Must Visit Camping Spots in Hawaii

From lush rainforests and gushing waterfalls to beautiful beaches and volcanic panoramas, Hawaii is the perfect destination to arrange an epic camping vacation. After a month of living out of a campervan on Oahu, it’s safe to say we learnt a lot about camping in Hawaii.

Whether you plan to hire a campervan in Hawaii or do some backpacking across the islands, you’ll need to be prepared and equipped with loads of crucial information.

It may sound straightforward, but lawfully camping in Hawaii is a bit more hard than it sounds. In this post I’m going to offer all of the ideas and methods that helped us arrange a great Hawaii camping vacation.

Why Go Camping In Hawaii?

If you love off-the-beaten-path excursions, Hawaii might not be your first idea.

With its staggering 10,000,000 tourists per year, travelers frequently find themselves jammed like sardines in Honolulu and Maui high-rise resorts and boutique hotels.

However, there is so much more to these sites if you venture off the main tourist route.

Our solution: organizing a camping trip in Hawaii! There are off-grid and on-the-beach camp spots on practically every Hawaiian island.

It’s Inexpensive

Whether vehicle camping or tent camping, this is one of the cheapest ways to explore Hawaii. You may purchase permits around the islands for as cheap as $10/night.

You’ll find some gorgeous areas you may not find otherwise
Having the leisure and ability to stroll and drive about the island means truly getting to discover the ins and outs. It’s hard not to stumble upon some hidden jewels. From waterfalls to cliff leaping, the local sites you’ll get to hit while camping are next to none.

Our Time Camping In Hawaii

Camping in Hawaii was one of my favorite vacation experiences and I would suggest it to anybody who wants to explore a different, less touristic side of the state. I appreciated the freedom to get up and spend quality time in different sections of the island.

We were able to hit all the trails we planned to walk plus make stops at museums, beaches, and food trucks along the route.

During the nights at our campsites I spent lots of time conversing with the proprietors for advice on what to do next and met some amazing new friends.

Planning around the rules does require a little of preparation. Making sure we did everything legally and had planned out someplace to sleep every night was the most difficult aspect.

We reserved most of our campsites through Hipcamp ahead of time. The earlier you book the more alternatives you have. There were a few days we left free to compensate for changes in plans.

On the days we booked last minute, we were deciding between 2-4 locations, which worked out just perfectly. Some of the locations are so amazing and distinctive, staying there is an adventure within itself.

Read Also: Things to do in Olympic National Park

Rules For Camping In Hawaii

1. There Is No Free Camping In Hawaii

The first, and most crucial, thing anybody considering about camping in Hawaii should know: there is no free camping on any island in Hawaii.

Hawaii law “prohibits living or sleeping in parked vehicles between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m”.

This includes beaches, state parks, and other public land. So think again if you expected to just wing it and pick a peaceful neighborhood to park in overnight.

2. You Have To Purchase And Print Your Permission Ahead Of Time

Spontaneous planning is not the way to go for this specific vacation. You’ll need access to a printer to receive your permit for each campground.

Even if you have access to a printer, places still tend to fill up, so you’ll have a difficult time locating the ideal position at the last minute.

On the plus side, campsites open up no less than 30 days in advance, so you have plenty of time to plan before your vacation.

3. You Cannot Remain At One Campground For More Than 5 Consecutive Nights

Campsites in Hawaii have a 5 night maximum. If you’re staying more than 5 nights, you’ll have to transfer sites. That’s good though, I think it’s great to test out different campgrounds as opposed to sticking in one spot the whole vacation.

4. You Must Have A Valid Hawaii Driver’s License To Get The Resident Rate

Camping permits for nonresidents, on average, cost $30. If you are a resident, it’s $20. Residents, be sure to have your license accessible for booking.

5. State Parks Are Closed Wednesdays And Thursdays

Keep an eye out for which sites are available during the week. State Parks on Oahu are closed on Wednesday and Thursday, while other sites on the Big Island provide weekend camping exclusively.

There are still plenty of Forest Reserve sites to pick from on each island, you just have to check out the reservation system to see what’s available on each island for your chosen dates.

If you can’t locate a site you wish to remain in those evenings, spend for a hostel, or even a hotel, for a night! Being so inexpensive, hostels fill up quickly, so I’d recommend organizing them at least a month in advance.