Drive from Hilo to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii
Visit the two cities in Hawaii going from Hilo to Kona
If you have time to visit Hawaii Island or better known as the Big Island, you definitely have to consider a trip from Hilo to Kona or the other way around. The two main cities of the Big Island are located on opposite ends of the island with just different typography and vibe that makes it a great way to explore both areas.
You can easily get from Hilo to Kona taking the fast middle route or the Saddle road, getting you to Kona in less than an hour and twenty minutes, but I would suggest either going along the north side or Hamakua area or even the south side of the island from Hilo to Kona. Of course this is a slower way of travel, but you will definitely see a lot more interesting landscape, little towns and fun places to discover along the way to the other side of the island.
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How far is the short and fast trip from Hilo to Kona?
The fastest route going through the middle route or the Saddle road going from Hilo to Kona is about 77.4 miles or around an hour and a half from downtown Hilo to downtown Kona town.
You can take this direct route going through the middle route, but if you want to take a break there are some nice places to visit along the way.
Why should you visit both Hilo and Kona?
Both main cities on the Big Island are so different from each other and have a different vibe and feel. Hilo town still exudes that small western town vibe with old storefront buildings with unique boutique stores, restaurants and one-of-a-kind shops.
Kona town on the other hand tends to have more of a tourist visit the downtown area with a string of tourist focused galleries and shops, eateries and bars facing the beautiful coastline and waterfront area with some key landmarks to explore. Along with historic attractions, the downtown district and fun coastline and beaches to explore, Kona is warm, sunny and easy to explore around either on foot or on the trolley service they provide.
Taking the middle road or Saddle road route
This direct route through the middle is fast but also scenic and can be covered in about an hour and twenty minutes.
Here are some places of interest to see on the Saddle Road
Kaumana Caves
Just close to the outside of Hilo and close to the bottom of the Saddle road is the Kaumana Caves which are historic caves that are free to visit and climb down into the caves to explore and check out two historic lava tubes that are not lit up (bring a flashlight and solid shoes, if you want to explore the caves)
Check out my visit to Kaumana caves here for more inspiration and details.
Visit Mauna Kea Visitor Center and Summit
Typically, a visit to Mauna Kea is popular later in the afternoon to night for star watching. But you can also stop at the visitor center heading up to the summit of the world’s tallest mountain at over 13, 803 feet above sea level.
If you do go around sunset time to enjoy the sunset and stars, go to the visitor’s center and hang out with the park rangers with their telescopes while they explain the cosmos and other typical Hawaiian mythology in relation to the mountain and stars.
Waimea rest stop and playground
The natural restaurant for most locals and visitors to stop, use the bathrooms and stretch your legs also has a fun playground to play in for children. It’s a great place to take a short break on the way downhill to Kona or have a nice snack or meal with the various picnic tables set up next to the playground area.
Pu’u wa’a Wa’a
This fascinating cinder cone towards the downhill hide of Hwy 190 to Kona town is fascinating and a lush cindercone that looms directly ahead of you when you head downhill to Kona. Relatively easy to follow the trail to the top of the cinder cone, it does get to be a workout on the tail end of Pu’u Wa’a Wa’a. But when you get there, you’ll get some spectacular views of the area and lush rolling hills, cows and cowboy culture in this beautiful spot upcountry above Kona Town.
Check out my post on visiting Pu’u wa’a wa’a here for more inspiration and images to visiting this beautiful spot and cinder cone on your way down to Kona town.
Arriving Kona Town
When you take the middle route from Hilo at the bottom of the Saddle Road, make a left turn on Hwy 190 which takes you directly to downtown Kona and Pilani Road.
Check out my post on the top things to do in Kona town here for inspiration and photographs along with some fantastic things to do around the town and area.
Take Hawaii Belt Road Hwy 190 around the Hamakua Coastline to Kona Town
The Belt Road Hwy 190 from Hilo to Kona goes through scenic hills, cliffside roads and stunning coastline views along the Hamakua coastline. It’s a slower pace that drives through three major gulches until it goes directly into the main cowboy town of Waimea town and then you can take the upper Hwy 190 Belt Road that goes through the upper parts of the western side of the Big Island.
If you choose to take the Belt Road around the Hamakua coast should look at visiting some of the scenic spots along the way.
Honomu Town
Along the Belt Road, you can take a nice break stop and visit Honomu town, a small western town with old boardwalks and buildings housing a bakery, small galleries and shops and other rustic and Old Hawaiiana appeal. It’s a great spot for a break and exploring the unique towns of the Big Island.
Check out my post on visiting Honomu here for inspiration and images.
