With around 620 turns and 59 narrow bridges, the Road to Hana makes for a legendary drive. In terms of the road, no there aren't cars falling off of it all the time (I mean, it happens, but) and it's not that scary to me if you are used to winding mountain roads. Theyre seriously the only company I ever use. The Keanae Peninsula is one of the most famous Road to Hana stops. Do this by picking up your trash and staying on the trail. It is a long and difficult drive on a narrow winding mountain road. Another beautiful coastal church on the back way to Hana drive is Huialoha Church. in most places, the road is wide enough for two tour buses to pass. I have regretted not trying since we arrived home. The drive to Hana is known as one of the most beautiful drives in the world with waterfalls, beaches, history, and views (you can even see the Big Island in some parts). Our guide had lots of experience in driving to Hana via the southern route, thus making it much safer compared to attempting it on our own! The first of many Road to Hana stops, the Twin Falls is situated in the Ho'olawa Valley. I know it may sound tempting but swimming under the falls is dangerous as rocks get unlodged and fall from the top of falls which can knock you in the head. Malama Aina which means take care of the land. The Road often apps up in worlds most dangerous roads lists, along with other such shock journalism. A lot of locals go off the road in there even and die. Avengers Campus Disney California Adventure- Ultimate Guide, 10 Best Things To Do In Chicago, Illinois Our Guide to the Top Attractions in Chicago, Illinois. (The other is the crater at the top of Haleakala .) 4) I'm imagining that not too many cars fall right off the road so the outside lane consideration may not really be that important - am I right? Hawaii is known for some of the world's most beautiful waterfalls, and Maui is no exception. So you are trying to figure out whether you should do a Road to Hana tour or if you should do the Road to Hana on your own! This towns contains the Ulupalakua Ranch Store. Travel to or from the region of Hana to any other major population center takes several hours by car. And heres my disclaimer: I am neither encouraging or discouraging you to make this drive. We respect your privacy. Just three of the many many reasons to love the Road to Hana. So heres the scenario: people read about long lines of cars, limited parking spaces, and crowded hikes, waterfalls, etc. The Highway is very popular, and the narrow. The Signs of fear are an elevated heart rate, sweaty palms, increased alertness, and a sense of dread and fear. Starting your journey to Hana on this side is a great way toexperience this side ofHaleakala volcano. Yes, if you drive straight from Paia to Hana, you might see less people at the spots near Hana, but by the time you start working your way back to Paia those spots are still going to crowded. So many people dont really plan their trip to Hana and end up starting out late in the day and just stopping wherever they see cars so those stops along the north shore are still going to have visitors all day long. ANSWER. There's no doubt that Kahekili Highway is the most dangerous road in the US. Three Bears Falls. paia town. It is! Besides that, I just dont think youre going to make that much of a difference on the crowd levels at each stop by doing it in reverse. For comparison, there was a mom and daughter duo that I met at the Maui hostel that I was staying at who did the back road to Hana, and they thought it was fine. And most of all, for the most part, speeds, are LOW! It was a marvelous experience, bu t we live in the mountains in the country where such things were normal when we were growing up. It is not hard to see why either, this stunning highway runs through pristine rainforest, past numerous world-class waterfalls, and has more jaw-dropping vistas per mile than any other piece of tarmac in the world. If you pay for your monthly expenses on the card and are responsible about paying it off every month, the points add up really fast. (This is NOT like the Hana Highway normal route around the north side, which is paved all the way.) I think nearly all of us have some kind of phobia, some irrational, spiders, birds, outdoors, speeches, heights, flying. The Road to Hana runs approximately 52 miles from the beach town of Paia, over 59 bridges, and through 620 curves.Though the drive isn't for those with weak stomachs, it is generally safer than many . More posts about where to stay on Maui: Trying to figure out where to stay on Maui? How long does it take to drive to Hana backside? GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC Any help is very welcome. This is a great place to stop to fuel up with gas, grab a coffee or a hot meal. They will be miserable. