Home to Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, this Big Island national park in the Volcano area is absolutely otherworldly. Drive Crater Rim Drive for jaw-dropping views into massive Halema'uma'u crater, then take Chain of Craters Road 19 miles down to the coast through surreal black lava fields that look like another planet. At night, the crater glows red from the active lava below — it's mesmerizing and completely different from the daytime experience. The Thurston Lava Tube is a quick walk through an actual lava tunnel, while the Kīlauea Iki trail lets you hike across a crater floor that was a boiling lava lake just decades ago.
💡 Insider Tip
Visit at sunset and stay for the night glow — you'll get both experiences in one trip. Skip the crowded Thurston Lava Tube and do the Kīlauea Iki trail instead for the real volcanic experience.
24 hours, visitor center 9 AM – 5 PM
$30 per vehicle (7-day pass)
Multiple lots in park
Late afternoon into night for glow
