Finding Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is located on the island of Hawaiʻi. The Kīlauea Visitor Center is located on Crater Rim Drive off of Highway 11 between the 28 and 29 mile marker south of Hilo.
From Hilo: 30 miles southwest on Highway 11 (a 45 minute drive).
From Kona: 96 miles southeast on Highway 11 (2 to 2 1/2 hour drive), or 125 miles through Waimea and Hilo via highways 19 and 11 (2 1/2 to 3 hours).
Operating Hours
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day year-round.
- KIlauea Visitor Center and Park Store is open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Jaggar Museum is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Jaggar Museum Park Store is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- The Kahuku Unit section of the park is located between mile markers 70 and 71 miles south of Hilo. This section is open on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The gate will be locked at 3:00 pm. Kahuku is closed on the 1st Saturday of each month.
Weather
This park is large enough to encompass all weathers—summit to sea. While Hawaii’s climate is fairly consistent year-round, it’s the elevation that determines what sort of weather you should plan for. At sea level, hot and humid conditions prevail. The Kahuku Ranch area is a little cooler but can be hot when the sun comes out. The Kīlauea summit area is often in cloud, and temperatures range from the 50s to the 70s. The Mauna Loa summit, at 13,679 feet above sea level, can be a frigid, foggy, sleeting, snowing, howling cold place. There, real mountaineering gear applies.