If the (only) road from Kaanapali to central (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Most people will drive the Road to Hana as an out-and-back, starting the day by driving past the town of Paia, and then drive to the town of Hana or the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park. And finally, someone with little experience outside of their comfort zone, someone who driving is an anxious experience for in the best of times would just fond the road far too much. The average visitor is not going to think twice about the number of people they encounter along this road unless they were truly thinking they would be the ONLY ones driving to Hana. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We all have different phobias and they can not be dismissed just because we do not suffer from them. This is the honey bee sanctuary. This is a great place to use the restroom and grab snacks/food for a picnic somewhere on the road. Despite what the name suggests, the town of Hana is not the destination; it's the drive itself. Sipping pineapple wine is an unusual thing to do in Maui and is one of the best things to do Upcountry Maui although I recommend that you spend a separate day exploring as there are many cool things to do Upcountry. Most visitors tend to zip to and from Hana with a checklist of sights to photograph. 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. The back road to Hana conditions are as followed. However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. Driving the backside road to Hana or the other road to Hana is the perfect way to get off-the-beaten path when exploring Maui. Oh, and 5 pm is really pushing it for a 7 pm (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Other parts get windy and are on a side of a cliff. Yes this is going to be a long day but I promise its worth it! Take a van or coach tour Having an air-conditioned vehicle with a driver/guide is really the best way to see Hana. SLEEPING BEAR DUNES MI 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. Hiking Shoes - If you want to hike. Malama Aina which means take care of the land. Road to Hana. And should you consider avoiding it for legitimate safety concerns? Lets support local and sustainability. Soon you will come up on St. Josephs Church, this is such a beautiful piece of Maui. Driving the backside voids your rental car contract. This is a great spot to park, stretch your legs, shop and grab a bite to eat! More! On an island full of beautiful scenery, the Road to Hana is among Maui's most gorgeous attractions. FLORIDA, U.S. NATIONAL PARK SITES Hana Highway: 617 turns and 46 one-lane bridges in Hawaii Located on the eastern side of Maui, the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Hana Highway is one of the most scenic drives in the world. Hana, the quaint little backwater town has just the one road leading in or our and this is the drive of a lifetime! Sounds fun? It has 600+ curves, and many of them are hairpin. This being said, travel at your own risk. They will be miserable. Quite a few people continue on past Hana to the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park where youll find the Oheo Gulch (aka Seven Sacred Pools) and the Pipiwai Trailhead. The road is tricky to drive and requires care, but this is very obvious to anyone driving the road and as long as sensible precautions are taken, such as, you know, slowing down for corners, more so for blind narrow bends and giving way at the one-way sections, obeying the speed limits and generally just not being a braindead moron, there really is nothing about the road to make it unsafe. While the Road is not that bad really, for anyone nervous it can be terrifying, and you would unlikely enjoy the journey. How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? The backside of Hana has some one lane graded dirt roads and rusty guardrails so the drive requires extra caution. Bug Spray - Mosquitos love Hana tourists. We are staying by Nahiku, before Hana, but it sounds like we still want 5 hours time for the drive? We would love to hear from those who braved the road though. At the same time, if we were delayed by anything any road blockage driving this legendary road in the dark sounds a bit terrifying. The second English expressway on our list, this scenic road was recognized by the United Kingdom's Road Safety Foundation as one of country's most dangerous roads in 2010. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. For about 20 miles (32 km) between Wailuku and Kapalua, you need to navigate rocks on one side and steep cliffs on the other. Its 60ish miles of continuously bending tarmac slice right through some unbelievable scenery, with countless waterfalls, dense jungle foliage, and plunging seacliffs allowing sweeping vistas down the coast. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. I say if youre brave enough to get to Hana and Kipahulu, you might as well go the whole way around! I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. GRAND TETON WY In this guide about driving the back road to Hana, well go over what to expect, how long it will take, where it starts, all the best stops and any necessary tips youll want to know before embarking on this Maui road trip. Hi Im Jess. Hopefully, we can help allay some of these fears? The road is endlessly winding and many corners are seriously blind. The Road to Hana is more than just a great drive through a beautiful area of Maui. And then, most people will end the Road to Hana at Hana or Kipahulu. The most iconic part of Bayburt-of Road is called Dereba Turns. It also says its 2h40mins from OGG to Nahiku but Ive been told Id better give it 5 hours so Im getting that I should more or less double the amount of time Google maps suggests. If we just do this it seems the whole day will just be driving with no activities or beach. And to finish with my most solid argumentif a big tour bus can drive the backroad to Hana, so can you ; ). The biggest mistake most people make when visiting Hana is trying to do it all in one day. So drive with caution and be very aware. Hanawi Falls is located right after Mile Marker 24 on the Road to Hana. We hoped to stop at the garden of eden but it had a long line of cars so we kept going, we made a reservation at the black sand beach. Do this by picking up your trash and staying on the trail. It is just not inside their comfort zone. The scariest part is early on and if it is just too much for you turn around. Yeah we are not overly phased by these things but some people really do. in most