Diamond Head Road
Diamond Head Road curves around the base of Diamond Head near Waikiki, with coastal views, Kuilei Cliffs, lighthouse scenery, the Amelia Earhart memorial and an easy drive toward Kahala.
Hawaii Scenic Drive Guide
Hawaii Scenic Drives
Browse Hawaii scenic drives by island, from coastal routes and lookout stops to mountain roads, historic highways and memorable day-drive ideas.
Scenic drive directory
This Hawaii scenic drives guide helps visitors find memorable road trip routes past coastlines, valleys, lookout points, waterfalls, lava landscapes and historic areas. Browse scenic drives by island to plan photo stops, short outings and full-day routes that fit your travel plans.
Hawaii Scenic Drives by Island
Each island offers a different kind of road trip. Oahu scenic drives include coastal highways, mountain routes, windward views and classic drives near Honolulu, the North Shore and the island's east side. Maui scenic drives include famous routes, mountain roads, coastal scenery and rainforest drives.
Kauai scenic drives highlight lush valleys, coastal views, small towns and dramatic canyon scenery. Big Island scenic drives offer lava fields, ocean cliffs, ranchlands, rainforest roads and high-elevation routes.
For a quieter road trip experience, visitors can also explore Molokai scenic drives. These routes offer rural landscapes, ocean views, historic areas and a slower pace away from the busiest visitor corridors.
Plan Your Hawaii Road Trip
Before heading out, check road conditions, weather, parking, daylight and whether the route includes narrow bridges, steep grades or remote sections with limited services. Some scenic drives work well as short detours, while others need a half day or full day. For more island planning, visitors can also compare Hawaii island tours, Oahu sightseeing tours, Maui sightseeing tours, Kauai sightseeing tours and Big Island sightseeing tours.
Oahu
Oahu Scenic Drives
Farrington Highway (North Shore)
Farrington Highway on Oahu's North Shore runs from Waialua and Mokuleia toward Camp Erdman and Kaena Point, with Waianae Mountain views, remote beaches, Kawaihapai Airfield and a quiet rural coastline.
Farrington Highway (West Shore)
Farrington Highway on Oahu's West Shore follows the leeward coast from Ko Olina toward Waianae, Makaha, Yokohama Bay and Kaena Point, with beach parks, mountain views and remote coastal scenery.
Kahala Avenue
Kahala Avenue is a short Oahu scenic drive east of Diamond Head and Waikiki, passing luxury homes, tropical landscaping, Waialae Beach Park and the quiet Kahala shoreline.
Kalanianaole Highway
Kalanianaole Highway follows Oahu's southeast coast from Hawaii Kai toward Waimanalo, with Hanauma Bay, Lanai Lookout, Halona Blowhole, Makapuu views, Rabbit Island and Ka Iwi State Scenic Shoreline along the way.
Nu'uanu Pali Drive
Nu'uanu Pali Drive is a short rainforest detour off Pali Highway, with canopy trees, valley scenery, Morgan's Corner folklore and easy access between Honolulu and Windward Oahu.
Pali Highway
Pali Highway, also known as Route 61, connects Honolulu with Kailua and Kaneohe through Nu'uanu Valley, mountain tunnels, Koolau scenery and the famous Nu'uanu Pali Lookout.
Tantalus Round Top Drive
Tantalus Round Top Drive winds through the forested hills above Honolulu, with canopy roads, city views, Puu Ualakaa lookout, Diamond Head scenery and sunset views.
Maui
Maui Scenic Drives
Haleakala Highway (Crater Road)
Haleakala Highway and Crater Road climb from Upcountry Maui to the summit of Haleakala, with switchbacks, cloud layers, volcanic scenery, rare native plants and sweeping island views.
Pi'ilani Highway
Pi'ilani Highway, often called the back road to Hana, follows Maui's remote south side with rugged coastline, dry ranchland, lava-rock scenery and narrow rural road sections.
Road to Hana (Hana Highway)
The Road to Hana follows Maui's lush northeastern coast from Kahului to Hana, with rainforest scenery, waterfalls, ocean cliffs, one-lane bridges, black-sand beach access and a full-day driving pace.