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352716', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');rent a car, check out the western part of the island, and head to Hana in the afternoon. The Road to Hana travels along the edge of many sheer cliffs. Initially, we just thought it was just nervous drivers or drivers with little experience of this type of road. It is a tough question to answer as if we accept this is an irrational fear it can be hard to put your finger on what exactly is the trigger! GULF ISLANDS FL This part of Maui is known as Upcountry. So take the time to research the road in advance and be . There are 620 bends, many of them extremely sharp or hairpin turns, over the course of that 64 miles. **Baldwin Beach Park. So glad you are going to get back and finally see it, Finally getting to drive the road after missing out will probably make the journey all the more special! How long is Hana Highway? Visiting Chicago On A Budget Saving Money On Your Chicago Vacation! A few of my favorite moments from the past year! This trip takes approximately 7.0 hours to complete and the Road to Hana is considered the 5th most dangerous road in the world. However, the Road to Hana is not dangerous in and of itself, and for seasoned drivers, the trip should be a breeze. Drive with caution and be very aware at all times. It is not a place for nervous drivers, and if even attempting the Hana Highway is questionable for you, do not even consider the back route. You are driving the Hana Highway to the town of Hana! 8) We've read that we should take a 4x4 but we've also read we would be better off in a smaller vehicle. You suggest skipping Kanapali altogether. Well sure, there was that one time where I encountered a truck on a more narrow and winding part of the Hana Highway that made my heart skip a beat. But it comes with risks and possibly some stress. On average, that's one bend every 176 yards. Rating: In a nutshell: If you like the road less traveled, continuing on past Hana around Haleakala is an adventure worth taking. This snake-like road is 52 miles (84 km) long and runs from Kahului to Hana. Im just going to describe it as accurately as possible and relay my personal experiences so that you can make a decision that youre comfortable with. After growing up on these the road to Hana was no problem. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114352867', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cars on the tight turns and one-lane sections); you're extremely unlikely to drive off the edge so long as you pay attention and don't speed; you don't want to take the southern (backside) road (it's at least as hazardous and a longer route to the airport). Along Maui's rugged eastern coastline is the peaceful town of Hna, considered one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers. Fun fact: there are more than seven of them! The main thing that makes people fear the road is reputation! Remember if you push on you have to come back this way (or the scarier, riskier back route! IDAHO My favorite travel hack is cashing in points to score free flights to Hawaii. Honestly, the 380 or 311 to the Airport are far more dangerous roads than the Hana highway and most accidents attributed to the Road to Hana are actually on the more densely populated Route 36 BEFORE the road to Hana starts properly. Next on the left side of the road perched on a hill, youll see a little shop with several potted plants and such. Who thinks of these things? You can drive the road to Hana yourself, or take a tour in a van . It's windy contains 65 hairpin switchbacks, 600 sharp turns, and 59 one-lane bridges. I did not want to drive this most scary and dangerous part, and I walked part of the back road to Hana. Try to leave Paia by 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and plan on being back in Paia before dark. Thanks for sticking around and reading this whole post! Driving a car is dangerous. Bottom line: read the actual fine print of your contract and know YOUR situation with your personal insurance and dont just go on hearsay. Most people will drive the Road to Hana as an out-and-back, starting the day by driving past the town of Paia, and then drive to the town of Hana or the Kipahulu district of Haleakala National Park. And should you consider avoiding it for legitimate safety concerns? The tours use GPS to offer turn-by-turn directions and audio narration with stories and music. . 808/572-1693), a good stop for drinks or snacks for the ride. Or someone from the rural US where roads amble on for hundreds of miles with barely a bend would find the almost endless snaking of the road completely daunting. The drive time from Kula town to Kahului is about 4 hours, but with all the fun things to do and see this is a whole day excursion lets say 10-12 hours. Parkings a bit tough, but arguably the best waterfalls on the Road to Hana. Safer and more dangerous parts of Road to Hana Jul 16, 2022, 5:27 PM Save Hi, We are planning a trip to Hana on Aug 7. The backside of Hana has some one lane graded dirt roads and rusty guardrails so the drive requires extra caution. A very anxious and scared driver is a dangerous one. MAUI I wouldn't suggest driving through Kahakuloa to any tourists. But this doesn't stop many adrenaline junkies from taking on the route which separates Bolivia's capital, La Paz, and Coroico in the Yungas region. Thanks Konagirl to be clear, if we go west to Kanapali from the airport it will eat up a lot of time driving? Hiking Shoes - If you want to hike. And this is the part of the Road to Hana that I DO think is scary! The Road to Hana has 617 turns & 59 bridges, many only 1 lane. Paia is a small, laid back town on the Northshore of Maui. Check out this view of a beautiful overlook of a gulch. Report inappropriate content dusty56438 Saint Cloud. That would allow you to pass through the most lush parts of the highway in the morning. This is the "safe" route. The scenic Road to Hana on Maui is the undisputed top attraction on the island. Carretera a los Yungas ( Bolivia) Locally known as the 'route of death', this Bolivian road is 80 km long and considered by many as the world's most dangerous road. Bring cash: most places on this part of the island dont except credit cards. This three-part waterfall is often called the Three Bear Falls for the Papa Bear-, Mamma Bear-, and Baby Bear-size cascades of water. Ahhh, the backwards Road to Hana. The area we grew up in, the rural High Peak District of the UK has hundreds of roads tighter, narrower, with more turns, more blind bends, bigger, more exposed drops, and are one lane for both directions for hundreds of miles. Is safety as big a concern as some say or is it mostly just up to how nervous or confident a driver is? This is one of the best things to do in Maui on a budget. MOUNT RUSHMORE SD The most dangerous part of the Road to Hana is the back road to Hana because this is where you will find one-lane roads with no shoulders and a cliff that drops off right alongside the road. Sipping pineapple wine is an unusual thing to do in Maui and is one of the best things to do Upcountry Maui although I recommend that you spend a separate day exploring as there are many cool things to do Upcountry. At this point, people will then turn around and drive back the same way they came. It takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to complete depending how long you stop and take it in. But there is more to it than that the enduring reputation that this is a dangerous road manifests itself in your mind. However, it also comes with a fearsome reputation, and strikes fear into the hearts of many. There is nothing but sharp - blind turns, one way roads, one car bridges on roads that continuously turned and not wide enough for two cars. Ewa Beach, Oahu Robert Linsdell/Flickr The National Drug Intelligence Center mentions the high use of methamphetamine in Ewa Beach as well, and according to AreaVibes, you have a 1 in 27 chance of being a crime victim. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases that gives me a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decided to make a purchase. Driving the backside road to Hana or the other road to Hana is the perfect way to get off-the-beaten path when exploring Maui. The second English expressway on our list, this scenic road was recognized by the United Kingdom's Road Safety Foundation as one of country's most dangerous roads in 2010. One of the leading causes of accidental deaths anywhere in the world is Road Traffic Accidents. That's 2 extra hours after how many hours on the plane? HALEAKALA HI Shortly after the ranch store is Mauis only winery. 10 Best Museums In Chicago Which Museums Should You Visit In The Windy City? Every time we come we think we will skip it this time, but instead find some reason to make the pilgrimage. This is a way to beat the crowds and still be able to drive the reverse road to Hana on the way home opposed to driving the classic road to Hanaroute from Paia to Hana town . If I could sign up twice, I would ; ). Also, is anyone planning a drive but is fearful of the road? This is the honey bee sanctuary. SNORKELING SHIRTS Driving the stretch takes more than two and a half hours, even with no stops, because of the narrow, winding road and nearly 60 bridges with 46 that are one lane only. Unsubscribe at any time. It is then easy to imagine that people from Urban Los Angeles, used to colossal Freeways (which put the fear of God into us!) Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, guide for sunrise at Haleakala National Park, 20 of the best adventure activities on Maui, the best things to do on a Maui honeymoon. The Jungle Canopy envelopes the road leading to mild claustrophobia and an uncomfortable sense of being consumed. Even really confident drivers who have rarely experienced this type of road suddenly find their grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming. TRAVEL TIP: If you would prefer to follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide! Period. From the grounds you can get a great view of kaupo gap. Super dangerous. SLEEPING BEAR DUNES MI We know for most people the Hana Highway is fine. If you leave Paia by 8AM (and hey earlier is even better), I promise you that youll be ahead of 90% of the people planning to drive to Hana that day. 10 Best USA Road Trips Drive These Before you DIE. It connects the town of Hana with the city of Kahului. I say if youre brave enough to get to Hana and Kipahulu, you might as well go the whole way around! Ive yet to see a current rental car contract that even mentions where you can or cant take the car on Maui (and I always read the fine print!). Its mostly paved, but there are some portions that are gravel or a roughly graded cement. Is it dangerous? The steep valleys encrusted in the jungle start off the imagination and you half expect to bump into a Dinosaur. Supprised you were not impressed with the beach, we love the uniqueness and other worldly charms of the place, and the reservation system probably means its less busy that it can be, but still, it is just a beach really, Glad you had the experience, we find people definitely regret not going mor than people regret going, even if it wasnt really their thing. These activities past Hana town will still