Crater Rim Drive Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Crater Rim Drive. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Hilo Highlights Small Group Tour
• Private Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour
• Private Guide Meet In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• E-Bike Day Rental - GPS Audio Tour Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Hawai'i's Volcanoes National Park from Hilo Only

Crater Rim Drive is within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which charges an entrance fee of US$30 per private vehicle, including all passengers, or US$15 for pedestrians and cyclists. Each pass is valid for seven days. The America the Beautiful annual pass is US$80 and grants access to every NPS site for a year. The drive itself has no additional fees once you've entered the park.

Crater Rim Drive is approximately 11 miles long (18 kilometers) and takes around 45 minutes to drive without stops. Most visitors spend 2–3 hours exploring the route, stopping at major viewpoints and taking short hikes. If hiking and touring the visitor center, plan around 4–5 hours.

As of spring 2025, all 11 miles (18 kilometers) of Crater Rim Drive—including the east and west sections—are fully open to visitors. However, the Kilauea Visitor Center is closed for extensive renovations and is expected to reopen in late 2025; it’s been moved to Kilauea Military Camp, further west on Crater Rim Drive.

Viewing active lava flows from Crater Rim Drive is possible but certainly not guaranteed, as volcanic activity constantly changes. When Kilauea is active, you may see glowing lava within Halemaʻumaʻu crater, especially at night. Check the National Park Service website or visitor center for current volcanic activity before your visit.

The best viewpoints along Crater Rim Drive include the Kilauea Overlook, where you can enjoy panoramic caldera views; the Steam Vents stop to observe volcanic steam issuing from ground fissures; the Devastation Trail hike, full of interesting regrowth after eruptions; the Keanakakoʻi Crater Overlook, which has a unique perspective on the crater; and Waldron Ledge for excellent vistas of both the caldera and the Pacific looming in the distance.