Kīlauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

4.5

#3 of 16 in Things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Volcano · Nature / Park

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Walk through lava tubes, explore a trail that leads to where a lava flow has incinerated everything in its path, and learn about Kīlauea, the youngest and most active shield volcano in the state. Eruptions from the volcano that started in 1983 continue today. Located inside Hawaii Volcanos National Park, the crater has many steam vents and one massive one that glows in the dark, called the caldera. The best place to see the caldera lit up at night is from the observation deck of the museum, where you can also learn more about the volcano's history. Remember to dress warmly and bring a raincoat, as it tends to rain frequently near the volcano. Plan your visit early in your trip in case you need to come back another day due to poor visibility caused by the frequently foggy conditions. Also keep in mind that accessibility to certain areas is dependent on volcanic activity. Before you head to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, plan trip itinerary details with our user-friendly Hawaii Volcanoes National Park travel route planning site, to make sure you see all that Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has to offer, including Kīlauea.

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Tours to Kīlauea

FROM $675 BOOK WITH VIATOR Day Trip from Oahu to Hilo: Active Volcanoes Day Trip from Oahu to Hilo: Active Volcanoes

3.9

Duration: 15 hours 30 minutes

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FROM $762 BOOK WITH VIATOR Experience Hawai'i Big Island Helicopter Flight from Kona Experience Hawai'i Big Island Helicopter Flight from Kona

4.7

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FROM $149 BOOK WITH VIATOR GPS Audio E-Bike Tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park GPS Audio E-Bike Tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

4.8

Duration: 4 hours

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FROM $494 BOOK WITH VIATOR Doors-Off Helicopter Lava & Rainforests Adventure from Hilo Doors-Off Helicopter Lava & Rainforests Adventure from Hilo

4.2

Duration: 1 hour

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FROM $906 BOOK WITH VIATOR Volcano and Kohala Landing Helicopter Tour on the Big Island from Kona Volcano and Kohala Landing Helicopter Tour on the Big Island from Kona

4.6

Duration: 3 hours

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Kīlauea reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating

883 reviews

Google

4.3

By annt780

Love to visit and support this local National Park. Just always make sure you have a rain poncho. Can be hot and humid one minute and wet and cool the next. Even if it isn't erupting, it is...

Love to visit and support this local National Park. Just always make sure you have a rain poncho. Can be hot and humid one minute and wet and cool the next. Even if it isn't erupting, it is... more »
By maryrose1122

First stop in at the Visitor's Center. I got some useful info from the ranger...and got a t shirt for grandson. Drove to lookout areas (there are several) each with a different view. Photos of...

First stop in at the Visitor's Center. I got some useful info from the ranger...and got a t shirt for grandson. Drove to lookout areas (there are several) each with a different view. Photos of... more »
By RobertO3569

Go. Don't even think about it. Just go. Great hikes. Knowledgable staff. Unique experiences like walking through a lava tube and viewing an active bubbling lava pool. So fun!

Go. Don't even think about it. Just go. Great hikes. Knowledgable staff. Unique experiences like walking through a lava tube and viewing an active bubbling lava pool. So fun! more »

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By Brayan Reyes

So interesting, unique plants that only grow there, trails are beautiful, so green and fresh. I recomend take the trail from the Kilauea Visitor Center, is around 45-60 minutes walking, the view is spectacular.

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By Oksi O

Amazing experience. Here you loose the notion of time and space. If you like hiking that’s probably one of the best places on the island - natural beauty is overwhelming

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By potato salad

These pictures are from April 17 & 18, 2022. Pele never disapoints when I visit.

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By Andy Smith

Still one of the few places where you can actually see lava. Unfortunately, when we were there in March, there was no activity and you could only see a few orange spots in the evening. The key thing is to visit during the day and see the dramatic landscape and then return after sunset to see the glow of the lava (and if you are luck, actual moving lava). Looks like its active again now but will be a few years before I return.

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By Miranda H

Dress warm and bring a flashlight! It gets really chilly up here. We came in early April and it was about 12C. The eruption is about a 15 minute walk from the parking lot. If you’re coming with kids, you can probably bring a stroller up until 100meters or so where you’re in rock; an all terrain stroller could probably do it. The viewing area is boarded off and it gets quite busy. The eruption wasn’t very large when we went, but security stated that it was spewing the week before. The sky is lit up a beautifully rose after sunset

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