Haleakala Crater
Message from Tripadvisor
Temporarily closed until further notice

Haleakala Crater

Haleakala Crater
4.5
Temporarily closedClosed until further notice
About
Part of the larger of the two volcanoes that make up Maui, this peak is more than 10,000 feet up and the highest point on the island.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Haleakala Crater
See what travellers are saying
  • hollyandhula
    Winter Springs, Florida49 contributions
    When God created Earth, did he start with Haleakalā and Maui?
    At the risk of sounding like a nagging mother 😂, wear sunscreen and bring snacks and water (for everyone in your group) in your backpacks on this adventure! Even if you drive through clouds on the way up, don’t worry! Haleakalā is the House of the Sun, and there is a great chance that you will break through the clouds and have a sunny experience before you get to the summit! Once you drive into the park, start out at the Park Headquarters Visitor Center to get the lay of the land, ask the park rangers your questions, use the restroom, and buy your souvenirs. (It closes at 4:00, so you might not have time at the end of your excursion if you wait.) Then, take the drive all the way to the summit overlook to the highest elevation at 10,023 feet. Next, head back down a little to the Haleakalā Visitor Center. (This visitor center was closed for repairs when we were there, but there were restrooms and clean water.) When you get there, take the short hike on the Pā Ka’oao Trail to the overlook and then walk into the valley/crater on the longer Sliding Sands Trail. However long you walk into the crater, plan on it taking twice as long to come back up. You’ll need to be in pretty good shape for the hike back up. Side note: on this adventure, it was the only time we spotted a nēnē (the Hawaiian state bird) and the rare silversword plant. Coming back down Haleakalā is a great opportunity to see an amazing sunset, so plan your time wisely. You might get lucky enough to see the sun set into the clouds and then again into the ocean. The drive (up and down) is not for the faint of heart—there are lots of curves and no guardrails! Consider this as you plan your time if you don’t want to drive down once it is dark. That being said, being here is an otherworldly experience and it makes one wonder, When God created Earth, did He start with Maui?
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 January 2023
  • Klibra
    Chicago, Illinois177 contributions
    The Sunset is Underrated!
    We have done the Sunrise and yes you eed reservations and they are hard to comeby at times of the year, but no reservations are needed for the Sunset and it is absolutely worth it. To watch the sun go down under the clouds is like you are in space. It is magical, then to see the moon that close when it is so dark, the stars up there are brighter than you'll ever see them. Its worth the drive and braving the COLD (bring WARM clothes just for this, coats hat pants and be prepared to enjoy it) Take the drive up and just plan on staying a while. Nature is amazing when you just let it be.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 7 January 2023
  • Micror54
    28 contributions
    Kailani tour to volcano with grant !!
    We did a volcano all day tour with kailani tours with grant Mitchell … This guy knows the island and alot about volcanic activities and much more .. The best guide we have had in all our activities on the big island .. we made slot of great stops at black sand beach with turtles and great Kona joes lunch stop best coffee I ever had 👍. Stopped at steam vents and tube fissures and volcano.. He made the trip so much fun with all the stops and followed up by dinner at kileau village restaurant. Then star gazing at night on last stop !! Ask for grant for your tour you will be glad you did 👍👍👍👍
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 January 2023
  • FactotumDellaCitta
    London, United Kingdom3,837 contributions
    Breathtaking beauty
    The crater rim is accessible by car and the crater itself is accessible via many walking paths of different length and difficulty. It's easy to spend a whole day here. The crater looks quite different from different vista points - it's recommended to get as many angles as possible due to the immense natural beauty of the place.