Visit Akaka Falls
If you stop at Honomu, its easy enough to continue uphill past downtown and go visit Akaka Falls. A gorgeous state park that has two stunning waterfalls housed into a botanical garden that you can walk around. It’s lush and a beautiful experience walking through these trails through the park-like garden with fantastic views of both waterfalls and lovely photo moments to capture.
Check out my post on visiting Akaka falls here for more inspiration and images.
Waipio lookout
A visit to Waipio lookout is ideal and a nice detour from the belt road to see this stunning large gulch that is a historic site of early Hawaiians that settled this area. The grand scale of this canyon really impresses and the scenic views and easy visit to the area makes this inspiring along with a visit to Honoka’a town along the say.
Check out my post here on visiting Waipio lookout point for more inspiration and images
And check out my post here on visiting Honokaa town for a look at this western Hawaiian town.
Entering cowboy country at Waimea town
Continuing on the belt road you end up in Paniolo country and the western town of Waimea with its cool cowboy vibe with galleries, malls and unique shops and restaurants to visit in town. There’s a very relaxed and different vibe you get from this town with a little bit of an upscale feel and lots of nice places to eat in the city.
Check out my post on the top things to do in Waimea town here for more inspiration and images when visiting.
After visiting Waimea town, you take the upper Belt Road all the way down to Kona town direct through the upper western side of the Kohala area and Kona.
Taking the Southern Route from Hilo to Kona town
The Southern route from Hilo definitely takes a longer time and skirts just the outside of Volcano National Park and through the rugged countryside and vast lava fields around the southern coastal areas. We give you options of key attractions visit along the way on this road trip to Kona town.
Here are some of the Key attractions and towns to visit along the way to Kona:
Volcano National Park
One of the biggest attractions on the island is to visit Volcanoes National Park located about 29 miles south of Hilo area. The park definitely deserves plenty of time to visit, hike or even drive down the beautiful Chain of Craters Road to the coastline area and the impressive arch at the end. You’ll see some stunning forested landscape, lava rock fields and the gigantic caldera in the middle with the crater of Halema’u ma’u housing the local deity Pele goddess of fire and destruction.
Check out my various posts to visiting Volcanoes national park below.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Lava eruptions at Volcanoes National Park
Why you should explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park now
Explore Volcano Village in Puna
Punalu’u Black Sandy Beach
Perhaps one of the most popular black sandy beaches in Hawaii is at Punalu’u with its famous turtle sanctuary where you can see the turtles basking in the sand most days. A gorgeous black sandy beach lined with beautiful palm trees, a lagoon area and places to picnic, snorkel and explore the coastline, Punalu’u feels unchanged with little development in the area and so much natural coastline and beaches to enjoy here.
Check out my posts to visiting Punalu’u here for more images and information.
Check out these other posts in the area
Punalu’u to Kamehame beach area
Na’alehu town and the Punalu’u Bakery
Just down from Punalu’u is the small town of Na’alehu with its popular bakery and old town charm at the same time. Cute diners and eateries and a quick tour of the town is all you need to stretch, check out the yummy stuff at the bakery and other close by attractions to visit here.
Check out the highlights to visiting Punalu’u bakery here for more images and information.
South Point at Ka’lae
The southern tip of Hawaii island is worth the short detour to enjoy the country road through windmill farms and passing through an exotic green sand beach and rugged cliff areas around the point. Ka’lae is a wild and rugged coastline that really gives a raw look and perspective to this area of the Big Island and worth exploring and seeing something unique. If you have time, go and do the hike to the green sandy beach called Papakolea which is very rare to see in the world.
Check out the following posts to visiting the area.
Green sandy beach at Papakolea
Visit Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park or Place of Refuge
On the route from the southern end towards Kona, you see a sign that shows this sacred place of refuge called Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. This recreated Hawaiian sanctuary, and a national historic site is a place of refuge shows a hidden paradise where history and nature intertwine. Offering a glimpse of old Hawaiian culture through this site and gateway to ancient Polynesian culture, and beautiful wild coastline.
The place of refuge were the sacred grounds where ancient Hawaiians sought refuge and forgiveness, and delve into the stories that shaped this extraordinary place. From royal temples, pristine beaches, you can follow a map of the historic site while seeing different facets of daily life here on the coastline and the significant cultural sites to visit.
Check out this post on visiting Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park here for more images and information.
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Conclusion visiting the island from Hilo to Kona or the reverse
These are the three main routes that take you from Hilo to Kona and the must visit sites along the way from each route. Hope that this was helpful and shows you more about local attractions, cultural sits and cool vistas to check out on this trip to both cities.
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