Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Kahului, HI

Our first time here we tent camped. Some of the sites seemed close together but we stayed at the end and had good privacy with the trade off of a long trip to the bathrooms.  The shared bathrooms are great! Clean, flush toilets, and running water.  Showers and dishwashing stations also a plus.  Free coffee for early risers.   You can see the beach from a few campsites.  Like most camping in Hawaii, bring your earplugs for the roosters.

What a darling little spot. Would return in a heartbeat, and honestly probably will before the month is up. Had two glorious nights there and now I don't want to camp anywhere else in Maui because I was so spoiled.

Pros

• To echo other folks, absolutely LOVED the outdoor showers - and yes, they get hot. Felt utterly luxurious. Toilets and sinks remain clean and odorless. 
• Easy sandy beach access! Pebble-side great for hanging up hammocks.
• Can take relatively affordable kayaking tours from the campgrounds or rent SUP/kayaks for very affordable rates. 
• Free coffee in the morning! 
• Has its own teensy general store and a walkable larger market down a half mile and across the street. Famed pie place next door. 
• Pet-friendly!

Cons

• Literally 8 plugs for a bajillion people causing a massive traffic jam in the mornings and evenings. On the side of the ice house only (not even near campgrounds).
• Not that you need it, but if you do - weak wifi signal beyond the toilet/shower area. 
• Absolutely no shade at all on any sites, save for one campsite (campsite #1). 
• Beware the wind!!! Because it's open air with no shielding trees, sooo many people evacuated to sleep in cars or resigned to/woke up to collapsed tents because of high winds. 

Overall

4.5/5. Absolutely worth it. LOOOOOVE.

Ok, you twisted my arm...

Hosmer Grove Campground is a small set of primitive sites located in the Kīpahulu region of Haleakalā National Park, at the cloud line. This means it will get cold, especially at night, and even in the summer. Come prepared for this nice break from the Maui beach heat. The spaces are first come first serve, summer will likely be busier so come early. No permit needed. Fairly easy to pack in as well.

There are grills and nice picnic tables available at each site, but no campfires are allowed, so you must use the grills for your cooking. All the better to see the stars at night, right? Portable water is available and there are also put toilets only. Please be respectful of other campers since the area is so small.

Be prepared to be woken early to the sound of an array of birds, and even a clearly lost rooster up before dawn. The best thing about Maui, is that it’s an island formed out of nothing from a volcano, meaning it did not break off from a land mass carrying with it all the variety of animals and insects campers often find troubling. In fact, typical tropical concerns like venomous snakes and large cats are nonexistent here. A very safe place, animal wise, to camp, but do be warned of flash floods when hiking the area and come aware of the conditions and also prepared with a first aid kit, as outside help is far and difficult to reach. Towers were recently put in to assist with calls out, but in the valleys and at high elevations you will often find it hard to get reception. And help us an hour or more away. So hike with caution.

Sites are fairly level, close to each other, and on soft grass. The route to this area via the Hāna Hwy is almost worth the trip in and of itself, it’s truly a gorgeous area at all elevations.

Be sure to take advantage of the many guided hikes (also for safety reasons) offered by the national park and local private companies. We took a GREAT waterfall rappelling trip with Rappel Maui and enjoyed all their info about the area and expertise in rappelling. Be prepared for mosquitos, however we really didn’t encounter too many in June.

Check out the Pools at ‘Ohe’o and the many many waterfalls around the Nat Park as well as the state park while there. And the rocky, rough-waved cost on that side of the island (not great for swimming but so so beautiful).

The 6 sites in the only developed camping area in the park offer a great place to stage your morning sunrise experience in Haleakala. They are popular and very inexpensive($5 per night). The campsites are clustered into a small lawn area on a gently sloping hillside. While each tent platform is level, the parking lot definitely is not. So, if you plan to bring a camping vehicle, van, platform tent truck, or small camper, get there early to grab the most level spots (there are 2). And if your tent platform folds out to the side of the truck- please don’t take up two parking spots, figure it out so that others can also enjoy a good night’s sleep. Yes, this happened to us– ugggh! 