places, the road is wide enough for two tour buses to pass. So just drive the route thats going to give you the best overall experience and dont be worried about trying to be too strategic. The Jungle Canopy envelopes the road leading to mild claustrophobia and an uncomfortable sense of being consumed. That is such a shame for you both, but it is understandable, and probably the right decision. How necessary is it to have a 4 wheel drive vehicle for this drive? Hwy 1 is typically straight, and because of this, drivers feel justified in driving at breakneck speeds. Instanbul is chaotic, cultured and full of life. The bridge was completed in 1926 and is one of the 80 Hana . Just indicate into one of the MANY pull-outs and let them by. There is no shame in knowing your limits and calling it quits. After growing up on these the road to Hana was no problem. It is a paved road so you do not need a 4WD. The road is such a stunning journey through the most amazing landscape we just want everyone to experience it. It's one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. 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! Id start with my 15 favorite resorts and hotels on Maui. NORTH DAKOTA So most people drive the Road to Hana as a day trip, as an out-and-back drive. There are literally signs posted telling you to honk as you go around the blind corners. In this article, we take a look at what causes the Roads Fearsome reputation, and ask honestly How Scary is the Road to Hana Really?. I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. for the most part, it is wide enough for two small buses to pass each other with no issue. The first lookout on the left is Koki Beach overlook but you can skip this and continue to Hamoa Beach further ahead. Take the moral high ground and just drive in a way that ensures YOUR safety! And please share my account with your friends that are headed to Hawaii! Maybe at one point that was true, but I dont really think it is anymore. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Mauis most charming towns. The drive to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world with waterfalls, beaches, history, and views (you can even see the Big Island in some parts). You dont really need a touring plan for the order of how to hit all your must see spots. If the front side is lush and jungle-like, the backside is dry and desert-like (once you get past Kipahulu). If we arrive at the airport at 10am, you would suggest to simply start driving out east to Nahiku and not see the west at all? You land in the morningcoming from mainland or another island? There are 620 bends, many of them extremely sharp or hairpin turns, over the course of that 64 miles. (And maybe beyond!). Getting Around Maui without a Car Guide to Mauis Public transportation, What Food to Eat in Hawaii? Towels - It's most likely going to rain. Minuses: The road becomes rough for portions and rental car companies say "you're on your . In short the Road is is a narrow 1 lane road that carves its way around the backside of Haleakala into some of the most pristine and picturesque rainforests on the island. Thi, Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell thesunf, The Acropolis of Pergamon are well preserved ruins, Happy Sunday . Bring ones you don't mind getting muddy. They have a small shop with local,handmade Hive to Home and Bees to Body products. There are closer beaches to the airport like in Kihei which is considered south Maui. Encourage them to take things easy and to explain themselves when driving. You're meant to treat the bridges similar to a 4 way stop in that whichever car reaches the bridge first has the right of way. How long is Hana Highway? So if the Road is not particularly dangerous, or even that scary why does it have such a fearsome reputation, and why are so many terrified of the road? Fortunately we had no issues but it was a windy, rainy drive and Im glad we did it but dont think we would do it again. It really is just better for everyone to pull over and just let less patient people past. Maui's Road to Hana is one of the most famous (or infamous) drives in the world and in my opinion is the #1 don't miss thing to do on Maui. The Road to Hana is not undiscovered anymore and there are just people everywhere. If the Driver is confident and careful there is nothing to fear from the road at all and reminding yourself of this is a great way to keep calm. I will say though, that while I have driven this in a Jeep, Ive also driven it in a sedan and a full size pickup. **Kaulahao Beach aka Kuau Beach Park. The popular way is to start the Road to Hana is by passing through the town of Paia. We are planning a trip to Hana on Aug 7. Read the fine print as driving the back road to Hana, Maui maybreach your rental car agreement or insurance. Here the road is exposed to some fairly large drops, however, these are all behind Armco rails and there are no large unprotected drops. This part of Maui is known as Upcountry. Google has no clue what the drive times are on Maui and Hawaii in general. BADLANDS SD As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are plenty of shoulders to pull over, take in Mauis beauty and also take a few pictures. 5. Take your valuables with you or at the very least keep them out of sight. (The other is the crater at the top of Haleakala .) Should I be confident in my ability to do this drive with precious cargo (my girlfriend's and my own life)? The first being Alelele Falls which you can find on google maps here. There are many adventures to have in Hana so I always recommend staying a night or two in Hana to be able to experience all that Hana has to offer. Parking can be bad later in the day, but this stop is worth it. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352891', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Maui -- you are going to eat up most of your time driving. We are aware for some the road is a terrifying prospect and we are not trying to diminish that. Alternatively, you may use. Okay, so lets get on with the questions, Theres a lot of hype about how bad the backside of the Road to Hana is. IDAHO Strange, our hosts at our lodgings told us the southern road was faster back to the airport from Haleakala you say its longer for sure? 1-2 Week Maui Itinerary, Best Time to Visit: Best Time to Visit Maui. Its possible that some companies offer roadside assistance coverage that you can purchase additionally and maybe this portion of the road isnt included in that. 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