36 Activities
3-Day Maui Island Tour, Including the Road to Hana, Upcountry Maui, and West Maui
Starts from
Wailea
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
36
Duration
3 days
Length
252 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Wailea
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
3 days
Length
252 mi
Erin Lindholm
Travel Expert
- Take in sunrise over Haleakalā National Park — it's early, but absolutely worth it.
- Discover Upcountry Maui's agricultural makers and producers.
- Lunch at a legendary farm-to-table restaurant.
- Detour for still-warm-from-the-oven banana bread.
- Seek out a photo-op with the Road to Hana's rainbow eucalyptus trees.
- Discover the “glistening waters” of Wai’anapanapa State Park.
- Hike into 'Ohe'o Gulch for one last waterfall.
- Delve into the cultural history of Upcountry Maui's Hawaiian cowboy culture.
- Always stop for banana, coconut, or chocolate mac nut cream pie.
Magical Maui. All of the Hawaiian islands have a distinct character, and Maui's is tantamount to being the "golden child" — a harmonious blend of west-facing beach towns and resorts with liquid gold sunsets and golden sand beaches to match; near endless opportunities for ocean eco-tourism and lush, tropical exploration; and a rich cultural and agricultural heritage that lives on today, inspiring Upcountry makers, farmers, artisans, and producers.
Maui is also home to that drive known around the world as the "Road to Hana" — 52 curvaceous miles along East Maui's remote coastline that includes 50 bridges (most only a single lane wide), wonderful little local cafes, and some truly exceptional scenery. The Road to Hana is on par with Central California's Pacific Coast Highway and Italy's Amalfi Coast as once-in-a-lifetime drives that are worth planning an entire holiday around, just for those miles, which is why this itinerary dedicates a full day-and-a-half to the experience. Yes, there are some early mornings — but for sunrise over Haleakalā and to make the most of your time along the Road to Hana, you'll find that they're absolutely worth it.
Maui is also home to that drive known around the world as the "Road to Hana" — 52 curvaceous miles along East Maui's remote coastline that includes 50 bridges (most only a single lane wide), wonderful little local cafes, and some truly exceptional scenery. The Road to Hana is on par with Central California's Pacific Coast Highway and Italy's Amalfi Coast as once-in-a-lifetime drives that are worth planning an entire holiday around, just for those miles, which is why this itinerary dedicates a full day-and-a-half to the experience. Yes, there are some early mornings — but for sunrise over Haleakalā and to make the most of your time along the Road to Hana, you'll find that they're absolutely worth it.
Magical Maui. All of the Hawaiian islands have a distinct character, and Maui's is tantamount to being the "golden child" — a harmonious blend of west-facing beach towns and resorts with liquid gold sunsets and golden sand beaches to match; near endless opportunities for ocean eco-tourism and lush, tropical exploration; and a rich cultural and agricultural heritage that lives on today, inspiring Upcountry makers, farmers, artisans, and producers.
Maui is also home to that drive known around the world as the "Road to Hana" — 52 curvaceous miles along East Maui's remote coastline that includes 50 bridges (most only a single lane wide), wonderful little local cafes, and some truly exceptional scenery. The Road to Hana is on par with Central California's Pacific Coast Highway and Italy's Amalfi Coast as once-in-a-lifetime drives that are worth planning an entire holiday around, just for those miles, which is why this itinerary dedicates a full day-and-a-half to the experience. Yes, there are some early mornings — but for sunrise over Haleakalā and to make the most of your time along the Road to Hana, you'll find that they're absolutely worth it.
Maui is also home to that drive known around the world as the "Road to Hana" — 52 curvaceous miles along East Maui's remote coastline that includes 50 bridges (most only a single lane wide), wonderful little local cafes, and some truly exceptional scenery. The Road to Hana is on par with Central California's Pacific Coast Highway and Italy's Amalfi Coast as once-in-a-lifetime drives that are worth planning an entire holiday around, just for those miles, which is why this itinerary dedicates a full day-and-a-half to the experience. Yes, there are some early mornings — but for sunrise over Haleakalā and to make the most of your time along the Road to Hana, you'll find that they're absolutely worth it.
Erin Lindholm
Travel Expert
- Take in sunrise over Haleakalā National Park — it's early, but absolutely worth it.
- Discover Upcountry Maui's agricultural makers and producers.
- Lunch at a legendary farm-to-table restaurant.
- Detour for still-warm-from-the-oven banana bread.
- Seek out a photo-op with the Road to Hana's rainbow eucalyptus trees.
- Discover the “glistening waters” of Wai’anapanapa State Park.
- Hike into 'Ohe'o Gulch for one last waterfall.
- Delve into the cultural history of Upcountry Maui's Hawaiian cowboy culture.
- Always stop for banana, coconut, or chocolate mac nut cream pie.
Travel itinerary
12 Activities
Day 1
101 mi0.2 mi
Departing from Wailea, Visit Haleakalā National Park for Sunrise and Explore Upcountry Maui
It's a rise-well-before-dawn type of day to make it up to the summit of Haleakalā National Park in time for sunrise, but the wonder of seeing the day break over this dormant volcanic crater, a sacred site in Hawaiian culture, is incomparable. The rest of the day moves at a more leisurely pace, exploring Maui's Upcountry, home of a few quaint towns and plenty of local farms. You'll start to understand the legacy of Maui's paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture. Arrive around check-in time to tonight's overnight accommodations on the North Shore and plan to tuck in early — tomorrow's going to be another early, but exceptional, day.
12 Activities
Day 2
59 mi
From Paia to Hana Town, via the Road to Hana
After yesterday's extremely early morning, hopefully today's early start feels like sleeping in. But truly, you do want to get an earlier move on this day dedicated to the Road to Hana in all its splendor. Driving straight through from Paia to Hana town, the drive might take a couple of hours, at most. But that's not the point, is it? So let's get up, fuel up, and hit that road.
12 Activities
Day 3
91 mi
Hana Town to West Maui, via the Back Road to Hana and Upcountry Maui
Hana town doesn't align with the end of the Road to Hana. In fact, there's still technically around 20 miles of Hana Highway (Hwy 360) to complete. A few last stops along this beautiful stretch of road is the first order of business today, including a short hike into another side of the Haleakalā National Park — for one last waterfall sighting, of course. Exiting the National Park, the road becomes Pi’ilani Highway (Highway 31), also known as the "Back Road to Hana." Comparatively, it's a desolate drive, but all the more interesting and appealing in its own way because it's so dramatically different. If you're at all concerned about fuel for the day, make sure to top off in Hana, because there will be no services for many miles. The route briefly passes through Maui's Upcountry once last time en route towards West Maui.