The best five things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most amazing geological displays in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is on Hawaii’s Big Island and includes more than 333,000 acres of active volcanic landscapes, old lava flows, and ecosystems that can’t be found anywhere else on Earth.

The park includes landscapes shaped by Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Eruptions, pauses and changes in activity mean that lava is not always visible. Plan a visit around the crater scenery, rainforest and lava formations, and treat any opportunity to watch an eruption as dependent on current conditions.

Roadside overlooks and walking trails offer different ways to explore the park, but access changes with volcanic hazards, weather and construction. Before setting out, read the National Park Service alerts and conditions, then choose open destinations suited to your group.

The park protects unique Hawaiian ecosystems, from tropical rainforests to stark volcanic deserts, in addition to its geological wonders. Native Hawaiian plants and animals thrive in these diverse environments, while cultural sites preserve the rich heritage of Native Hawaiian traditions and beliefs surrounding Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. 

1. Start with ranger information and current conditions

Start by checking where ranger services are operating. As checked in October 2026, Kīlauea Visitor Center remains closed for renovation, with a temporary Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp. Check the NPS construction updates for the current location, hours and reopening information.

What You Will Find

Use your first stop to understand the day’s options: which roads and trails are open, where parking is available, and whether volcanic activity affects your route. Visitor services may be different during renovation, so do not plan around access to the closed building or its exhibits.

Ask rangers about viewing conditions and any restrictions affecting the places you want to visit. Eruption visibility depends on activity, weather and safe access; no time of day guarantees a lava view.

Making Plans for Your Adventure

Choose a route using the current park map and advice from staff. A short visit can focus on open caldera overlooks and one walk; a longer day may allow Kīlauea Iki or Chain of Craters Road. Allow extra time for parking, weather changes and the return journey.

The temporary Welcome Center also provides access to the park store. Check the current service information before relying on facilities, especially during construction or temporary closures.

2. View Kīlauea caldera from open overlooks

Jaggar Museum is permanently closed and its damaged building has been removed. The restored Uēkahuna observation area reopened in May 2025, but access can change. Use the park’s current alerts to choose an open caldera viewpoint; do not plan a museum visit.

Views of the volcano from all sides

Uēkahuna looks across Kīlauea caldera toward Halemaʻumaʻu. The NPS description of the restored viewing area explains its cultural significance and the changes after the 2018 earthquakes. Respect this sacred place and remain behind walls and barriers.

Changing light, cloud and volcanic activity can make the caldera look very different between visits. Lava glow is possible only when activity and visibility allow it. Bring a light for any permitted walk after dark and follow closure signs even if other visitors go beyond them.

The Importance of Science

The former museum site is part of the history of volcano observation at Kīlauea. Its removal means that older descriptions of indoor displays here are no longer useful for planning. Learn about the landscape through current ranger information and official interpretation at open locations.

Look for the relationship between crater walls, older lava surfaces and more recent changes. These features make a caldera stop worthwhile even when there is no visible eruption.

3. Walk through the Nāhuku Thurston Lava Tube

The Thurston Lava Tube, or Nāhuku in Hawaiian, is a natural tunnel made by flowing lava that people can walk through. This attraction is easy to get to and gives you a look at how volcanic landscapes are formed below the surface.

How it was made and what it looks like

A lava tube forms when a flow develops a solid outer crust while lava continues moving inside. After the molten lava drains, a passage can remain. At Nāhuku, the enclosed tunnel provides a different perspective on the same volcanic processes visible across the park.

The NPS Nāhuku guide lists lighting from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and recommends a flashlight outside those hours. Low ceilings, standing water, uneven footing and possible rockfall mean this is not a hazard-free indoor walkway. Check access before visiting.

The Walking Experience

The paved path to the lava tube goes through a beautiful native rainforest with tall tree ferns and plants that are native to Hawaii. This short walk shows how the park’s ecosystems change dramatically, going from tropical plants to bare volcanic landscapes.

Inside the tube, observe the walls and roots without touching them. Stay on the visitor route and give others room to pass. The rainforest approach and the enclosed passage offer two distinct settings within a relatively small area.

Walking distance depends on where you park. NPS lists a 1.5-mile round trip from Kīlauea Iki Overlook and rates the Nāhuku walk moderate. Parking is limited; use designated walking routes rather than walking along Crater Rim Drive. Wear sturdy footwear and allow time for slippery conditions.

4. Take a look at Crater Rim Drive

Use the open sections of Crater Rim Drive to reach summit overlooks and trailheads. Do not plan it as a complete driving loop around the caldera: closures and changes to the road network affect the route. Check the park map and alerts before deciding the order of your stops.

Important Stops and Viewpoints

Devastation Trail is a paved path that goes through an area that was buried by volcanic pumice in 1959. The harsh landscape shows how volcanic eruptions can destroy things and how life slowly comes back to areas that have been destroyed.

Kīlauea Iki Overlook: From this viewpoint, you can see the Kīlauea Iki crater, where there was a spectacular lava fountaining in 1959. The solidified lava lake below has cool patterns and colors that were made as it cooled down.

Chain of Craters Road junction: Treat this as the start of a separate drive toward the coast, rather than a single caldera viewpoint. Add it only if you have enough time for the drive down, stops and the return uphill.

Steam Vents: Along the drive, there are several places where steam vents let out steam. This happens when groundwater is heated by volcanic activity below the surface. These vents show that volcanic activity is still happening, even when things are quiet.

Driving Tips and Timing 

Allow time for each walk as well as driving and parking; there is no single reliable duration for a summit itinerary. Light and visibility vary throughout the day. Rain, fog and volcanic gases can affect both views and the activities available.

