Mauna Loa Tours and Tickets

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

• Big Island Spectacular Helicopter Tour

• Exclusive Landing With Spectacular Big Island Helicopter Tour

• Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour

• Meet in the Park – Private Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour

• Kohala Coast Volcano Waterfalls 90-Minute Heli-Tour Doors Off or On

While you don’t need an admission ticket to visit Mauna Loa volcano, the natural wonder sits within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and a pass is required to enter the park and hike the trails. A standard day pass costs US$15 for pedestrians and cyclists, or US$30 for private vehicles.

Yes, Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the planet, so it's worth visiting for bragging rights alone. Whether you want to hike the Mauna Loa Trail or admire the views from afar, you can see Mauna Loa from all around the island. Tours can help you find the best viewpoints and are especially handy if you don't have your own transport. Or, for the ultimate bird's-eye view, you can even fly over the famous volcano in a helicopter.

Per one customer who booked the Exclusive Landing With Spectacular Big Island Helicopter Tour, "This trip was amazing! Our pilot, Matt, was professional and fun. His knowledge of the island was extensive. We lucked out on a beautifully clear day. The waterfall landing was well worth the extra cost. You'll never be able to see the island like this on your own, or experience anything like it. A must-do when visiting the island."

Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are separate volcanoes with very different characteristics and chemical compositions. Mauna Kea is steeper and more irregularly shaped than Mauna Loa because its lava has a higher viscosity. Mauna Kea is the world’s tallest mountain from its under-sea base to its summit, while Mauna Loa is the world’s largest active volcano.

Mauna Loa is on Hawaii Island (the Big Island). It comprises around 51% of the island’s land area. It covers most of the southern and central parts of the island. It’s a massive volcano: Its dome is 75 miles (120 kilometers) long and 64 miles (103 kilometers) wide, and its summit caldera covers nearly 6 square miles (15 square kilometers).

Yes, it’s possible to visit and walk on Mauna Loa. It covers over 50% of Hawaii Island (the Big Island). As well as driving past and getting views of the volcano from different viewpoints, adventurous travelers can go backcountry hiking on Mauna Loa on two main trails: the Mauna Loa Trail and the ʻĀinapō Trail.

Mauna Loa makes up more than 50% of Hawaii Island (the Big Island), so you can see it from many places on the island. To see Mauna Loa’s lava flow (when conditions are right), Hawaii Island’s Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, is a convenient spot, especially the Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area.

Yes, you can see Mauna Loa from Kona. Kona is located on the western coast of Hawaii Island (the Big Island), and Mauna Loa comprises more than 50% of this island, mainly the southern and central areas. You may also see the Mauna Loa lava flow from Kona, depending on the conditions and how active the volcano is.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Mauna Loa. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii:

• Kona (Kailua-Kona)

• Kealakekua Bay

• Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku)

• Mauna Kea Summit and Observatory

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions on the Big Island of Hawaii.