    Visited September 2022
    Written 29 January 2023
  • Marion W
    3 contributions
    Great but a hassle getting a reservation.
    This was my second trip up for the sunrise. It wasn't the same spectacular sunrise I saw 8 years before in December when reservations were not necessary, but still beautiful. It was very difficult to get reservations to travel up this time. 5 days of setting my alarm hoping to get a reservation as only 50 are given out and you must be on at 7 am in order to have a chance at getting a spot.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 11 February 2023
  • MBD
    Lititz, Pennsylvania25 contributions
    Incredible views
    Very lovely! Dress warmly! Several short trails around top. Be sure to visit the top summit view. Weather is constantly changing. Clear one minute and cloudy the next. 10,000 feet high! Do the lookouts on way down.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 18 February 2023
  • 127mags61
    Adelaide, Australia16 contributions
    Check the weather at the summit before you go
    Make sure you check the weather before you go. I understood the summit was above the clouds so even if weather isn’t good, you can still see. Unfortunately it was raining for the final 1,000 feet and we could see absolutely nothing when we go there. And it was raining and very cold and windy outside of the car. We stayed 1 minute! Did see the sunset eventually as we came down and stopped at a lower lookout under the clouds.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 February 2023
  • Sarah F
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma30 contributions
    Memorable sunrise, worth doing once
    Very memorable sunrise! Overall it was worth the early rise and long drive in the dark, although my two teenagers didn't really appreciate it much (no surprise there). We checked the weather several times the night before and the morning of departure and were pleased that we had partly cloudy conditions. At the summit you are above the clouds and the sunrise is stunning and unique. It is very cold up there so bring all the warm clothes you have plus the blanket off your bed. While we were a little nervous about driving the road in the dark based on other reviews, we thought it was perfectly fine and weren't nervous at all. It probably just depends on what you're used to.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 22 March 2023
  • Mayandollar
    Reno, Nevada225 contributions
    Stay as long as you possibly can!
    Stunning. Astonishing. Freakishly beautiful ! We didn’t get sunrise tickets but drove up in the morning and it was utterly clear. Clouds rolled in rapidly but the crater was sunny so we walked 3 hours on shifting sands trail. A must do to get down into the crater. The colors, the light, the landscape : all gorgeous. Wear a down sweater or a fleece and a good warm hat. Take a lot of picnic food and at least 2 liters of water. Find a place to enjoy it in the utter peace and solitude of the crater. Every overlook was lovely as well. The rangers were friendly and amazing and told us to go to Hosmers grove trail loop. Short hike WELL worth it. Shady gorgeous trees and hundred of birds. We saw three endangered birds at the overlook. Many many of them: bright red and just fantastic! The drive wasn’t bad for us but we live in the mountains. It was very densely cloudy on the way down and the driver had to “ focus”.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 24 March 2023
  • Eman K
    3 contributions
    Plan a visit to see the sunrise!
    The sunrise is a sight to see! Book tickets early as sunrise tickets are by reservation only and there’s a limited number. The drive up to the top of the crater is beautiful - it’ll be dark obviously on the way up if you watch the sunrise, but just drive slowly. After watching the sun come up, would recommend the Halemau’u Overlook Trail for some great sights of the crater. We packed a light breakfast, coffee, and snacks so that we didn’t feel rushed to leave the park to go eat. Would recommend!
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 5 April 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions

4.5
8,091 reviews
Excellent
6,518
Very good
1,207
Average
249
Poor
60
Terrible
58

Becky V
Norcross, GA338 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
My husband and I went up the scary road to the Haleakala Crater. After we got to the top the views were beautiful.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeff D
Murrieta, CA328 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Very cool to make the drive and see the view from that elevation. Nice half day trip. I suggest packing a lunch and stop at one of the wonderful view spots and make a lunch stop out of it. Was fun to go from a hot beach through rain and into 40 degree mountains. Bring a warm sweatshirt if you get cold easy. Loved the views the entire way up and down.
Written 30 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julainne B
Chehalis, WA16 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Absolutely cool place to check out. Bring a sweatshirt and tennis shoes-gets cooler up there. If you get car sick... Bring your meds.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Patricia G
7 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
This was the most moving tour in competition with the Grand Canyon! Nettie, our Kapuna tour bus driver took us up to Haleakala National Park on Maui at sunset. She was a 12 out of 10 commentator and informing as well as inspirational tour guide! We were so honored to be with one of only 500 full blooded Hawaiian's left as a tour guide. We had a heart stopping view of the crater and the mind blowing sunset above the clouds. Our most memorable tour of our cruise and excursions!
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bup_7
Virginia Beach, VA19 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Kalei drove us on the very winding and steep road to the top of Haleakala Crater. It was an amazing trip with beautiful scenery going up then we went through the cloud layer to view the crater above cloud level. I’ve never seen anything like it and I’m so glad is had Kalei and his experience to get me safely to the top. Thank you Polynesian Adventure Tours.
Written 18 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert P
Fairfax, VA26 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
The views from the summit are unique and spectacular, very different from the typical Hawaii landscape. We drove and were fine, but it does take some concentration and you will be tired at the end. Use your lower gears on the way down. We went at mid day to avoid crowds and it was not crowded. We drove through clouds on the way up but by the time we reached the summit the clouds had burned off, offering an amazing view. The changing landscape as the elevation increases was interesting. Take a jacket and be careful of the altitude. It is a steep rise and you well feel the effects at the summit.
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelFun7
Bloomington, IL79 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Not counting the beaches, if you don't do anything else on Maui, do Haleakala. It is 100% worth it, and better than the experience on Road to Hana IMO. We did not go for sunrise and the experience was still absolutely incredible. Completely breathtaking!
Written 6 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

travelmakesUrich
Winter Garden, FL3,899 contributions
Apr 2023
I'm not a fan of the drive necessary to get to the top (switchbacks, sheer drops, blind curves, weather) and was terrified to do it in the dark, even though all reports are that you should get there for sunrise. The photos look beautiful, but I couldn't do it (after already having done the Road to Hana, with all of that PLUS one-lane bridges!). If you think the sunrise is for you, though, be sure you get reservations - they only allow so many cars, so either snag tickets yourself (there's a dedicated web page - you have to buy them in advance) or go on a tour, and leave the driving to them! (I did hear that you have to leave much earlier in the wee hours of the morning if you do the group tour, because they have pickups at different hotels).

We went mid-day, even though the weather wasn't promising (rain and fog as we drove up) but not a drop of rain once we got to the top. It was amazing - we were below some clouds but above others (I've included a photo) and despite those clouds, we still had views of water, land, and the observatory on the next peak over.

Definitely stop at the Visitor's Centers along the way (one was closed for renovations when we were there) because if nothing else, the Park Rangers have weather information for the summit, and are happy to share.

Silver-looking plants amid the red rock made the landscape seem other-worldly - you can imagine it standing in for some other planet in a movie.

The other thing to know is that once you buy your National Park ticket for this part of the park (there's another at the end of the Road to Hana) it's good for 3 days, so you'll want to plan to do both parks, or a return visit if you like, within those 3 days you've paid for. (Or get the annual park pass that gives you admission to all 2000 parks in the system for $80/year).
Written 24 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

serenescene1818
Boston, MA16 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Wondrous place especially at sunset when you don't need reservations. The hikes are strenuous except for the Lilikei Lookout esp the altitude. We were nervous about driving to the summit and considered taking a tour but we're glad we drove as the tours are too expensive. Only the 20min segment between Headquarters Visitor Ctr and Haleakala Visitor Ctr (summit) was a little scary with no guardrails and dropoffs. The rest of the drive was fine.Bring warm clothing including long pants and jackets. The wind was wild. Sunset was beautiful and the ensuing golden hour was magnificient. If you don't like driving mountain paths in the dark, you still have approx 35mins to drive down with some daylight after sunset.
Written 11 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelingAnnK
Ventura, CA326 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Truly amazing. We were awe struck by the stark beauty. The road up to the top is long and winding. When you are at the top you are above the clouds. The colors of the rock were red, orange, black and brown. In the distance you can see the blue ocean. At 10,000 feet you can feel the altitude.
Written 6 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 7,282
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

HALEAKALA CRATER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Haleakala Crater



Restaurants near Haleakala Crater: View all restaurants near Haleakala Crater on Tripadvisor