Night time temperatures can be in the 30’s and 40’s and we found that the bedding provided in our rental camper was not enough. Fortunately, we brought along our down sleeping bag and puffy jackets(they were definitely needed during January), but could be needed at any time of year as the campground is at 6K above sea level. Also, temperatures at the summit for sunrise and sunset are cold- at any time of year. We wore multiple layers, hats, gloves, and winter coats and still froze up at the summit. The wind was gusting over 30 knots, and the wind chill was in the teens. So, plan ahead! The campground has a covered picnic area, as well as 2 pit toilets with a handwashing sink outside. There are also water spigots in the campground which have potable water. 

One thing we didn’t know is that if you have a reservation for Hosmer Grove you don’t need a reservation for sunrise, because you are already in the park and past the entrance station. It’s still a long drive (around 30 minutes), up to the summit but it’s a bigger head start than most people who are coming from hotels and such farther away. But the rising and setting of the sun shouldn’t be the only thing you hope to experience while in this amazing park. Hiking and backpacking through the crater are spectacular. Some of the most unique and long range views we’ve ever experienced!

There are a few neighborhood markets nearby, gas station, restaurants and a farmer’s market, but the larger grocery stores are located down the mountain in Kahului. There are no eateries or shops, other than the summit gift shop(which offers very limited snacks) in the park so come prepared.

Polipoli does not even feel like you’re in Hawaii! I mean this in the best way possible! Hawaii is amazing with all the beaches, ocean views, and sunshine. Polipoli is high upcountry tucked in the clouds and forests. The hike from the recreational area leads you to two abandoned ranger stations which are super cool! It also starts out by bringing you past these crazy caves! Definitely a must see while in Maui!

I was here in December, which is the rainy, rough season in Hawaii. The park is very large, and is the quintessential black sand beach of Maui. Jutting cliffs, blowholes, fine black sand surrounded by lush greenery. Even on a rainy day it was beautiful.

This campsite would be amazing for wedding parties! For tent and car campers, it’s nothing super special. ALTHOUGH! The outdoor shower is an AMAZING experience. To look up at the stars and trees and smell the fresh air while showering outside in an enclosed area was incredible. The beach is underaverage in my opinion (not the typical Hawaii experience). Close to local shops and fairly close to Lahaina!

The Polipoli State Park is one of my favorites. There is great swimming holes you can swim in that arent too aggressive. There is also a great place to do some cliff jumping, and all the locals hang out here jumping. One thing I like about this park is that it is close by the town where you can walk to and get lunch. There are some really great restaurants with yummy local food. They have a smoothie shop that is incredible with so many different flavors. Highly recommend. They have some great places where you can rent body boards. We rented some for the morning and had an absolute blast. Seems like this park was pretty busy when we were there. The paths are filled with people walking, running, roller blading and skateboarding. Lots of dogs too. There are picnic tables and those seemed to be all taken with people eating lunch and hanging out. I would recommend getting there early in the day if you want a good spot.

Absolutely beautiful camp site above the clouds. Nearby trails through beautiful forests and with jaw-dropping views. Wake up early for the sunrise and pre-dawn birdsong. Even if you can't see too far due to clouds, it's a lovely once-in-a-lifetime campsite. Make sure you have a good tent! It is windy up here and the campsite is very exposed. I watched so many people with cheap dome tents struggle and/or have their poles snap or invert. A good guide for if your tent will survive is if it has aluminum (instead of fiberglass) poles and has a ranfly that goes down to the ground with lots of guyline points. Chilly all year due to the elevation. Like much of Hawaii, expect to experience at least a brief rain shower. Nice clean facilities live up to National Park standards.

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!

This was the first place that we camped at on our Hawaii trip and it was by far our favorite. Paliku is one of two backcountry campsites in the Haleakala National Park summit district. Paliku lies along the eastern side of the crater and will take your breath away. The beauty of this campground is even more apparent after hiking through the barren landscape of the lava fields to get here.

After trekking nearly 10 miles from the visitor center to get here, you’ll be welcomed to take your boots off and step on the lush grass that grows all over the campsite, quite the contrast from all of the ‘a’a lava you’ve just been walking through. This rainy side of the crater features rich, thick, and best of all - almost completely native Hawaiian plants and animals. I can’t say that I’ve ever heard more interesting and diverse bird calls in my life that come from vividly colored native Hawaiian birds that live in this unique habitat. Be sure to collect a bird brochure at the visitor center when you pick up your permit to identify some of these unique birds you may never get the chance to see again in your life.