Some sections of the drive may close during periods of high volcanic activity or hazardous air quality conditions. You can find out about current road conditions and closures at the visitor center and through the park’s official updates.

5. Take a hike on the Kīlauea Iki Trail

The Kīlauea Iki Trail descends through rainforest to the solidified lava lake left by the 1959 eruption. NPS rates it moderate to challenging. The loop from Kīlauea Iki Overlook is 3.3 miles, with roughly 400 feet of descent and ascent; routes from other trailheads are longer.

Description of the Trail and Its Difficulty

The trail starts at the Kīlauea Iki overlook and goes down 400 feet through native rainforest to the bottom of the crater. The way down is well-kept and goes through thick vegetation, with views of the crater below through the trees.

Once they get to the bottom of the crater, hikers cross the solidified lava lake that formed during the amazing eruption in 1959. During this eruption, lava fountains shot up to 1,900 feet, filling the crater with molten lava that took years to harden completely.

The trail across the lava lake follows rock piles (cairns) that show the way to safety. The surface changes from smooth, ropey pāhoehoe lava to rougher textures, so you need to be careful where you step. Steam vents all over the crater floor show that the rock below is still hot decades after the eruption.

What You’ll Go Through

Walking across the lava lake is a surreal experience that you can’t get anywhere else on Earth. When hikers stand next to the huge crater walls, the scale becomes clear. The colors range from silver-gray, which is where the lava cooled quickly, to rusty reds, which is where the iron in the lava oxidized over time.

Native plants have started to grow in the cracks in the lava, which shows how life slowly takes over volcanic landscapes. The stark crater floor and the lush rainforest on the crater rim show how different the park’s environments can be.

Allow around 2 to 3 hours for the 3.3-mile loop from Kīlauea Iki Overlook. Check the official Kīlauea Iki route descriptions if you start elsewhere: access walks can substantially increase the distance and time. Bring water, food, rain protection and sturdy footwear.

Additional Activities and Experiences 

Chance to Look at the Stars

Open areas of the park can offer dark skies on clear nights, but clouds and closures may change your plans. Choose a permitted location, bring a headlamp and warm layers, and know the route back before dark. A visible glowing crater is not guaranteed.

Chain Of Craters Road

Chain of Craters Road provides a separate route from the summit area toward the coast, with stops that reveal different lava landscapes. Check road access before leaving and allow time to return; do not assume it provides a through route to another part of the island.

Exploring the Coast

The coastal landscape shows where volcanic land meets the ocean. View sea cliffs from permitted areas and stay well back from edges. This is a landscape-viewing stop, not a reason to enter hazardous surf or explore unstable shoreline ledges.

Animals and native plants

The park protects numerous native Hawaiian species found nowhere else on Earth. Hawaii’s state bird, the Hawaiian goose (nēnē), can often be seen in grassy areas. The bright red ‘ōhi’a lehua flowers and the famous Hawaiian tree fern (hāpu’u) are examples of native plants.

Useful Information for Your Visit

When to Go

A visit can be worthwhile in any season. Summit weather and coastal conditions can differ considerably, and visibility may change quickly. Choose activities based on the forecast, current closures and your available time rather than expecting a particular season to guarantee lava views.

Early or late visits can offer different light and crowd levels, but clear skies are never guaranteed. Evening visits may reveal lava glow when an eruption is visible from open areas. Carry warm layers and a light if you expect to remain after sunset.

What to Bring

You need sturdy hiking boots with good ankle support because the ground can be rough and uneven when there are volcanoes. Layers of clothing help you stay comfortable as the temperature changes throughout the day and between elevations. It’s a good idea to always have rain gear on hand because the weather can change quickly.

Sun protection including hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen is crucial, especially at higher elevations where UV exposure increases. Plenty of water is essential for hiking, as the dry volcanic air and physical activity increase dehydration risk. 

A flashlight or headlamp is useful for permitted walks after dark and for the lava tube outside its lighting hours. Use our Hawaii packing list generator as a starting checklist, then add the footwear, rain gear and water appropriate for your chosen park route.

Things to think about for safety

Visitors should know and respect the unique dangers that come with being in a volcanic area. Volcanic gases, especially sulfur dioxide, can irritate the lungs and are especially harmful to people who already have heart or lung problems. Wind direction affects gas concentrations, so conditions can change rapidly. 

Even lava flows that look solid may have thin crusts on top of hot, molten rock. Stay on the trails and in the viewing areas that are marked. If you fall into or through lava, you could get hurt badly or die.

The weather can change quickly, going from clear skies to rain, fog, or volcanic smog (vog). Before you start any activities, check the visitor center for current conditions.

Plan Your Unforgettable Trip to the Volcano

You can’t find anything like Hawaii Volcanoes National Park anywhere else on Earth. Every time you go, you can see the powerful forces that are still shaping our planet, from watching active volcanic processes to hiking across solidified lava lakes.

Choose activities to match the mobility, stamina and interests of your group. A roadside viewpoint and a steep crater hike have very different demands. Staying within open areas and following ranger advice are essential parts of planning.

The landscape continues to change, but active volcanoes do not erupt continuously. Build your visit around places you can explore under the conditions that day, with an alternative in mind if a road, trail or viewing area closes.

For the rest of your island itinerary, see our guide to things to do on the Big Island. If you’re staying on the west side of the island, our guide to the best things to do in Kona has more day-trip ideas. Choose nearby stops that fit the time left after your park visit, and check official park updates again before you travel.