Day trips · Maui · United States
3 best day trips from Maui
Where to go when you want a day away from Maui, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard N Horne, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Maui is Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach (About 2.5–3 hours each way by car). The closest option is Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa, about 40 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 3
- Closest
- Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa (40 km)
- Most popular
- Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach | 85 km | About 2.5–3 hours each way by car | Car on the Hāna Highway | Couples, Quiet stays |
| Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa | 40 km | About 1.5–2 hours to drive the loop | Car from Kapalua towards Wailuku | Couples, Quiet stays |
| Honolulu and Pearl Harbor | 160 km | About 40 minutes by plane | Inter-island flight from Kahului to Honolulu | First-timers, Culture |
The day trips
85 km · About 2.5–3 hours each way by car
1.Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach
The quiet village at the end of the Road to Hāna has Hāmoa Beach, a crescent of grey sand under cliffs, a small cultural centre and the Hasegawa General Store. Many visitors overnight here to avoid driving the road twice in a day.
- Getting there
- Car on the Hāna Highway
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays
40 km · About 1.5–2 hours to drive the loop
2.Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa
The narrow road around West Maui's northern tip passes the Nakalele Blowhole, sea cliffs and the tiny village of Kahakuloa below its headland. Sections are single-lane with steep drops, so drive slowly and only in daylight.
- Getting there
- Car from Kapalua towards Wailuku
- Best for
- Couples, Quiet stays
160 km · About 40 minutes by plane
3.Honolulu and Pearl Harbor
A short flight puts Oʻahu's Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Waikīkī and ʻIolani Palace within a long day's reach. It is easier as a few nights on Oʻahu than a same-day return.
- Getting there
- Inter-island flight from Kahului to Honolulu
- Best for
- First-timers, Culture
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Maui Bus, run by the county, links Kahului with Kīhei, Wailea, Kāʻanapali and Upcountry towns on limited routes, at low fares but with infrequent services.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Maui?
Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach. The quiet village at the end of the Road to Hāna has Hāmoa Beach, a crescent of grey sand under cliffs, a small cultural centre and the Hasegawa General Store.
+How long does it take to get from Maui to Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach?
About 2.5–3 hours each way by car — Car on the Hāna Highway, about 85 km.
+How long does it take to get from Maui to Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa?
About 1.5–2 hours to drive the loop — Car from Kapalua towards Wailuku, about 40 km.