 week #vanlife road trip across Hawaii’s Big Island, making a grand loop that starts and stops in Hilo:

Views from a Laupahoehoe Beach Park campsite

Sunset at Spencer Beach Park

Tent view from Spencer Beach Park

Hawaii Volcanoes Crater Rim Drive

While on a road trip across the Big Island of Hawaii, stopping to explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must. To fully appreciate the park, it’s good to first learn about the geology that created the park’s explosive attractions.

While most of the world’s volcanoes are located around tectonic plate boundaries, the islands of Hawaii were formed by a hot spot in the earth’s mantle, under the ocean. The Hawaiian plate moves at a rate of about 4 inches per year over this hot spot, which is currently located under the Big Island of Hawaii and is responsible for the ongoing volcanic activity.

There are four active volcanoes on Hawaii’s Big Island:

Namakanipaio Campground in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Because of all the active volcanoes, it is important to check conditions before and during your trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the further Big Island. Campground information is constantly changing, as places open and close regularly due to volcanic activity or effects of lava flows.

Some recent eruptions affected various areas of the island:

Once you arrive, start your visit at the Kilauea Visitor Center to get your bearings. You’ll find exhibits and can talk to a ranger to get the latest on eruption, hike, and activity information. Be sure to ask about ranger-led programs and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet for any kids with you.

One of the best ways to explore the park is to make a scenic drive, but be sure to allow plenty of time for stops at overlooks and for any hikes you plan to do. There are two main scenic drives that hold most of the top sites: Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road.

Crater Rim Drive is 10.6 miles long and circles the summit caldera. Allow 1-3 hours, depending on how often you stop. This journey takes you through desert and rain forest landscapes. It has access to many scenic stops and short walks. Find more information from the NPS here.

Hawaii Volcanoes Crater Rim Drive

Here are some recommended stops on the Crater Rim Drive:

Lava tubes along Crater Rim Drive

The Chain of Craters Road is another exceptionally scenic drive through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, especially when the weather is clear. This drive takes you from the crater down to sea level, heading toward the coast until the road disappears under frozen lava before you reach the ocean.

There are too many scenic stops along the road to list here, but plan to spend at least three hours round-trip exploring this 19-mile road. Allow more time if you do a lot of hiking and exploring! Here are two highlights:

In addition to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, here are two more NPS sites to include on your visit to the Big Island of Hawaii:

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau Historical Park is a sacred site to the Hawaiian people, an ancient sanctuary for defeated warriors, along the Kona coast. This park is easily visited from Kona and a worthwhile stop. Get oriented at the visitor’s center, then head out to see the royal grounds and the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau ceremonial site, bounded by a massive rock wall. If time permits, hike a mile each way to the historic Kiʻilae village.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. Start by getting oriented at the visitor’s center and bookstore, then head to the beach to see the sea turtles and the fish trap, fish pond rock wall, and petroglyphs. This park is also easily visited from Kona, and/or combined with a day trip to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau.

Hawaii Laupahoehoe Campsite View

We can’t talk about a road trip across the Big Island of Hawaii without talking about the unique food and drink found here. Here are some tips:

More campsite views from Laupahoehoe

We hope you enjoyed this trip planning guide for a road trip across the Big Island of Hawaii! If your travels won’t take you off the mainland, don’t miss our our other national park information, including 35 Tips for RV Trips to National Parks and Which National Parks Have RV Hookups?

A big thank you to Lauren Eber for sharing her detailed trip notes and the fantastic photos!

Don’t forget that you can listen to a full podcast episode about Lauren’s adventures by clicking on the media player above–or listen to the RV Atlas wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

The post Planning an Epic Camper Van Trip Across the Big Island of Hawaii appeared first on The RV Atlas.