Hawaii is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. The small island is a paradise with clear blue water, white sandy beaches, and palm trees swinging in the sea breeze on bright sunny days.
The atmosphere makes Hawaii one of the best places in the US to go for a drive. Hitting the road and driving into unchartered territory to discover unique and breathtakingly beautiful locations is a joy in Hawaii. Your bank account may suffer, but you will get the experience of a lifetime driving around Hawaii, so long as you have an international driving permit.
The following are the most scenic driving tours of Hawaii:
Saddle Road – Highway 200
Hawaii’s Saddle Road or Highway 200 connects the sunny Kona Coast with the tropical Hilo side. It slices through Hawaii’s Big Island’s highlands and reaches an elevation of up to 6,632 feet or 2,021 metres the road is ideally situated and passes between two massive volcanic mountains: Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Saddle Road is the optimal route to experience Hawaii’s natural diversity in the briefest time.
Due to the altitude, it can be dangerous, so insurance is a good idea. Therefore, you should check how much car insurance quotes have varied in Hawaii. Combining the drive on Saddle Road with stargazing on Mauna Kea will be a memorable experience.
The Road to Hana, Maui
If you go for a holiday in Hawaii, you should ensure you drive on the curvy Hana highway, which traverses Maui’s northeast coast. You will enjoy the green cliffs intertwined with waterfalls that plunge into multi-coloured sandy beaches.
It is probably the most scenic drive you will ever embark on and the most famous drive in Hawaii. The drive from Hana to Kahului is about 52 miles long and takes about two hours. However, you can take a round trip and enjoy the route and the towns, which will be a whole day affair. By the end of it, you will know what Hawaii time means.
Route 560, North Shore Kauai
Probably the most picturesque driving route in Hawaii is Route 560 along Kauai’s North Shore. The route offers a strikingly gorgeous view of Hawaii’s natural beauty.
As you drive west through the North Shore, you will get a more local feel of Hawaii than the more resort-oriented parts of the island. How the mountains and the sea merge on route 560 is a wonder to behold. You should be sure to stop at Hanalei Bay, which is probably the most beautiful beach in the world.
Honoapiilani Highway, Maui
Hawaii should be on everyone’s bucket list of places to travel because of its magical nature. Honoapiilani Highway in Maui is the most magical of all the roads in Hawaii. You will have difficulty staying focused while driving on this road because Lanai and Molokai sunset views and glimmering horizons will be calling to you. Honoapiilani Highway in Maui will particularly offer an extraordinary drive for those who like whale watching between October and May.
Chain of Craters Road
The Chain of Craters Road is a twenty-mile drive through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that will blow your mind. Driving while watching steam coming out of the active volcanoes adds an element of danger to the drive making it more exhilarating. You may not see red hot lava on your drive, but you will definitely see lava flows.
The scene of the volcanic mountains as the slopes meet the Pacific Ocean’s rugged coastline is gorgeous. You not only get to experience Hawaii’s beauty but appreciate the fiery origins of the Hawaii islands.
Taking scenic drives along Hawaiian roads during a holiday is an exhilarating experience. Five of the best routes to take are Saddle Road – Highway 200, The Road to Hana, Route 560, Honoapiilani Highway, and Chain of Craters Road. The above routes are only the beginning and lead to other scenic roads you will enjoy.