Campsites are tucked away and hidden along braided paths and tall grass of the dispersed camping area. Not one of them has a bad view.

Being so secluded, this backcountry campground takes preparation and work to get to. Campers must be fit enough to hike to and carry gear necessary to stay at this site. Water filters are a necessity as the water here is non-potable. Cold weather clothes and gear are also needed as temperatures often drop to sub-40.

Since the big resorts are on the opposite side of the island, most visitors to Maui travel the Hanna Highway as a day trip. Camping on the eastern shore along the highway at Waianapanapa State Park means you get to wake up early, watch the sunrise, and get a start on your day's adventures before the rest of Maui's visitors arrive for the day.

The location is the best thing that Waianapanapa has going for it. It's a pretty basic campground which looks more like a park set right along the coast. There's some small beach inlets you can explore, but it's mostly lava rock and cliff with the campground set up high.

You'll need a permit to camp. The cost is $18 per night for up to 6 people, and there is a discount if you're actually from Hawaii. You can get the permit online and you'll need to print it out and attach it to your tent once you arrive. The process is super easy but requires a little bit of pre-planning.

There aren't many (if any) actual sites- but there are a few grills scattered around that people tend to make camp around. We picked a "site" near a couple of trees so we could sleep in our hammocks of course. The campground does have bathrooms and cold outdoor showers.

My favorite part of camping at Waianapanapa was waking up in the morning to watch the colors of the sunrise and then exploring the park while it was still pretty quiet. There are blow holes, lava tubes, some caves you can swim in, and a hike up and around the coastal cliffs. And of course, there is everything else on the Hana highway just a super short drive away.

This campground is permanently closed

 I was kicked out for camping in designated area, by maui county parks and recreation as it does clearly state if you look well there is no overnight camping here

This beautiful 40 acre oceanside park is perfect for hanging out by the beach for a picnic or bbq, play volleyball on 3 courts take to the water in a wind or kite surfer, outrigger and canoeing. The white sand beach is surrounded by trees and bike paths. A lifeguard office is manned and equipped for rescue. Outdoor showers and water taps available and there are 4 parking lots with 189 parking spaces.

Sensational OLD Maui away from the crowded resorts, yet close to the beach and easy to get into town. Peaceful, tropical place to camp with Iao Mountain views. Easy to get to, very close to town and Whole Foods, but it seems like it's miles away. Lots of fruit and avocado trees everywhere, and quick easy hike up to a swimming hole.

This is such a naturally beautiful space. It is the perfect blend of picturesque nature and modern living without any of the day to day stress you’d find in other places. I’ve stayed several times and with each visit have been new upgrades and features. That being said this is not for the high maintenance. Jungle rains are a likely visitor. There is dirt - and peace. I love the outdoor shower which offers an unreal jungle shower experience. There was a some privacy, but not complete - be prepared to let your skin hit the air here. This is definitely a space for those who desire the simplicity of natural surroundings. The birds offer a cacophony of songs throughout the day. You will feel like you are in the middle of jungle heaven. The raised platform and tent are a step up, literally - and rain or shine this is a pretty sweet sleep setup. There are real mattresses and box springs and nice bedding- you will sleep unbelievably well, surrounded by so many shades of green. There is a cool gazebo for hanging out and talking story, BBQ grill, occasional bonfires when weather and conditions permit, lots of accessible destinations within range and a vibe so sweet you won’t want to leave. Macadamia nut trees scatter the property as do a wide range of flora and fauna. It’s a slice of heaven off the beaten path and unlike anything else you can find. I love spending time in this hidden gem.

The cheapest place to camp on the west side of Maui. Located on the southern shore, the camping is all beach camping right along the beautiful coast. Trees for shade, porta potties for bathrooms.

Permits must be acquired at one of two government offices. Note that there is a sizable population of transient travelers who seem to live at the beach full time, and no maintenance seems to be done aside from the occasional trash and bathroom cleaning. Bring your own Toilet Paper as it seems to go fast. You are located between the beach and the highway, so it will be noisy but a steady calming sort of noisy.

Easy beach living, the low maintenance traveler will find themselves right at home here.