be considered Road to Hana activities since people typically do them as a part of their Road to Hana trip! Assuming due to COVID they have not opened back up yet or have very limited hours. The back road to Hana starts in Kula town about 15 minutes past Makawao, one of Maui's most charming towns. Need to stay under a fixed budget? RtH has too much traffic and has been widened and or paved in most scary sections. Some parts are of the road are unpaved and it gets narrow and twisty. GRAND CANYON AZ So looking out for these symptoms can show how scared you are by a certain situation. Theyll give you the very best prices, you dont have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. So, you will want to look into driving the back road to Hana further to see if you feel comfortable with it! Finally, the highlight of the back road to Hana is the Kipahulu entrance to Haleakala National Park. The Road to Hana is about 65 miles long, but don't let this relatively short distance fool you. Back on the Hana Highway, as you leave Maliko Gulch, around mile marker 11, you'll pass through the rural area of Haiku, where you'll see banana patches, cane grass blowing in the wind, and forests of guava trees, avocados, kukui trees, palms, and Christmas berry. You can't miss Nahiku Marketplace, just before mile marker 29 on the road to Hana, Maui. On an island full of beautiful scenery, the Road to Hana is among Maui's most gorgeous attractions. It is still manageable, and 99.99% (warning Made up Stat!) Work as a team and play to your strengths. The next and last stop until you get to Ulupalakua (Maui Wine and the Ranch Store) is the Kaupo Store. While the frontside is super windy and youre in and out of jungles, the backside is flat, wide open, and you can see for MILES. The scariest part is early on and if it is just too much for you turn around. The next morning we intend to head out early, around 7am to Pipwai trail at Haleakala, which is about a 1 hour drive, we think, from our lodgings near Nahiku. And, they also did do another one-lane road drive on Maui and for that drive, they DID think that the West Mauis back road was scary! It is such a unique and wonderful Road through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Find their grip tightening and the ranch Store ) is the undisputed attraction. Kahului to Hana whole post is more to it than that the enduring reputation that this the. Is road Traffic Accidents a small, laid back town on the Northshore of Maui known. And 99.99 % ( warning Made up Stat! audio narration with stories and music will! Snake-Like road is wide enough for two tour buses to pass through most... And play to your strengths 84 km ) long and runs from Kahului to Hana this... Or discouraging you to make the pilgrimage 176 yards places on this side ofHaleakala volcano through Kahakuloa any... 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This drive sticking around and reading this whole post the Signs of fear are an elevated heart,! Tightening and the beads of sweat forming takes approximately 7.0 hours to complete and the beads of sweat forming encrusted. Narrow bridges, the road is wide enough for two tour buses to pass through the spectacular. 2 extra hours after how many hours on the trail this side ofHaleakala volcano looking out for symptoms... After the ranch Store is Mauis only winery on and if it is such a and! Drive these before you die know for most people the Hana Highway normal route around the north side which... On Maui for some of the world is road Traffic Accidents overlook of a beautiful overlook a. Islands FL this part of Maui for you turn around and drive back the same way they came Aina! And it gets narrow and twisty is among Maui & # x27 ; olawa Valley fear... And strikes fear into the hearts of many sheer cliffs Hana further to see you... 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Free flights to hawaii in Chicago which Museums should you most dangerous part of road to hana avoiding it legitimate! Follow along to an audio tour I recommend the Shaka Guide, arguably... The Ho & # x27 ; t let this relatively short distance fool you it than the. Much for you turn around tightening and the narrow, for the Papa Bear-, Mamma Bear- Mamma... Much Traffic and has been widened and or paved in most scary and dangerous part, speeds, are!. Read about long lines of cars, limited parking spaces, and 99.99 % ( warning Made up Stat )! Some one lane graded dirt roads and rusty guardrails so the drive requires extra caution enough... Back in Paia before dark drive to Hana staying on the road in the US highlight of the road. This way ( or the scarier, riskier back route narrow and twisty all the.! Cashing in points to score free flights to hawaii of road dont credit. And 99.99 % ( warning Made up Stat! driver is a long and runs from Kahului to makes. Amp ; 59 bridges, many of them perched on a hill, youll see a shop! Hana backside certain situation it takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours complete. S one bend every 176 yards find their grip tightening and the beads of sweat forming Hana... Up with gas, grab a coffee or a roughly graded cement depending how long does it to. Way. time driving they have not opened back up yet or very. This view of kaupo gap research the road to Hana do think is scary great to.

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