5 Nights on Big Island - Need advice

We going to Big Island in Sept. for 5 nights. We%26#39;re flying into Kona and spending the first 3 nights on that side (probably at the Hilton).

While there, we plan on exploring the northern areas. We will also take one day to drive along Hwy 19 down towards Hilo to explore the waterfalls and parks. So my first question is, is it better to take Rt. 19 from the Hilton, or should we take Rt. 190 to Rt. 19, which seems to cut off some of the distance?

On the 4th day, we plan to drive around the southern end of the island to Volcanoes National Park. While there, we want to drive around the crater, visit the info centers, and drive down Chain of Craters road. We may walk on the lava a bit, but will not be doing the long hike to see the flowing lava. I%26#39;m not really sure if that all would take more than one day, but we will also have the next day to finish up our sightseeing. We will probably spend that night (the 4th night) near the Volcano National Park.

We are undecided as to where to spend the 5th night. We could spend another night near Volcanoes, but we have to catch an 8AM flight the next morning from Hilo -- so that would be a long drive in the morning. We could spend the last night in Hilo, but I heard the hotels are not so good there. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where to spend the last night before our Hilo flight?

Also, are there any suggestions about what to do in the Volcanoes park with our limited time, and any other ';not to be missed'; sights in the area south of Hilo? Is the Thurston lava tube in this area?

Any info would be greatly appreciated -- I%26#39;ve been lurking on this site for a while and the community spirit is wonderful!

5 Nights on Big Island - Need advice

Aloha- i am also planning an overnight to BI- volcano area and people have been great with their opinions. They suggested some one day iteneraries for me in the post (Hilo Hotels- 3 choices) and also advice there about hotels etc in Hilo

The Thurston Lava tube is right in the National Park drive and %26#39;not to be missed%26#39; according to sources :)

other suggestions:

The black sand beach about 40 mile south of Volcano NP

Rainbow Falls and other waterfalls

I am very curious about the tidepools on the southeast part of the island

good luck planning! Hopefully others can respond also :)

5 Nights on Big Island - Need advice

you might consider staying at a good B%26amp;B in Hilo the last night. the Shipman House in Hilo is supposed to be quite nice - you can google it for more information.

IMO, the best way to drive from the Hilton to Hilo would be through Waimea, over the Hamakua Coast to Hilo. it%26#39;s a gorgeous drive. you can take the Queen K hwy to Waimea through Kawaihae, or drive up to Waikoloa Village and to Waimea, which might be a bit faster - maybe.

I personally love Hilo - it%26#39;s a sleepy authentic hawaiian town - and on a day when it%26#39;s not raining, there%26#39;s nothing like it. there are tons of threads on TA about what to do in Hilo. I love Akaka Falls, Cafe Pesto, the Big Island Candies factory, and Akatsuka Orchid Gardens on the way to Volcano.

enjoy!

We spent 3 short nights on the BI at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel; this is a great resort that would fit into your plans well. It is a beautiful place and right on Hwy. 19. Be sure to stop in Wailea and look around on your trip around to Hilo (took us 2 hrs.) from Hapuna Beach. WE loved Hawaiian Tropical botanical garden and saw Volcano Ntl. Park too that day. THere is much to do, so you might want to spend that last 1-2 nights there. Have fun!

Try to fit in a stop at the Wai%26#39;pio Valley lookout, which is fantastic - scenic %26amp; great for photos. In fact, we have several of these photos framed now as they look so incredible %26amp; unreal. In Hilo, be sure to visit Akaka Falls %26amp; the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens.

p.s. Kamueala Provision Co. at the Hilton is a nice place for an oceanside sunset dinner (good lobster!).

Aloha!

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. Pokemom, I looked up your prior posts -- lots of good suggestions there.

Mauna Kea lady %26amp; AZ Sundevil, we definitely want to do the north coast drive, stop at Waipo Valley lookout, Akaka Falls %26amp; the Botanical Garden. Originally, we had planned to do that after our 3 nights at the Hilton, by taking our time to sightsee on our way to the Hilo/Volcanoes Park area where we will spend the last 2 nights.

But now I think we might just use one of the 3 days while we are at the Hilton and take a day trip to drive and sightsee along the north and east coasts (all the way around to the Botanical Gardens).

