Can I Travel To The Town Of Volcano On Hawaii?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Depending on where along the Kona coast you're driving from, you can expect the drive to Hawaii National Park to take around 2-2.5 hours

. From the Waikoloa area, going the southern route may take around 2.5-3 hours. But that's without any stops!

Can you go inside a volcano in Hawaii?


As soon as you walk into the main visitor center at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

, you can tell that this place is different from other National Park. Not only is this a very special place for the Hawaiian culture, but you are literally standing on an active !

Can you drive to the top of the volcano in Hawaii?


Crater Rim Drive is an 11-mile road that skirts the edge of the Kilauea Caldera in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

and contains several scenic views and hiking opportunities.

Do I need reservations for volcano National Park?

You don't need to check in,

you don't need a reservation

so you DO need to get there early, you don't need a permit, you can stay for up to 7 days each month but not for more than 30 days per year.

Is it safe to visit volcano National Park?

Volcanoes National Park is

very safe

in our opinion. The well-trained rangers will take care of your safety during all activities including gorilla trekking and volcano hikes.

Can I drive to volcano National Park?


Visiting the park by car is easy to do

. The two main roads visitors will travel are Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road. All roads in the park are two-wheel drive roadways and do not require four-wheel drive vehicles.

Which Hawaii Island has active volcano?

The Island of

Maui

has one active volcano, Haleakalā, which has erupted at least 10 times during the past 1,000 years. Kīlauea, the youngest and most active volcano on the Island of Hawai'i, erupted almost continuously from 1983 to 2018 at Pu'u'ō'ō and other vents along the volcano's East Rift Zone.

What happens when lava tubes run out of space to flow?

The lava will continue to move and drain the tube downhill when the volcano spots erupting. This leaves a partially empty tube that is called a lava tube cave.

Lava that is not able to flow out of the tube will remain in the form of solidified pools, flows, or even congealed, waterfall-like features

.

Can I see lava at Volcano National Park?

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, so

your chance to see glowing lava (from near or far) is pretty good when the volcano is actively erupting

(it's periodically erupting only at the summit in Halemaumau currently), especially when it's dark. Just look for the red glow.

How long does it take to drive from Kona to Volcano?

The direct drive from Kailua-Kona to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is 97.0 mi (156 km), and should have a drive time of

2 hrs 38 mins

in normal traffic.

Can I drive to the top of Mauna Kea?

Frequently Asked Questions about visiting MaunaKea

Q: Can you drive up to the MaunaKea summit?

Yes, but not with any car and only during daylight hours

. On the road from the visitor center to the summit only 4WD vehicles are allowed, and the summit is off-limits from half and hour after sunset.

Is lava flowing in Hawaii right now?

Q: Can you see lava in Hawaii right now?

Yes! The currently ongoing eruption is contained within the Halemaʻumaʻu crater

.

How close can you get to lava?

How close can you get to flowing lava? You can get around

700 meters

close to flowing lava and it will still be quite hot. Though I hope you don't try this it would be a very quick death for you if you somehow managed to get much closer than that.

What are two dangers of lava viewing?

  • Bench collapse can kill.
  • Tephra jets & littoral fountains hurl hot lava.
  • Steam blasts toss rocks.
  • Acid fumes and glass particles can irritate eyes and lungs.
  • Scalding waves burn.

How much does it cost to go to Volcano National Park?

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park normally charges

$30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle, $15 per pedestrian or bicycle

, and the pass is good for seven days. The entrance fee waiver for the fee-free days does not cover camping or backcountry overnight permit fees.

What's going on with the volcano in Hawaii?


Mauna Loa volcano is not erupting

, and the current volcano advisory level is Advisory. From lava to water and back again. Learn about three remarkable changes in the past three years at Halemaʻumaʻu crater on the summit of Kīlauea.

How much time do you need at Volcano National Park?

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must on any Big Island itinerary. We recommend spending

at least one day

in the park. That is enough time to see the highlights, especially after the closures due to the recent volcanic activity in 2018.

Is it safe to stay at volcano House?

Visiting is one thing, but is it safe to actually live on an active volcano? It's one of the most common questions posed to kama'aina (residents) and the short answer is a resounding,

yes!

Is volcano National Park worth visiting?

Best Time to Visit Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

But even without an active volcanic eruption,

this is still a great park to visit

. If you are planning to visit Hawaii, it's still worth visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, even without an active lava flow.

Is it safe to go to the Big Island of Hawaii?

Reports from the State Department of Health indicate that

travel to the Big Island is perfectly safe

. The director, Dr. Virginia Pressler, says, “The air quality for the vast majority of the Hawaiian Islands is clean and healthy.

Is the Crater Rim Drive open?


The Museum overlook is open 24 hours a day

. Views from other locations vary considerably. moderate and challenging lava viewing conditions. This 38-mile (61 km) round-trip drive descends 3,700 feet (1,128 m) to the coast and ends where lava has covered 10 miles of road since 1986.

Where can you see the volcanoes in Hawaii?

The Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The Kilauea Visitor Center is located on Crater Rim Drive off of Highway 11 between the 28 and 29 mile marker south of Hilo

. The visitor center is opened daily between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Will Yellowstone erupt in my lifetime?

Although another catastrophic eruption at Yellowstone is possible,

scientists are not convinced that one will ever happen

. The rhyolite magma chamber beneath Yellowstone is only 5-15% molten (the rest is solidified but still hot), so it is unclear if there is even enough magma beneath the caldera to feed an eruption.

Which Hawaiian island has no volcanoes?

The oldest of the major Hawaiian Islands,

Kauai

, doesn't have any active volcanoes because it's no longer over the Hawaiian hot spot.

When was the last time a volcano erupted in Hawaii?

Kilauea Age of rock 210,000 to 280,000 years old Mountain type Shield volcano, hotspot volcano Volcanic arc/belt Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain Last eruption

September 29, 2021

– present
Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.