Wailea Alanui Drive
Wailea Alanui Drive runs through South Maui's Wailea resort area, connecting landscaped resort entrances, beach access roads, golf course views, ocean glimpses and the route toward Makena.
Kauai
Kauai Scenic Drives
Kuhio Highway (North Shore)
Kuhio Highway on Kauai's North Shore winds from Hanalei toward Haena and Kee Beach, passing one-lane bridges, lush valleys, beach lookouts and the access route to Haena State Park and the Kalalau Trail.
Tree Tunnel Road
Tree Tunnel Road, officially Maluhia Road, is Kauai's leafy south-shore gateway to Koloa and Poipu, with a eucalyptus canopy, soft filtered light and easy access to beaches, gardens and resort areas.
Waimea Canyon Drive
Waimea Canyon Drive climbs from Waimea into Kauai's uplands, with red-earth scenery, canyon viewpoints, waterfalls, coastal views and access to Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Parks.
Big Island
Big Island Scenic Drives
Chain of Craters Road
Chain of Craters Road descends through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from crater landscapes to coastal lava fields, with pit craters, lava flows, Puuloa Petroglyphs and Holei Sea Arch along the way.
Macadamia Road
Macadamia Road is a short East Hawaii orchard drive south of Hilo, leading through macadamia nut groves toward the Mauna Loa Visitor Center in Keaau.
Mauna Kea Beach Drive
Mauna Kea Beach Drive is a short Kohala Coast road from Highway 19 toward Kaunaoa Beach, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Mauumae Beach access, golf course views and resort landscaping.
Mauna Lani Drive
Mauna Lani Drive is a short Kohala Coast road from Queen Kaahumanu Highway into the Mauna Lani resort area, with lava fields, palms, golf course views, shoreline access and nearby historic sites.
Old Mamalahoa Highway
Old Mamalahoa Highway is a short rainforest drive north of Hilo, winding through the Hamakua Coast near Onomea Bay and Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.
Queen Kaahumanu Highway
Queen Kaahumanu Highway follows the Big Island's west side from Kailua-Kona toward the Kohala Coast, with lava fields, ocean views, airport access, beach roads and resort turnoffs.
Red Road (Kapoho-Kalapana Road)
Red Road, also known as Kapoho-Kalapana Road or Route 137, follows the Puna coast through tropical scenery, lava landscapes and shoreline areas changed by the 2018 Kilauea eruption.
Saddle Road
Saddle Road, also known as Route 200 or Daniel K. Inouye Highway, crosses the Big Island between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa with lava fields, high-elevation scenery, fog-prone areas and wide mountain views.
Waikoloa Beach Drive
Waikoloa Beach Drive leads from Queen Kaahumanu Highway into Waikoloa Beach Resort, with resort entrances, shopping, golf course views, landscaped roads and access toward Anaehoomalu Bay.
Molokai
Molokai Scenic Drives
Kalae Highway (Route 470)
Kalae Highway, also known as Route 470, climbs from Molokai's central uplands toward Palaau State Park and Kalaupapa Lookout, with quiet road scenery, forested stretches and wide island views.
Kaluakoi Road
Kaluakoi Road leads from Maunaloa Highway toward Molokai's quiet west shore, with dry-country scenery, ocean views, resort access roads and beach routes near Kepuhi and Papohaku.
Kamehameha V Highway (Mile 1-20)
Kamehameha V Highway follows Molokai's peaceful south shore from Kaunakakai toward the island's east end, passing fishponds, beach parks, churches, mountain views and quiet coastal scenery.
Kamehameha V Highway (Mile 20-22)
Kamehameha V Highway Mile 20 to 22 is a short but dramatic Molokai coastal drive east of Murphy's Beach, with narrow curves, sea cliffs, ocean spray, Rock Point and access toward Sandy Beach.
Maunaloa Highway (Route 460)
Maunaloa Highway, also known as Route 460, crosses Molokai's central plateau between Kaunakakai and Maunaloa, passing Molokai Airport, open countryside, red-earth hills and west-side road connections.
Pohakuloa Road
Pohakuloa Road is a short west Molokai drive from the Kaluakoi/Papohaku area toward Dixie Maru Cove, with dry-country scenery, quiet beach access roads, kiawe trees and Pacific views.