By: Nicole Rosania, travel content creator and writer at The Abroad Blog
While the most popular area to visit on the Big Island is definitely the Kona area, you should spend at least one day on the east side of the island during your visit and explore Hilo! There are a few different ways to travel from the Kona area to Hilo, and the various routes all take about 1.5-3 hours. If you are not renting a car, I recommend taking a shuttle or day tour, although this is a fun road trip! Let’s dive into my recommendations for a Kona to Hilo day trip. It’s totally doable to see this area in one day, so you can stay at the Mango Sunset BnB in Kona!
What Is Hilo Known For?
Hilo is located on the eastern side of the Big Island (also known as the more lush & rainy side) and is full of waterfalls, rainforests, and the island’s most iconic black sand beaches. It is actually one of the wettest cities in the US, which gives it its incredibly green, tropical landscape. Expect misty mornings, afternoon showers, and vivid rainbows. The most famous waterfalls here are the jaw-dropping Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls.
Hilo is also the closest major city to Volcanoes National Park, where we have an entirely separate guide outlining how to spend a day here from Kona!
The town itself has a laid-back, local charm — with a super walkable historic downtown, yummy local eats, and the Hilo Farmers Market, where you can grab everything from tropical fruit to handmade soaps. This city feels less touristy and a bit more local than Kona.
If you’re into culture, don’t miss the Merrie Monarch Festival — Hilo’s world-famous hula competition, and the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, which dives into both Polynesian navigation and space exploration.
Kona To Hilo Drive: Central Route
There are three main routes to travel west to east (or vice versa) to visit Hilo from Kona. If you want to get there in the shortest amount of time, without stopping at any sights in the central portion or other coasts of the island, I recommend taking the Central Route, also known as the Saddle Route. Saddle Road crosses right between Mauna Loa & Mauna Kea (two of the island’s major volcanoes) and will have you climb to ~6,632 ft in your car. We literally felt like we were driving among the clouds!
Distance & Time: ~53 mi, ~1½ hr non‑stop
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Key Stops:
Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a (“Cupcake”) Mountain: short hikes, possible bighorn sheep sightings
Mauna Kea Visitor Center & rest areas
Kona To Hilo Drive: Northern Route
The Northern Route will bring you through some of the Big Island’s primary ranching areas. This is the route we chose to take during our trip in Kona to make the most of the Kona to Hilo drive. On the way back we did opt for the more direct route mentioned above.
Distance & Time: ~78 mi, ~2 hr drive + stops
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Key Stops:
Waimea: charming ranching town that is great for coffee or lunch
Waipio Valley Lookout, Honoka‘a, Akaka Falls State Park (442 ft waterfall with loop trail)
Onomea/Pepe‘ekeo Scenic Drive and Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden (over 2,000 plant species)
Kona To Hilo Drive: Southern Route
Lastly, the Southern Route is the best Kona to Hilo drive if you want to see some of the area’s most impressive black sand beaches! We drove on this route to reach Volcanoes National Park, and made the following stops:
Distance & Time: ~145 mi, ~3 hr non‑stop
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Key Stops:
Green Sand Beach (South Point),
Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach to see the sea turtles!
Punalu'u Bake Shop to try the famous Hawaiian Sweet Bread
Pro-tip: There are very few gas stations on these roads during the Kona to Hilo drive, so be sure to leave Kona with a full tank! We got gas early in the morning before our road trip and also got some snacks and water for the drive. The center of the island is much more rural than the coastal towns.
Activities In Hilo: Waterfalls
There are two main waterfalls to see in the Greater Hilo area. First, is ‘Akaka Falls. This was one of my favorite sights to see during our entire trip to the Big Island!
Located about 11 miles north of Hilo, this massive, 442 ft plunge waterfall is located within a state park. Admission is free for Hawaii residents and $5 for visitors, plus $10 for parking. However, it is worth the fee! Inside the state park (which is open from 8:30am - 5pm daily), there is the massive waterfall, along with a series of paved walking paths to explore the area’s flora, and see the waterfall from various angles. You’ll definitely want your camera on you for this one!
Next up, I recommend seeing Rainbow Falls, which is located right in the town of Hilo at 967 Rainbow Drive. The falls are free to visit and super accessible, with a parking lot and restrooms nearby. The sunlight will sometimes cast rainbow light onto the falls, hence the name!
Activities In Hilo: Botanical Gardens & Lunch
Aside from the waterfalls, another one of the main activities in Hilo is the botanical gardens. Liliʻuokalani Gardens (Banyan Drive) is a 24‑acre Japanese-style waterfront park open 24/7 and always free. There are koi ponds, stone lanterns, and arching bridges — ideal for a peaceful afternoon stroll.
For a lunch break in Hilo, I highly recommend checking out the Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine restaurant. Try the shrimp fried rice — it comes served in a pineapple and was SO good!
Activities In Hilo: Farmers Market
Located just one block from the lunch restaurant is the famous Hilo Farmers Market. This is an absolute MUST visit and is the best spot for local flavors and community.
Located at Mamo St & Kamehameha Ave downtown, this vibrant hub features 200+ stalls offering fresh tropical produce, prepared foods, crafts, flowers, Hawaiian-made goods, and more. Be sure to try some shaved ice for dessert during your visit!
The main market is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 7am - 2pm, so try to plan accordingly so you can catch it! There is a smaller, similar market on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 10 am - 2 pm, but it has fewer vendors.
That brings us to the end of this travel guide covering the Kona to Hilo drive and activities in Hilo! I hope you plan a visit from Kona!