Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park
Reviewed Dec. 23, 2024

Camping vs Camground. Difficult to rate. Experience specific.

Camping at Hosmer is like camping in a neighbor's nice grassy yard with everyone from the HOA's kids and conversations. The campground is just a square patch of soft green grass with some grills and potable water spouts. There is a nice enclosed pit toilet and a covered grill area for bad weather.

There would be no appeal here except...

  • The campground is at the entrance to the Haleakalā National Park, allowing you to wake up and explore as opposed to make an early drive a couple miles up a windy road if you were doing a longer hike.
  • The campground is home to a nature trail through a Frankenstein'd woods where they planted numerous different trees after logging the area in the old days searching for a fast growing tree they could then log again. It's a little bit of the Pacific Northwest in Hawaii, but with all the Hawaiian plantlife as well.
  • The bird watching is wild. The confluence of water and mixed plants makes this a perfect spot for bird watching, including some rare and endangered birds.
  • Did I mention the location?

They offer reservations of up to 3 days per month, which offers ample opportunity to explore the park and the volcano crater fully, but it is not wilderness camping or amenable to any sort of RV. Know that at camp, if there is an a-hole (or group of a-holes), they are going to be part of your stay. Similarly, if there is an expert on local birds, they become part of the group too!

Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024
  • Review photo of Hosmer Grove Campground — Haleakalā National Park by Ryan W., December 23, 2024