Saddle Road at a Glance
Buckle up! Saddle Road takes you on the road trip of a lifetime-a
53-mile thrill ride along peaks and valleys, bustling towns
and miles of undeveloped coastline. Officially, it is known
as the Hawaii Route 200, and starts from downtown Hilo all
the way to Highway 190 just outside Waimea. The road pretty
much cuts through the Big Island, like a giant belt.
Saddle Road gets its name from the stretch of road that
passes between the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes. This
“saddle” area is marked by small crosses to commemorate
the people who have died while traversing the road, and
perhaps to remind drivers to take extra caution. Heavy mist
is common in this area, so before setting out, make sure
there’s enough visibility to get you through the sharp turns.
The highest point on the road is at 6,321 feet. People have
described this area as much like the moon, with long stretches
of bare lava and very little vegetation. There’s not much
to see on ground, but look down and you’ve got a great lookout
point overlooking the mountains and the winding road you
have just passed. You can make a stop and hike to the observatory
on Mauna Kea-it’s great for star-gazing.
There aren’t many shops along the road, so plan ahead and
pack all the necessities. Make sure to bring lots of drinking
water, and enough food to keep you awake on the long drive.
And don’t forget your camera, because you’re in for one
scenic ride!Saddle Road in Bullet Points
Saddle Road Location
Address: Hawaii Highway 200, Kailua-Kona, 96740
Saddle Road Map (top)
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Kailua Kona Weather (top)
Now
75°F
Windchill:
75°F
Cloudy
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Location: Kailua Kona, HI, US
Wind: 5 mph S
Humidity: 64%
Visibility: 0.1 mi
Pressure: 29.97 in rising
Sunrise: 6:28 am
Sunset: 6:35 pm
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Sat
Hi: 79°F
Low: 70°F
Partly Cloudy
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Sun
Hi: 81°F
Low: 71°F
Partly Cloudy
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Saddle Road Photos (click to enlarge)
(top)
Saddle Road Reviews and Comments
(top)
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