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While the island certainly has no lack of fancy, super-expensive resorts, camping in Maui is the “real” Maui experience. There are, however, only a handful of campgrounds in Maui and information is only sparsely available.
Before my visit to Maui’s only national park, I struggled to find accurate, detailed and up-to-date information about camping in Haleakala National Park. The National Park Service’s website does have some information, but still failed to answer some of my questions.
So, my intention was to gather as much useful info as I could during my time in the park and write up a detailed Haleakala National Park camping guide afterward.
Haleakala National Park Campgrounds Guide
Now, you might wonder ‘why would I even want to spend the night in Haleakala National Park? Isn’t the park just about the sunrise anyway?’ No! Haleakala National Park is so much more than only the summit sunrise.
There are epic hiking trails waiting to be explored, amazing tropical waterfalls, lush rain forest scenery, extraordinary wildlife viewing and, maybe above all, spectacular stargazing opportunities.
While most visitors just drive to the summit at 4 am, watch the sun rise above the Haleakala Crater and leave shortly after, I strongly encourage you to spend two or three days in this park. And to do that, you’ll need to camp.
Find out about all Haleakala camping options below. From car camping in the summit cloud belt or next to the lapping waves of the Pacific Ocean to wilderness camping deep in the crater, there are a few different camping locations in this glorious park.
Car Camping in Haleakala National Park, Maui
If you’d like to spend the night in the park, there are two drive-up campgrounds in Haleakala National Park, one in each district.
The Hosmer Grove Campground lies on the way to the Haleakala Summit, just beyond the park entrance, while the Kipahulu Campground on the east side of Maui is accessible via the Road to Hana.
You can camp up to 3 nights per month in each of the two Haleakala campgrounds.
Hosmer Grove Campground, Haleakala Summit District
Located in the cloud belt of the Haleakala Summit District, just under 7,000 feet above sea level, the Hosmer Grove Campground has room for 25 people.
As far as facilities go, they’re not abundant, but there are picnic tables, pit toilets, drinking water and barbecues. There’s no food anywhere in the Haleakala Summit District, though, so bring everything you need.
Campsites aren’t designated individually, but simply spread out across a small grassy area adjacent to a non-native woodland and surrounded by native shrubland.
This is the location of the Hosmer Grove Loop Trail, a short hike that offers amazing bird viewing opportunities.
There are a number of parking spaces for vans, too. No registration or fees are required. Simply park your vehicle or pitch your tent to claim a spot.
Remember that nighttime temperatures regularly drop down to about freezing, while daytime highs range between 50 and 65°F (10-18°C). When camping at Hosmer Grove, prepare for cold nights and bring sunscreen for daytime activities at Haleakala.
If you’re wondering where to camp in Haleakala National Park to watch the famous sunrise, Hosmer Grove is by far your best option. From your campsite, it’s only a short drive further up the mountain to prime sunrise watching spots and great hiking trails.
Note: If you’d like to watch the Haleakala sunrise, you need to make a reservation. Tickets are only $1 per vehicle, but they’re separate from the regular entrance fee. You can find much more information about Haleakala sunrise viewing on the National Park Service website.
- Number of people: 25
- Facilities: picnic tables, drinking water, pit toilets, barbecue grills
- First-come first-served, no fee or registration necessary
Kipahulu Campground, Kipahulu
One of our favorite national parks campgrounds, the Kipahulu Campground lies just south of the Kipahulu Visitor Center, about a half hour south of the town of Hana. Located right next to the ocean, you’ll enjoy falling asleep to the lapping of waves against the volcanic shore.
This fun and open campground has a limit of 50 people and, similar to the Hosmer Grove Campground, there are no designated sites here either. You simply pick an area you prefer and park your vehicle or pitch your tent to claim it. You don’t have to register or pay a fee.
In terms of amenities, there are pit toilets, some picnic tables and barbecues, but no drinking water.
You can, however, get drinking water at the restrooms of the nearby Kipahulu Visitor Center. Groceries and other supplies are available at two general stores in Hana.
When camping at the Kipahulu Campground, prepare for rain, mosquitoes and other bugs, harsh sun and humidity.
This is the tropical and wettest side of Maui and you should expect rain basically every day. Rain showers are short-lasting, though, and always followed by sunshine.
If you’d like to go camping in Hana, this is your best option. The campground is only about 10 miles south of Hana, but because the winding road is pretty rough in some sections, it takes more or less half an hour to get there. (It’s totally possible to drive this with a 2-wheel-drive vehicle, though!)
- Number of people: 50
- Facilities: picnic tables, pit toilets and barbecue grills (no drinking water)
- First-come first-served, no fee or registration necessary
Wilderness Camping in Haleakala National Park, Maui
There are also two wilderness campgrounds in Haleakala National Park—Holua and Paliku Campgrounds. Both are inside the Haleakala crater and are accessible via hiking trails.
