Trail Map of Hawai'i Chain of Craters Drive

Easy: 21.5 miles, Half day

Other Information: Family Friendly

Overview: Many people come to Hawaii for the beaches, but Kilauea is a place you do not want to miss on any visit to the Big Island. Set aside an entire day, at least, for seeing Kilauea and all its sites. This drive down the Chain of Craters Drive is an unforgettable journey from the top of the volcano, past volcanic floes and craters from ages past, and down to the ocean where the lava flows into the ocean.

On the way you can stop and walk through a lava tube (you can check out the video on the Thurston Lava Tube point of interest) and a short walk gets you out of the car an across the lava fields to see petroglyphs in the lava.

This drive gets you away from the tourist filled beaches and into a different world, the world of the volcano.

Tips: You will need a good supply of water and sunscreen as there is no shade once you move onto the lava fields.

Bring a lunch as there is no food available anywhere on the drive. You don't want to have to turn around because people are getting hungry. It's 20 miles to the sea, but it will take hours to get there with all the stops and slow driving.

Before starting on the drive, go to the Visitor Center and take a short drive to the Vocano Observatory where you can see the summit vent up close. Or, save this for later. I suggest dinner in Volcano at the Thai Thai Restaurant and then return in the evening to see the summit plume at night.