Camping near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI

The beach itself is totally covered in lava rock. Cool to see the 2018 glow up close but it’s turned this into a rocky beach. If you want to sunbath I guess it would still be good, but when we were there the water looked too rough to swim and there wasn’t any sand, just rock. There was a lifeguard on duty though so I guess you technically are allowed to swim.

The hot springs were great though! I recommend going to the one back in the woods! They’re heated by the magma deep in the ground and are pretty hot! Worth the visit just for these!

No camping at all though. They still have it completely shut down.

This was a great little campground! We showed up in the early afternoon and got the last spot available but only because the original person who got it had upgraded to a cabin. If you’re planning on staying here I’d definitely recommend getting here early! Once there though it was a great site. Super friendly people and beautiful area!

There was a coffee farm within walk distance, the church, peace gardens and just nice little area.  Lots of pets, the cow! and baby goats.  City of refuge and Captain Cook Monument are amazing to  hang, and a few private beaches only for people who stay here

The scenery is so beautiful. I discovered a lot of cool things from this place and I will probably never forget getting over it in my mind.

Drove by and checked in to see if camping was available and got a super fast response that it’s not currently available. Couldn’t find the entrance but beautiful sweeping views from ocean view estates with market, food and gas nearby.

Roddy efficient grass sites - big enough for a couple or snag multiple for a family. Little cabins you can rent too. Bbq at each site l, mowed grass, bathrooms and sinks. Grab dinner at volcano house and have all day and night to explore the NP

We really enjoyed swimming in the pool under the Easter Island statue. The facilities were great, and the host was welcoming. Thanks for letting us stay on your beautiful property.

Beautifully nestled on a section of gorgeous Big Island coastline this immaculately presented ranch was a place we could take a break from our hectic roadtrip and destress. We relaxed wondering the property picking and eating papaya, coconut, strawberry guava to name a few. One of the highlights was our sea turtle watching from the point where we saw at least ten turtles feeding and swimming in the crystal clear waters. Our hosts were nothing short of awesome and welcoming in the use of the beautiful pool from which you could look out to the sea and have wifi access. Looking back on our three weeks touring the four main islands of Hawaii, our stay at Wild Blue Water Ranch was by far the best value for money, hospitable and enjoyable drive-in camping experience we had! Totally recommended!

Jake from the Dyrt here!  We are so excited to welcome the Lava Rock Camp to the Dyrt!  They have a history of creating memorable experiences for guests, and we can't wait to see everyone share their highlights on the Dyrt!

I found this listing on here but no way to book it instantly so I contacted the host directly . Kelly is super easy to communicate with and answers right away . The grounds for camping are on her resort property a couple acres behind it in fact , so there’s no visible building from tent sites . We absolutely loved the coqui singing at night and waking to an amazing array of bird’s singing. Kelly’s son Alex gives you a full walkthrough of the different types of tress to pick from , and a tour of the hotel property . There’s amazing facilities here including hot water in the showers. I can’t wait to come back here for a visit when we have more time !

This guest house offers a wide array of lodging opportunities, but the most unique are their hammock cabanas. These elevated, screened and tented porches offer one a pleasant and inexpensive (for Hawaii) night’s sleep. Rather than providing a bed or cot, each tent has two sleeping hammocks, a small cooler, secure gear locker and some basic lighting and electricity.  Note, the power goes off at 10pm, as the whole compound runs on solar power and batteries. It was raining buckets the night we stayed there, but we were dry and comfortable, although torrential rain on any small structure might make sleeping a challenge. 

The guest house at the top of the property has a great covered back porch with some great cooking, food preparation, and washing up options. Also the bathrooms and showers are lovely, especially if you’ve just come from a backcountry trip in the National Park!  

The guest house also welcomes the small herd of local stray cats to roam around outside and get an evening meal. It’s so cool if you like cats, but could be a bit of a nightmare if you do not. These furry guests are not allowed inside so no worries there, but they will investigate your food bag and meow like crazy should you be trying to make dinner outside.

We spent two nights at the Napau Crater backcountry camp. The hike-in was remarkable with many sections crossing extensive lava flows and through sections of tropical rainforest. The campsite itself had a small pit toilet but no water- so we carried in 18 liters for our multi-day adventure. Let’s just say the hike-out was a bit lighter. 

We did find several puddles along the trail that must have been created by feral pigs in the park, where we could have filtered water– but I wouldn’t count on them. Additionally, these are watering holes for wildlife so we shouldn’t be competing with them for water, so plan on packing in the water. We had the whole place to ourselves, we didn’t see any hikers until day three when we were on our way out. It was a lovely break from an island that can seem overwhelmed by visitors sometimes. 

Hiking across the lava flows offers no discernable trail except for the regularly spaced ahu stone piles(cairns) which are the only way to navigate. Should the weather turn or fog roll in visibility can be greatly reduced. Backcountry permits were available at the backcountry office near the visitor’s center and the ranger was incredibly helpful. Water was also available there so you can fill up on your way.

If getting away from the crowds is on your list at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, then this primitive camping area is one of the places to do it. This lovely primitive camping area has 9 designated sites, 1 pit toilet that was kept clean and well-stocked, and an ADA accessible paved path that accesses many of the camping sites. The sites are a short walk from the parking area so you have to carry your gear to the site. There is no water available at the campground so be prepared. Water is available at the visitor’s center up the hill about 7 miles away.  

The campground offers expansive views of Mauna Loa and the surrounding area including some pretty cool night-time glow of the eruption in Kilauea crater. One of the great benefits of camping in the park is the proximity to many hiking trails, but also to some of the better night time viewing. The popular Kilauea overlook is packed like a rock concert as soon as the sun goes down. Parking is a disaster, and the overlook is simply too crowded. If you can wait until around 9-10pm until you arrive you can have a much easier time finding parking at the trailhead and space along the overlook. Then it’s just a short drive back to your tent, and not an hour’s drive back to your hotel in Hilo. Just outside the park is Volcano Village with a small market and gasoline station for groceries and limited camping supplies. For something specialized like camping gas we had to drive to a hardware store outside of Hilo. The Volcano House Lodge near the park visitor’s center offers two restaurants with the same menu, one is more of a bar and grill, the other a sit down style. 

Hiking is extensive in the park, and many trails will carry you far from the crowded center of the park, but be sure to be prepared with layers, water and snacks. Hiking across the lava flows offers no discernable trail except for the regularly spaced ahu stone piles(cairns) which are the only way to navigate. Should the weather turn or fog roll in, visibility can be greatly reduced. Cycling is also a great activity along the park roads, but be ready for a great deal of elevation change.

Note:  This campsite is NOT free. It was $10 per night.

I found this place on Craig’s List. It was for sale when I arrived and has been updated since then. It is such an amazing spot.

We were trying to camp at the black sand beach but it wasn't a very user friendly experience, so I hit up Hip Camp and found this spot! Like many other places on Big Island, it needs to offer a diverse number of things, so it's also part of the Hawaii Island Resort. Excellent hosting and easy to book. My only disappointment was that the pool was out of service. I chose this place over others for the pool. Oh well. Next time!!

Surprisingly there are few places to camp on this side of the island. Unless you have a car it's almost impossible to get to them with your luggage. Hot showers, wifi, and plenty of common areas for eating, relaxing, etc. Children under 7 not allowed. No stores or restaurants in walking distance. So many birds and other loud creatures singing all night long. Overall a great stop but not quite what we were looking for.

Easily accessible and fun to camp here. There are spots for grilling, showers, tables, and drinking water. A good place to go snorkeling too.

Free dispersed camping! Pretty cool lava landscape. Make sure to bring water for your stay.