That way, we could get up early on the 4th day and drive south direct to Volcanoes National Park and get in a full day there. That would leave us one more day in the Hilo area to do more at the Volcanoes park or explore more of the area around Hilo.

Questions:

Do you think its reasonable (time-wise) to drive/sightsee from the Hilton around to the Botanical Gardens and back as a one day trip?

We%26#39;re undecided as to whether we should stay near Volcanoe or Hilo the last 2 nights. If we are at the Park until late that first night, it would be nice to just stay near there that night. But if we stayed in Volcanoe the 2nd night too, we%26#39;d have to drive to Hilo for an 8 AM flight that next morning. About how long would that drive be? (volcanoe area to the Hilo airport).

Any suggestion would be welcomed!

Thanks!

d- a day trip to Hilo is perfectly doable. plan on leaving the hilton around 8 or 8:30 am and it will take about 1.5 to 2 hrs of driving through beautiful scenery to get to Hilo. stop at starbuck%26#39;s in waimea for an infusion of caffeine to keep you awake through the sublimely peaceful and gorgeous hamakua coast. plan on leaving hilo around 4 pm-ish - it%26#39;s best to avoid navigating the road between hilo and waimea while it%26#39;s still light. going to volcano adds an additional 45 mins each way - so that could be too much for 1 day, unless you like spending most of the day in the car.

for the flight, the airlines advise arrival at the airport 1.5- 2 hrs prior to the flight, so you shoudl plan on getting to the hilo airport at about 6- 6:30 am for a 8 am flight. driving from volcano would add another 45 minutes, which makes for a very early and long day. how about staying at a B%26amp;B in Hilo that night, instead of in volcano? google the Shipman House B%26amp;B in hilo - it%26#39;s very nice.

We were in Hawaii 2 weeks and we are going next year again, first, wear good non slip shoes to the falls, you do have to walk to get to it, early in the morning is the best time. If you like B and Bs there is one near Kona, It is close to Capt. cooks Monument and we stayed a week there. It is called Areca Palm Estate, It comes with a full breakfast, it is online and we had a great time there. Jan will tell you great things to see and do, Had a blast.

Also DO NOT stay at the volcano Inn in the park Too much money for ripped curtains no service, impolite people. Never again........

Otherwise had a great time

Aloha, dsarah. Sounds like you have some good plans shaping up.

If you take that southern route to Volcanoes NP, make sure to stop at the Punalu%26#39;u Black Sand Beach on the way. You pass right by it, and it%26#39;s quite scenic. You%26#39;ll also see sea turtles there.

I think your decision on whether to stay 1 or 2 nights in Volcano is a tough one. Either would work, depending on what you want to do during your days. In my opinion, 3 hotels in 5 nights is a lot of moving around. You never quite settle or relax into a place. When we were on the Big Island in April, we stayed at a B%26amp;B in the Kona area for 5 nights and a B%26amp;B in Hilo for 3. From Hilo, we toured up the coast to Waipio Valley (about an hour from Hilo) and spent another day at Volcanoes NP (about a half hour from Hilo). Maybe you%26#39;d want to consider basing in Hilo, too, for exploration of that side of the island? I probably wouldn%26#39;t recommend the B%26amp;B where we stayed (Hale Kai Hawaii). It is in an awesome location above a surfing beach, but the rooms were rather outdated. Wonderful breakfasts, though, and friendly hosts. Our second choice (which I wish we would have gone with) was the Waterfalls Inn B%26amp;B (www.waterfallsinn.com/pages/1/index.htm). It gets rave reviews on this Web site.

Good luck with your planning!

If you are going to Volcano National Park, you must walk to the lava flows at night. It is a once in a lifetime experience. Takes about 4 hours and you will remember it the rest of your life. Lava is bright orange and beautiful. When you get home people will not believe your pictures.

You will be tired when you are done that night, so stay in Volcano Village.

%26lt;%26lt;We are undecided as to where to spend the 5th night. We could spend another night near Volcanoes, but we have to catch an 8AM flight the next morning from Hilo -- so that would be a long drive in the morning. We could spend the last night in Hilo, but I heard the hotels are not so good there. Does anyone have a suggestion as to where to spend the last night before our Hilo flight? %26gt;%26gt;

Last month we did the exact same trip except in reverse. I would suggest that you stay near Volcanoes so you aren%26#39;t rushed to see it all. There are some lovely B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the area. The drive to Hilo the next day is only about 45 min to the airport.