Driving Around the Big Island in One Day: Is It Worth It?

One of my favorite Hawaii memories happened when my sister came to visit, and we decided to drive around the entire Big Island in a single day.

Would I recommend this for everyone? Probably not.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.

The Big Island is bigger than most people realize. In fact, it's larger than all of the other Hawaiian Islands combined. If you're simply driving and not stopping, it takes about 6 to 8 hours to make the loop around the island. Depending on your route, you'll cover roughly 230 to 250 miles.

During our route, we covered approximately 240 miles using Highway 19 along the Hamakua Coast and Highway 11 through Volcano. With stops for horseback riding, turtle spotting, wine tasting, and meals, the trip took us nearly 13 hours from start to finish.

By the time you add waterfalls, sea turtles, food stops, horseback riding, and wine tasting, you're looking at a full-day adventure that can easily stretch to 12 or 14 hours.

For reference, we started in Kona and followed Highway 19 north through Waikoloa, Waimea, and the Hamakua Coast before reaching Hilo. From there, we continued south on Highway 11 through Volcano and eventually looped back to Kona along the southern side of the island.

If you're looking for a slower-paced trip, I'd recommend following my 5-Day Big Island Itinerary. But if you're short on time and want to experience as much of the island as possible, this road trip is an unforgettable adventure.

One important tip before you leave: fill your gas tank completely before leaving Kona.

Seriously.

The southern side of the island is much more remote than most visitors expect, and there aren't nearly as many gas stations as you'll find around Kona. We got a little too confident and almost learned that lesson the hard way.

Stop #1: Kamanu Goat Farm

Our first stop was Kamanu Goat Farm.

I should probably mention that my sister is a goat farmer, so stopping at a goat farm was completely her idea. I figured we'd spend twenty minutes there and move on.

Instead, it ended up being one of my favorite stops of the day.

The farm sits on the northern side of the island with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. We sampled goat cheese, wandered the property, met the goats, and learned a little bit about how a dairy goat operation works in Hawaii.

Even if you're not particularly interested in farming, it's one of those unique local experiences that helps you see a different side of the Big Island than most visitors do.

Stop #2: Horseback Riding to a Waterfall

From there we continued along the Hamakua Coast and stopped for what ended up being the highlight of the entire trip.

We spent the afternoon at Umauma Falls Experience, where we horseback rode through lush green landscapes to a waterfall.

If you've spent most of your vacation in Kona, this part of the island almost feels like another world. The dry lava fields are replaced with rolling green hills, jungle-like vegetation, and dramatic ocean views.

What I didn't realize at the time is that this area is basically adventure headquarters for the Big Island. In addition to horseback riding, you can go ziplining, kayaking, swimming at waterfalls, or take an ATV tour.

The scenery reminded me why hiking on the Big Island is one of my favorite activities in Hawaii. If you're planning a more adventurous trip, you'll also want to browse some of my favorite Big Island tours and excursions.

Stop #3: Lunch in Hilo

By lunchtime, we had made our way to Hilo.

One of my favorite things about driving around the island is seeing how dramatically the landscape changes. Kona and Hilo might be on the same island, but they feel completely different.

Kona is sunny, dry, and resort-oriented. Hilo is lush, green, and feels much more local.

We stopped for lunch and spent a little time exploring before continuing on. If you're planning to spend more than a few hours here, definitely check out my complete Hilo Resturant Guide.

Stop #4: Swimming with Sea Turtles

One of the most magical moments of the entire day happened at Carlsmith Beach Park.

This beautiful lagoon is one of the best places on the island to spot Hawaiian green sea turtles.

Now, before anyone yells at me, you're absolutely not supposed to touch, chase, crowd, or interact with sea turtles. They're protected wildlife, and keeping a respectful distance is incredibly important.

That said, the turtles clearly had other plans.

We stood quietly and watched from a respectful distance, but the turtles kept surfacing nearby. It felt almost otherworldly. One minute you're staring into crystal-clear water, and the next a giant sea turtle glides right past you.

If seeing turtles is on your Hawaii bucket list, don't miss my guide to finding sea turtles on the Big Island. I also regularly spot them at several of my favorite Big Island beaches.

Stop #5: Volcano Winery

After Hilo, we continued toward Volcano and made a stop at Volcano Winery.

As someone who loves wine, I found this stop fascinating.

What surprised me most wasn't just the wine tasting—it was learning how they make the wine. Many of the grapes are sourced from California's Lodi wine region and shipped frozen to Hawaii, where they're blended with tropical fruits grown on the Big Island.

If you've followed me for a while, you probably know I used to own an Airbnb in Lodi called Lodi Landing. Discovering that connection was such a fun surprise because it felt like two places that have been important parts of my life suddenly collided.

Before reaching the winery, we drove through some of the same incredible landscapes you'll experience while visiting Volcano National Park, making this a great addition to any volcano day trip.

Stop #6: Dinner at Moon and Turtle

After a very full day, we headed back toward Hilo for dinner at Moon and Turtle.

By this point we'd already packed what felt like an entire vacation into a single day, and dinner was exactly what we needed before the long drive home.

If you're spending more time on the Hilo side of the island, don't miss my complete Hilo Travel Guide.

The Long Drive Home

The drive back to Kona was beautiful, quiet, and honestly a little stressful thanks to our fuel situation.

The southern side of the island is rugged and remote. There are long stretches where it feels like there's absolutely nothing around except lava fields, coastline, and open road.

Looking back, that's actually part of what made the experience so memorable.

In a single day we experienced ranch land, waterfalls, rainforests, sea turtles, volcanoes, wine tasting, and some of the most spectacular scenery Hawaii has to offer.

Is Driving Around the Big Island Worth It?

Absolutely.

Would I recommend spending your entire vacation in the car? No.

But if you're curious about seeing the incredible diversity of the Big Island, there's no better way to appreciate just how different each region feels.

You'll drive through landscapes that look like California ranch country, tropical rainforests that feel like Jurassic Park, black lava fields that look like another planet, and some of the most beautiful coastline in Hawaii.

If you're planning your own trip, start with my complete Kona Hawaii Travel Guide, find the best restaurants in Kona, explore these incredible underwater adventures in Kona, discover the best beaches on the Big Island, plan a few guided tours and excursions, browse my favorite Big Island coffee shops, explore family-friendly activities in Kona, and save my 5-Day Big Island Itinerary for your next visit.

Before you pack, don't forget to grab my Hawaii Packing List and if you're still deciding where to stay, take a look at Kona Landing, my vacation rental in Kailua-Kona.

Just don't forget to fill up your gas tank before you leave.