The maximum limit at both campgrounds is 25 people and you can stay a maximum of 3 nights per month in the Haleakala Wilderness, with a limit of 2 nights per campground.
Each campground has pit toilets, but no other facilities. Water is generally available nearby, but is not potable and must be treated before drinking it. It’s best to bring your own water, just to be safe.
For backpacking trips into the crater, you need a free camping permit, which you can pick up at the Park Headquarters Visitor Center.
You can find lots more information about backcountry camping in the park on the NPS website.
When backpacking in the Haleakala Wilderness, remember you’re in a protected and sensitive environment. Follow the Leave No Trace principles.
Haleakala Camping Equipment Checklist
Whether you’re car camping in Haleakala National Park or headed into the wilderness, you’ll need some camping gear. Here’s a basic checklist of necessary camping equipment you’ll need.
- First-aid kit
- Park map
- Cooking stove
- Utensils
- Biodegradable soap
- Tent (unless you’re van camping)
- Sleeping bag
- Rain jacket and rain pants
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Hiking boots
- Food and hiking snacks (there are no stores within the park)
- At least 3 liters of water per person per day
- Water bottle
Tip: If you don’t have any camping equipment or don’t want to bring it on the plane with you, there’s another option. You can rent all kinds of gear from Maui Vacation Equipment, including camping gear, beach and snorkeling equipment, and hiking gear.
I rented some camping stuff from them, such as sleeping pads and pillows, camping chairs, and cooking gear, and was grateful for this amazing service! Highly recommended.
Stargazing in Haleakala National Park
Both sunsets and sunrises can be spectacular in the park, and are a great reason for a night or two of Haleakala National Park. There’s an entire other aspect of this park, too.
Thanks to its high elevation of 10,023 feet, lack of light and other pollution, and typically clear skies, the Haleakala Summit is one of the world’s best stargazing locations. Its night skies are some of the most majestic you’ll ever see.
At Kipahulu, too, you have amazing opportunities to enjoy the Milky Way. Just like the Summit District, Kipahulu’s remoteness makes it an ideal place for stargazing. Set up camp at the Kipahulu Campground, grab a chair and a cold drink, and look up.
You’ll be greeted by one of the most spectacular cosmic displays on Earth.
Haleakala National Park Camping FAQs
Where Is Haleakala National Park Located?
Haleakala National Park encompasses a large part of the Haleakala Volcano in eastern Maui.
It’s made up of two districts—the Summit District and Kipahulu District—which consist respectively of the volcanic crater and upper slopes, and the lush eastern part of the mountain down toward the coast.
From Kahului, home to Maui’s main airport and lots of car rental offices, these are the distances to Haleakala National Park’s two districts (with estimated driving times):
- Kahului to Haleakala Summit: 37 miles (1.5 hours)
- Kahului to Kipahulu: 60 miles (3-4 hours)
Can You Sleep in Your Car in Maui?
The general consensus seems to be that you’re not allowed to sleep in your car in Maui, unless it’s at designated campgrounds. So, you can’t just park on the side of the road or at parking lots and stay overnight.
If you do want to sleep in your car for free in Maui, your options are limited to the classic Walmart parking lot and the two drive-up campgrounds in Haleakala National Park (which, although camping is free, do require you to pay the park entrance fee).
Do I Need Haleakala National Park Camping Reservations?
No, you don’t need a reservation to camp at Haleakala. Camping is free and doesn’t require registration either.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Haleakala National Park?
Based on my own experience, I suggest spending 3-4 days in Haleakala National Park.
You’ll need one full day to see and do all Haleakala National Park Summit activities I’ve discussed above, including a sunrise, day hike, sunset and stargazing. This includes at least one night at the Hosmer Grove Campground.
Including the Road to Hana drive, the Kipahulu District deserves two more full days. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the rain forest scenery, do some short hikes, go swimming and spend some time at the peaceful Kipahulu Campground.
Does Hosmer Grove Campground Fill Up?
Although it’s a rather small campground, I didn’t have the impression that the Hosmer Grove Campground ever gets completely full.
Before my own visit, I couldn’t find much information about this online, but I can confirm that you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a spot here.
I had a mini-van and checked out the campground at around 5 p.m. on a weekday in late-September before heading up for sunset. There were plenty of spots left at the actual grassy campground, as well as lots of available parking spots.
This was the same after I returned from summit at about 7 p.m. No issues whatsoever!
Does Kipahulu Campground Fill Up?
Nope! The Kipahulu Campground is much larger than the Hosmer Grove Campground. It’s basically an expanse of grass, located between the rain forest and the ocean shore.
There are no designated campsites here, so you should always be able to find a place to hunker down for the night.
We spent three nights at this campground with our mini-van, leaving our spot every morning to go explore and simply setting up elsewhere in the evening. Again, I don’t believe this campground ever gets full.