The Road to Hana is less a destination than a journey, a roughly 64-mile stretch of Hawaii Route 360 that twists along Maui’s northeastern coastline through more than 600 curves and 50-plus one-lane bridges. Rainforest presses in close on both sides, waterfalls drop right beside the pavement, and the ocean flashes into view around nearly every turn. It’s one of the most rewarding drives in the country precisely because the road itself is the attraction, not just a means of getting to the town of Hana at the end.
Related: Road to Hana Tickets & How to Visit (2026 Guide)
Top-Rated Road to Hana Tours & Tickets
Best Things to Do Along the Road to Hana
Stop at Twin Falls
Usually the first major waterfall stop for drivers heading out from Paia, Twin Falls has a short, easy walk to a pair of accessible waterfalls and swimming holes, making it a popular early-morning stop before the road gets busier.
Walk the Bamboo Forest to Waimoku Falls
Near the end of the drive in Kipahulu, a trail winds through a dense, otherworldly bamboo forest before opening up to the 400-foot Waimoku Falls, one of the most dramatic waterfalls on the entire route.
Visit the Pools at Oheo Gulch
Also known as the Seven Sacred Pools, this series of cascading pools and waterfalls near the ocean, inside Haleakala National Park’s coastal section, is one of the most-photographed stops on the drive and a good spot to stretch your legs.
Take a Detour to Black Sand Beach
Just past Hana town, Waianapanapa State Park has a striking black sand beach formed from lava rock, along with sea caves and coastal lava tubes worth a short detour to explore.
Sample Roadside Fruit Stands
Local farm stands scattered along the route sell fresh fruit, banana bread, and coconut, often on an honor-system payment basis, and they’re as much a part of the Road to Hana experience as the waterfalls themselves.
Best Time to Visit
Starting early, ideally by seven or eight in the morning, is the single best piece of advice for this drive, since it lets you get ahead of the tour van traffic and gives you time to actually stop at multiple sites before dark. Dry season, roughly April through October, brings the most reliable weather, though the lush look of the road owes a lot to the rain that falls the rest of the year too.
How to Get There
The drive begins near Paia on Maui’s north shore and heads east and south toward Hana town, best done in a rental car since there’s no public transit along the route. Guided van tours are a popular alternative for visitors who’d rather not navigate the narrow bridges and blind curves themselves, and some allow you to fly back to central Maui rather than retracing the full drive.
Good to Know
- The full round trip, done properly with stops, is a full-day commitment, not a quick afternoon outing.
- Gas stations are scarce along the route, so fill up before you leave.
- Cell service drops out for long stretches, so download offline maps or a driving guide beforehand.
- Some travelers choose to spend a night in Hana rather than driving the whole loop in one day, giving more breathing room to enjoy the stops.
The Road to Hana rewards patience over speed, and the difference between a rushed drive and a well-paced one is night and day. Build in plenty of time for detours, start early, and the winding road becomes one of the most memorable days of a Maui trip rather than an endurance test.
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