How many days · Maui · United States
How many days do you need in Maui?
A straight answer, then what each trip length really gets you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Katie (alaskahokie) from Anchorage, Alaska, USA, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
7 days is the sweet spot for Maui, and 4 days is the minimum to see the main sights. Four days covers a beach base, one Haleakalā sunrise, a snorkel trip and a long day on the Road to Hāna. A week allows recovery days on the beach, Upcountry, a whale-watching cruise in season and an overnight in Hāna instead of driving there and back in one day.
Key facts
- Ideal
- 7 days
- Minimum
- 4 days
- Day trips available
- 3
- Daylight
- 10.9 h (Dec) to 13.4 h (Jun)
What each trip length gets you
| Trip | Pace | What you can see |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Rushed | Haleakalā summit sunrise, Road to Hāna, Waiʻānapanapa State Park and Molokini Crater snorkelling |
| 2 days | Rushed | Molokini Crater snorkelling, Humpback whale watching and Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail |
| 3 days | Rushed | Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls, Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock and Honolua Bay |
| 5 days | Good | The highlights plus a day trip to Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach |
| 7 days | Ideal | A slow trip with day trips such as Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach and Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa |
How long the top sights take
The 12 best-known sights in Maui add up to roughly 29–40 hours of visiting time — about 4–6 days at seven sightseeing hours a day, before travel between them and meals. The biggest time commitments are Road to Hāna (Full day), Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail (3–5 hours) and Haleakalā summit sunrise (Half a day including the drive).
| Sight | Time needed | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Haleakalā summit sunrise | Half a day including the drive | Haleakalā National Park |
| Road to Hāna | Full day | East Maui |
| Waiʻānapanapa State Park | 1–2 hours | Hāna |
| Molokini Crater snorkelling | Half a day | South Maui |
| Humpback whale watching | 2 hours | Māʻalaea and South Maui |
| Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail | 3–5 hours | Haleakalā National Park |
| Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls | 2–3 hours | Kīpahulu |
| Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock | Half a day | Kāʻanapali |
| Honolua Bay | 2–3 hours | Kapalua and Nāpili |
| Hoʻokipa Beach Park | 1 hour | Pāʻia and the North Shore |
| Wailea Beach Path | 1 hour | Wailea |
| Mākena Big Beach (Oneloa) | 2–3 hours | Wailea |
By type of trip
| Trip | Days | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 7 days | The main sights at a comfortable pace |
| Short break / repeat visit | 4 days | Focus on Haleakalā summit sunrise and Road to Hāna |
| With children | 8 days | Slower days and time for Maui Ocean Center |
| With day trips | 9 days | Add Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach and Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa |
Daylight changes the maths
Sightseeing days are much shorter in December (about 10.9 hours of daylight) than in June (about 13.4 hours). Daylight varies little through the year, so plan by weather instead.
Ready-made itineraries
Combining Maui with other destinations
| Destination | Distance | Suggested stay |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | About 168 km | 6 days |
| San Francisco | About 3,761 km | 4 days |
| Los Angeles | About 4,009 km | 6 days |
Questions travellers ask
+Is 4 days enough in Maui?
It covers the main sights at a brisk pace; 7 days is more comfortable. Four days covers a beach base, one Haleakalā sunrise, a snorkel trip and a long day on the Road to Hāna. A week allows recovery days on the beach, Upcountry, a whale-watching cruise in season and an overnight in Hāna instead of driving there and back in one day.
+Is a week too long in Maui?
No — a week leaves time for day trips such as Hāna town and Hāmoa Beach and Kahekili Highway and Kahakuloa.