Some links on our site may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
The best road to Hana stops for a first visit are four: Twin Falls, Garden of Eden Arboretum, Waianapanapa State Park and the Pools of Oheo. Paid admission for two adults across all four adds up to about $100. Garden of Eden is the one stop worth skipping if your budget is tight, since it charges $20 per adult just to walk through.
I have packed a cooler for enough long driving days that I never start one without ice, cash and a full tank. That habit matters here, because gas stations thin out fast once you leave Paia. So does patience, since the road slows to one lane at dozens of small bridges along the way.
Quick facts
| Stop | Fee | Mile marker |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Falls | $10 per car for parking, per Twin Falls Maui | About mile marker 2 |
| Garden of Eden Arboretum | $20 per adult, per the arboretum’s own listing | About mile marker 10.5 |
| Waianapanapa State Park | $10 per vehicle plus $5 per person for non-residents, per Hawaii DLNR; reservation required | Near Hana town |
| Pools of Oheo (Kipahulu) | $30 per vehicle, valid 3 days, per the National Park Service | Past Hana town |
Here is the math behind that $100 figure. Twin Falls costs $10 for the car. Garden of Eden costs $20 per adult, so $40 for two. Waianapanapa costs $10 for the vehicle plus $5 per person, so $20 total. The Pools of Oheo costs $30 for the vehicle. Add $10, $40, $20 and $30 together and you get $100 for two adults doing all four stops.
How many stops on road to Hana?
Four stops are enough for a first drive. Twin Falls opens the day near mile marker 2. Garden of Eden sits about eight miles further, near mile marker 10.5. Waianapanapa and the Pools of Oheo both sit near the far end, close to Hana town itself. Trying to add more than four paid stops usually means rushing every single one.
The full route runs about 68 miles from Kahului to Hana on Highways 36 and 360, per Maui Guide. That same route has around 620 curves and 59 narrow bridges, also per Maui Guide. So the drive alone takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way without a single stop.
Twin Falls Maui
Twin Falls charges $10 per car for one of only 55 paid parking spots, per Twin Falls Maui. Arrive early, because the lot fills fast and the property does not take reservations. The last entry is 4:30 p.m., and the gate closes at 5 p.m., so a late-afternoon detour will not work.
Two short trails lead to waterfalls here, and a fruit stand sits right at the parking lot. Because it is the first major stop on the drive, most road trippers hit it before 9 a.m. to beat the crowds.
Garden of Eden Maui Worth It
Garden of Eden charges $20 per adult, per the arboretum’s own listing. That is steep for a roadside stop, and it is the highest single fee on this list. Still, the paved paths and ocean overlooks make it an easy 30 to 45 minute walk. That works well if you are traveling with kids or older relatives who need a break from the winding road.
Skip it if you are watching your budget closely. Nothing here is unique enough to make or break the trip, and the free overlooks further along the highway show similar coastline for nothing.
Waianapanapa State Park Reservations
Waianapanapa requires a reservation for every visitor and commercial operator, per Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. Non-residents pay $10 per vehicle for parking, plus $5 per person to enter. Book your slot online before you leave your hotel, because walk-ups without a reservation are turned away at the gate.
The payoff is the black sand beach, along with sea stacks, a blowhole and a natural stone arch. Because access is capped by the reservation system, the beach rarely feels as crowded as Twin Falls or Garden of Eden.
Pools of Oheo Hawaii
The Pools of Oheo, also called Oheo Gulch, sit inside Haleakala National Park’s Kipahulu District. A $30 vehicle pass covers this entrance and the park’s summit area too. It stays valid for three days, per the National Park Service. So keep your receipt if you also plan to catch sunrise at the summit later in your trip.
The Pipiwai Trail starts near the pools and climbs through a bamboo forest to Waimoku Falls. Give that hike at least two hours round trip, because the trail is longer and steeper than the pools themselves suggest.
Road to Hana Gas Station
Fill your tank in Kahului or Paia before you start. Gas stations thin out fast after that, and the next reliable fuel stop is Hana town itself. A fruit stand sits at Twin Falls, and a handful of small stands appear along the highway after that, but do not count on them for a full meal.
Pack water, snacks and a light lunch before you leave. Cell service also drops out for long stretches, so download offline maps first. A paper map or a printed mile-marker list is a smart backup if your phone loses signal in the deeper valleys. Because many turnouts are narrow, park fully off the roadway whenever you stop for a photo, and never block a one-lane bridge while you wait for a view to clear.
Road to Hana Tips
Skip driving the full loop back through Kaupo unless you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle and daylight to spare. That section is largely unpaved, and most rental car contracts do not cover it. Skip stopping at every single roadside waterfall, too. Many sit on private land, and the short hikes to reach them add up fast over a 68-mile route. Skip Garden of Eden specifically if you are already paying for Waianapanapa and the Pools of Oheo. That combination alone holds the day’s cost down.
How long does the road to Hana take?
Budget a full day, leaving Kahului or Paia by 7 a.m. The drive alone takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way, per Maui Guide. Each of the four paid stops adds 30 minutes to two hours on top of that, depending on how long you linger. Most first-time visitors do not reach Hana town itself until early afternoon.
Driving back after dark is not worth the risk. The road has no streetlights and dozens of one-lane bridges, so plan to be off the return route before sunset if you can. Weekday mornings are also lighter on traffic than weekends, because fewer tour vans and rental caravans clog the one-lane bridges early in the week.
Road to Hana Stops Itinerary
If you only have one day, pick Twin Falls and the Pools of Oheo. Twin Falls anchors the morning, and the Pools of Oheo anchors the early afternoon near Hana town. Add Waianapanapa if you can secure a reservation, since the black sand beach is the most distinctive single stop on the whole drive.
Leave Garden of Eden for a return trip. It is a pleasant stop, but it is also the easiest one to cut when time or money runs short. For more Hawaii trip planning, see our Hawaii travel guides.
Best Road to Hana Stops
I have visited Hawaii enough times, including the planning that goes into picking which island to start with, to know that a full day on a narrow coastal road wears out even patient travelers by mid-afternoon. That is why I build every road to Hana day around fewer, better stops instead of a checklist. Twin Falls, Waianapanapa and the Pools of Oheo cover the waterfalls, the black sand beach and the rainforest hike. That combination is worth the $60 or so in fees on its own.
Garden of Eden is the one stop I would cut first if the day runs long or the budget runs tight. Everything else on this list earns its place on the drive.
Frequently asked questions about road to hana stops
What stops should I make on the road to Hana?
Four paid stops are plenty for a first visit: Twin Falls, Garden of Eden, Waianapanapa State Park and the Pools of Oheo.
Which stops on Road to Hana require reservations?
Waianapanapa State Park is the one that needs booking. Every visitor and commercial operator needs a reservation to enter, per Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, and walk-ups are turned away.
How long does it take to drive the road to Hana?
The drive alone takes 2.5 to 3 hours each way without stops, per Maui Guide. A day with four stops usually runs a full 10 to 12 hours round trip.
Can you do road to Hana in one day?
Yes, if you start by 7 a.m. and limit yourself to two or three paid stops. Trying to hit every stop in a single day usually means rushing the best ones.
What are the best driving tips for the road to Hana?
Skip the unpaved Kaupo loop back to Kahului unless your rental car covers it. Skip Garden of Eden first if your budget or your schedule is tight.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the park, operator or provider before you go.
Updated September 23, 2026.