National parks near Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is the closest national park to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii — 55.1 mi (88.6 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 45 min behind the wheel.
Active volcanic landscape on the Big Island. Lava fields, craters, and steam — conditions change with eruptions.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Haleakalā National Park make a full day trip — leave early.
Nothing near Kailua-Kona gates the entrance itself, but 6 of the parks in range put a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.
Kailua-Kona has a population of about 11,975.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Haleakalā National Park
Redwood National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Channel Islands National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Best time to visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Getting to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Permits for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
National parks near Kailua-Kona
| Park | Straight-line distance | Estimated drive | Realistic trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park | 55.1 mi (88.6 km) | 1 hr 45 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Haleakalā National Park | 75.4 mi (121 km) | 2 hr 14 min | Doable as a day trip |
| Redwood National Park | 2399 mi (3861 km) | 57 hr 14 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Pinnacles National Park | 2403 mi (3867 km) | 57 hr 19 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Channel Islands National Park | 2447 mi (3938 km) | 58 hr 22 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | 2491 mi (4009 km) | 59 hr 24 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Yosemite National Park | 2519 mi (4054 km) | 60 hr 4 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Sequoia National Park | 2538 mi (4085 km) | 60 hr 32 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Crater Lake National Park | 2539 mi (4086 km) | 60 hr 33 min | Worth a longer road trip |
| Kings Canyon National Park | 2541 mi (4089 km) | 60 hr 35 min | Worth a longer road trip |
What to book before you leave Kailua-Kona
| Park | What needs booking | Covers | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haleakalā National Park | Summit Sunrise Reservations | One road or area | Timed reservation |
| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park | Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Backcountry Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Lassen Volcanic National Park | Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Yosemite National Park | Half Dome Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Sequoia National Park | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
| Kings Canyon National Park | Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Permits | One hike or backcountry trip | Permit or lottery |
Camping near Kailua-Kona
Within reach of Kailua-Kona, 62 campgrounds across 9 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 16 at Yosemite National Park, 14 at Lassen Volcanic National Park, 9 at Kings Canyon National Park, and 8 at Channel Islands National Park, plus 5 more parks with fewer sites.
Gold Bluffs Beach Campground - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park at Redwood National Park and Jedediah Smith Campground - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park at Redwood National Park do not take reservations, so they never show up as bookable inventory — in busy season that means arriving before mid-morning rather than planning around a confirmation.
Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.
Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.
When to make this trip
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is generally best December through April, the drier and less humid stretch, with May and November as the quieter shoulder either side.
June to November is the wet and hurricane season — heavy rain, high humidity, and occasional storm closures.
Heat and humidity are constant. Plan activity for early morning and carry more water than feels necessary.
Seeing more than one
Several parks near Kailua-Kona are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.
| Pair | Apart | Estimated drive |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes → Haleakalā | 112 mi (180 km) | 3 hr 6 min |
Planning a trip from Kailua-Kona
Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.
Other towns in Hawaii County
Common questions
What is the closest national park to Kailua-Kona?
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It is about 55.1 mi (88.6 km) from Kailua-Kona, roughly 1 hr 45 min of driving.
Can I do a national park day trip from Kailua-Kona?
Yes — Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Haleakalā National Park are within about a three-hour drive.
How many national parks are near Kailua-Kona?
10 parks are within reach of Kailua-Kona, and 2 of them are close enough for a day trip.
Do you need a reservation for the national parks near Kailua-Kona?
None of them gate the entrance itself. 6 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Backcountry Permits at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Summit Sunrise Reservations at Haleakalā National Park, and Lassen Volcanic National Park Wilderness Permits. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.
Where can you camp near Kailua-Kona?
Recreation.gov lists 62 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of Kailua-Kona. They are spread across 9 of those parks. 2 of them are first-come, first-served, so they never appear as bookable inventory.
When is the best time to visit the parks near Kailua-Kona?
For Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, the closest one, generally December through April, the drier and less humid stretch. Either side of that, May and November stays quieter.