Looking for the best tips for driving the Road to Hana in Maui? You’re in the right place!

The Road to Hana, or Hana Highway, is a 64-mile scenic road trip on the northeast coast of Maui, Hawaii. Bubbling waterfalls, black lava sand beaches, rainbow bamboo, plunging sea cliffs, and overflowing tropical gardens of Jurassic Park caliber make this one of the absolute BEST road trips in the United States. Seriously, I had never seen anything like it—my jaw was on FLOOR the entire time!

But is the Road to Hana dangerous? Can you drive the Road to Hana in one day? Can you drive the Road to Hana solo? With 600+ turns and 50+ one-lane bridges winding back and forth across narrow sea cliffs, driving the Road to Hana solo may not be for the faint of heart. But in my experience, a little planning can go a long way to creating an absolutely magical once-in-a-lifetime experience in one of the most stunning places in the world!

BUT, there are a few critical things that you HAVE TO KNOW before you take on this adventure. Here are 8 practical tips for driving the Road to Hana in Maui in 1 day!

MUST-KNOW tips for driving the Road to Hana in Maui for the first time

1. Get the Road to Hana guided map from the GuideAlong app.

Your Apple/Google Maps app WILL NOT WORK on Road to Hana, so the only real way to get directions other than buying a physical map is to use the GuideAlong app. Seriously- this is my the best of all my tips for driving the Road to Hana! Using the GuideAlong Road to Hana guided map (which costs $14.99 and is worth every penny; this isn’t sponsored or an affiliate link, it’s just a must-have that felt like SUCH a hack!) is like having a heartfelt, fun Maui local in the passenger seat of your car.

The guide talks to you about the upcoming stops, where to to park or turn, information about what you may or may want to skip or see, and entertaining cultural tidbits along the way. It knows where you are along the route and points things out in real time. I loved this so much, and it made the experience so full and enriching (along with the drop-dead gorgeous scenery and adventure)! Listen to a quick sample here!You HAVE TO download it and purchase the map before you go. I did it in my hotel the night before and would have been so lost without it!

2. There’s no wifi, data roaming, or cell service.

• Again, download the GuideAlong map the night before!
• Download offline messaging platforms like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp (you won’t be able to text) the night before so that you can contact someone in case of an emergency. This is super important especially if you’re traveling solo!
• Screenshot any important email or web-based info that you may need to access while you’re on the Road to Hana. You won’t be able to Google or check your email, but you’ll be able to see your photos!

Pro tip: Maui is a long flight, so they can get expensive. Use my step by step quick guide to learn how to use Google Flights to find the cheapest flights! And don’t forget to make sure you’re ready for a comfy flight with these long flight essentials.

3. Bring snacks, drinks, and motion sickness meds if you get car sick.

Food and drink stops are few and far between. I packed up a cooler at a local grocery store and loaded it into the passenger seat of my jeep when I left in the morning, and I can’t imagine how I’d have done it without it! There were a few little market stops with things like fruit and banana bread, but don’t count on it—sometimes they’re closed even during posted operating hours! Also, if you’re like me, you want something much more substantial to eat during a day of hiking, snorkeling, and swimming (but I do recommend grabbing some fresh fruit on the route if it’s there!).

Also, some people have a bad time on the Road to Hana because of the winding roads and hair pin turns. I don’t get car sick, but I brought some motion sickness pills just in case so that nothing surprising could ruin my day!

4. You need cash.

While the Road to Hana doesn’t have an entrance fee, some of the locally-owned scenic stops ask for an entrance or parking fee and only accept cash. I recommend bringing about $50 if you’re driving Road to Hana solo, which you may or may not need depending on where you stop.

For example, Twin Falls asked for $5 in cash for a parking fee, but the Garden of Eden was $20 per person, cash only. Better to have extra than not enough! Haleakala National Park has a $30 entrance fee, but accepts credit cards. **Pricing information is from 2022.

5. Fill up with gas right before you hit the road.

Gas stations are nonexistent until you get to Hana. Since the Road to Hana starts in Paia, I recommend filling up there before you hit the road. If you don’t, you wouldn’t believe how expensive a tow truck is on Road to Hana!

6. Take your time driving.

Like I mentioned before, the Road to Hana has hairpin turns and one way bridges— be patient and cautious as you navigate these. Rain showers are common randomly throughout the day in this tropical climate, so be prepared to be extra patient (wondering what the best time to visit Maui is? Find out here!). Also, some of the best stops on the Road to Hana came up fast and I blew by a couple. Backtracking was difficult and honestly unsafe. Remember to take your time- the journey is the destination!

7. Use the bathroom and fill up on water whenever you find an opportunity to do so.

You never know when the next opportunity will be. Some of the spots that I read about offering restrooms or water refill opportunities were closed or the situation had changed on the day that I was there.

8. Plan plan plan- even if just to deviate from it!

To get the most out of an epic 1-day solo drive on the Road to Hana, you must have a rough plan, even if just to deviate from it.

Not knowing what you may want to see or skip on the Road to Hana means you’ll either miss out, waste precious time, or both. It’s virtually impossible to double back, and as someone who bounces back and forth between being a planner and being totally spontaneous, my plan was a skeleton built for spontaneity and deviation. The important thing was that my priorities were outlined so that I could decide what was most exciting or important to me in the moment.

Wake up early

Want it to be less crowded and to hit more stops? Then you have to do what others won’t! I started my drive in the semi darkness of pre-dawn. When I arrived at the first stop on the Road to Hana, the sun was rising and I was the only car parked in the lot, bathed in golden pink morning light. It was a beautiful, peaceful start to the day.

Keep up with your timing

This is especially important if you’ll be nervous driving back down the sea cliffs in the dark if you get off track. When I outlined my plan I made rough estimates of the time I would spend at the stops I prioritized. Most importantly, I found the “midpoint” of my stops (I did 13 stops in 1 day!) and knew that if i wasn’t there by halfway through the day, that I wouldn’t get to the last half of things I wanted to see. Two major timestamps that helped keep me on track was my reserved entry time for Waiʻānapanapa State Park (1:00PM) and knowing the hours of Haleakala National Park (they closed at 4:30PM when I went in 2022).

Is the Road to Hana safe?

I never felt unsafe on the Road to Hana. The drive has some twists and turns that you need to navigate with care, but as far as classic safety advice for female solo travelers, I felt 100% safe. Just remember to lock your car when you get out, drive slowly, and have your offline maps downloaded!

Did you find these tips for driving the Road to Hana helpful? I hope you have the BEST time- it’s my favorite thing that I did in Maui and I can’t wait to do it again. And if you’re looking for more Maui content, check these out!

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