Maui’s best campgrounds
Maui campgrounds can be categorized into five types: Haleakala National Park, county, state, private, and unofficial.
We’ll give you all the details necessary to camp with a permit in designated campgrounds.
Drive-in Campgrounds in Haleakala National Park
Two drive-in campgrounds are offered in Haleakala National Park: Hosmer Grove at 7,000 feet and Kipahulu at sea level. The two sites could not be more different from one another in terms of climate and terrain. However, both sites have amenities like picnic tables, BBQ grills, and pit toilets. Note that there are no showers available at either site, and Kipahulu does not have drinking water.
Park fees are for a 3-day pass and are required for every vehicle entering the national park. If you plan on visiting both campsites, hiking, or would like to visit the national parks on the Big Island, the annual pass is your best value. Free camping at both sites is on a first come, first served basis. There is no food or gas within the park, so make sure to prepare properly.
Hosmer Grove
Drive-in
Hosmer Grove is a drive-in camping spot between Kula and the Haleakala summit, just short of a half hour from each. It’s the perfect example of a serene grove, a small cluster of trees and grass amidst a barren, volcanic landscape.
- Drinkable water
- Cold temperatures
- Car access
- Restrooms
Kipahulu
Drive-in
Hosmer Grove may have the Haleakala summit, but Kipahulu has ‘Ohe’o Gulch. Also known as “Seven Sacred Pools,” this string of freshwater pools is just a 10-minute walk from the grassy campgrounds on the Kuloa Point Trail. Kipahulu is the place to go for hiking, beautiful coastal scenery, and swimming in freshwater.
- Car access
- Restrooms
Hike-in Wilderness Camping
and Cabins in Haleakala National Park:
There are three remote, hike-in spots to stay the night in the Haleakala wilderness: Paliku, Holua, and Kapalaoa. All three require significant hiking and wilderness experience, preparation, and an adventurous spirit. Hikers are rewarded with sightings of the endangered Nene bird, volcanic cinder cones, and historic lodging in the midst of desolation.
Paliku and Holua offer tent camping with a permit, and all three provide wilderness cabins with advance reservations. Permits for free tent camping can be obtained at the Haleakala Visitor’s Center from 8 am to 3 pm up to 24 hours in advance. Cabin reservations are available up to 6 months in advance with a flat fee charged per night. Cabins come with 12 bunks, a wood burning stove, cooking utensils, and dishes but they have no electricity.
- The Haleakala campsites and cabins sit in remote areas.
- First aid, supplies, and rescue can be several hours away.
- Plan accordingly for heavy rain, high winds, high elevation, below freezing temperatures, and minimal amenities.
Paliku
Hike-in
The hike to Paliku is by far the most strenuous as it sits at 6,380 feet on a rain forest cliff. It’s a 9.3-10.4 mile hike in, depending on which trail you choose to take.
- Non-potable water
- Cold temperatures
- Cabins available
- Restrooms
Holua
Hike-in
In contrast to Paliku, Holua has the shortest hike of the three wilderness sites. It is 3.7 miles in on the Halemau’u Trail or 7.4 miles on the Sliding Sands Trail. The camping area is a mixture of volcanic rock and tall grass at 6,940 feet. Holua also offers pit toilets and non-potable water and accommodates a maximum of 25 campers.
- Non-potable water
- Cold temperatures
- Cabins available
- Restrooms
Kapalaoa
Hike-in Wilderness Camping and Cabins in Haleakala
The Kapalaoa cabin sits at 7,250 feet and requires either a 5.5-mile hike down the Sliding Sands Trail or a 7.3 mile hike down the Halemau’u Trail. Keep an eye out for silversword, a rare plant only found in Haleakala with sword-like leaves and silver hairs. The cabin is rustic with minimal amenities but provides a welcome refuge from the harsh Haleakala conditions.
- Non-potable water
- Cold temperatures
- Cabins available
- Restrooms
County Campgrounds
County campgrounds offer a minimalistic approach to camping with budget rates. Permits have different prices for Monday-Thursday, Friday-Sunday and holidays for residents and non-residents. There is an additional per night charge for dogs.
Papalaua Wayside Park
County
Papalaua is the most easily accessible campground on the list. You can literally pull off the main road and onto a campsite.
Occasional noise from the nearby traffic is a small price to pay for such a convenience and having the ocean just footsteps in front of you.
- Car access
- Beach access
- Restrooms
State Campgrounds
Two state campgrounds offer majestic Maui scenery with an inexpensive price tag and abundant amenities. Tent camping is charged per person per night for residents and non-residents. You can make reservations online.
Wai'anapanapa
State
Wai’anapanapa State Park sits on 122 tropical acres just outside of Hana with a black sand beach, fresh water caves, and lava arch. It’s considered an essential stop on the Road to Hana and is just 10 miles from town.
- Drinkable water
- Beach access
- Car access
- Showers
- Cabins available
- Restrooms
Polipoli State Park
State
Polipoli enjoys the benefits of a 6,200-ft. elevation climate in the Kula Forest Reserves. It’s known for its Redwood trees and scenery that looks more reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest than Maui. It is a great jumping off point for scenic hikes, mountain biking, and trail running in the Kula area. Polipoli State Park is closed until further notice as it undergoes sewer system upgrades. Please check for current conditions.
- Car access
- Cold temperatures
- Cabins available
- Restrooms
Private Campgrounds
Camp Keanae
Private
Camp Keanae offers a quiet, remote accommodation on The Road to Hana at Mile Marker 16 ½. Accommodations are basic, but the views of the jagged Keanae Peninsula are not.
- Drinkable water
- Restrooms
- Car access
- Showers
- Cabins available
Camp Olowalu
Private
Camp Olowalu is a special place. It sits just off of Honoapiilani Highway a few minutes south of Lahaina with breathtaking views of the West Maui Mountains. Situated in a protected cove of sorts, Camp Olowalu is the perfect playground for kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling, and whale watching (during the winter months). They offer kayaking rentals on site via Kayak Olowalu.
- Drinkable water
- Beach access
- Car access
- Restrooms
- Cabins available
- Showers
**A note on camping off-grid or on public beaches in Maui: camping is officially allowed only in campgrounds. We recommend camping only with a permit at any one of the campsites mentioned above. They certainly won’t disappoint, and you’ll have your choice of being steps away from clear water, jagged coastal cliffs, misty mountains, or black sand beach.
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There is a unique and cleansing mental shift that happens with fresh air, a tent, close family and friends, and a minimalist attitude. We encourage you to find that experience. What is your favorite place to camp in Maui?