Join the fun near Kailua. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Kailua is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Kailua camping trip.
Sandy beach, rocky shoreline. Overnight parking pass required and can be picked up at the guard shack with a valid camping permit.
Gate closes at 9pm and reopens at 5:30am. Security guards on duty 24hours
Camping at Kiholo is allowed on weekends only (Friday-night through Sunday-night). Camping sites may be reserved up to 30 days in advance.
Campsites are located along an unimproved gravel access road in a shaded kiawe (mesquite) grove fronting an ‘ili’ili (pebble) beach. This is a remote area with no facilities and NO WATER. Portable toilets are provided.
This area is under park reserve status and still undergoing conceptual planning for future public use. The area is a stark, lava-covered coastal park with small bays, sparsely vegetated coastline, historic lava flows, and wide open spaces. Gates are locked nightly. When entrance gates are locked for the night, vehicles will not be able to enter or leave the park.
$20 - $30 / night
Macadamia farm on the biggest and best island in hawaii! Five minute drive to City of Refuge and Captain Cook Monument. Wifi, hot shower and lots of nuts. This is a working farm, many animals and dark star filled nites. You can walk to a coffee house, a mexican deli and the painted church, peace gardens and a few other attractions, the bee farm is cool too.
***Please come before 5pm the first day to show you around. email, text prior to coming
YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, please do not just show up
There will be a cash deposit given back after clean check out.
$46 - $60 / night
Nāmakanipaio Campground is located 31.5 miles south of Hilo on Highway-11 at 4,000' elevation. It is a large, open grassy area with tall eucalyptus and 'ōhi'a trees. This campground has restrooms, water, picnic tables and barbecue pits. Campfires are permitted in the barbeque pits only. If there are more than 2 people in your party, you can expand to 4 people per site with another tent. Maximum stay is 7 days.
Ho`okena Beach Park is the historical site for one of the last active Hawaiian canoe fishing villages in Hawai'i. Ho'okena has a rich cultural history and remnants of its old commercial steamship pier remain. There are canoes strewn across the beach owned by the fishermen who continue traditional Hawaiian fishing practices passed down from their ancestors, if you are lucky you may see the fishermen launch their canoes or come back with a bounty full of fish.
The beach is an exotic blend of a wide variety of coral and fine, gray sand. Depending on the time of year, the ocean is placid and the clear, blue waters reveal spectacular underwater landscapes and a colorful array of fish, when there is a south swell, watch the local boogie boarders masterfully ride the near shore break. The sunsets are amazing and the sunrise above the pali (cliffs) are breathtaking.
Ho`okena Beach Park is an excellent place to camp under the stars, listening to the soothing, sound of waves crashing on the beach then waking up to a gentle, sea breeze to a spectacular view found nowhere else.
Camp Ho'okena offers clean and spacious sites on the beach for tent camping. You can reserve a camping permit online. In addition to a spectacular beach and ocean campers may enjoy the following amenities:
• Concession Stand with ice, hot foods, cold drinks, ice cream, snacks, reef safe suntan lotion & beach rentals (kayaks, stand up paddleboards, beach chairs, boogie boards, snorkel and fin sets and life jackets) for campers and beachgoers. All proceeds from the concession go to Friends of Ho’okena Beach Park (FOHBP), a non-profit, community organization dedicated to the preservation of cultural and natural resources. • Outdoor showers. • Portable toilets provided for campers only • Barbeque fire pits throughout the campgrounds • Wifi is available for purchase ($3.00 for 2 hours on one device and $10.00 for 24 hours on 2 devices) • County restroom facilities. (including a sink for washing dishes near the entrance of the park) • A phone to make emergency phone calls • Parking (Please inform the Ho’okena Beach Patrol personnel on duty that you have a reservation to camp and they will let you know where to park, please have your license plate number available to expedite check in) • Picnic tables. • The Concession Stand Accepts Credit Cards.
$6 - $20 / night
The Waimanu Campground is located at the end of the 7.6 mile Muliwai Trail. There are nine designated campsites accommodating up to 48 campers total with 2 composting outhouses available. Camping in Hawaii's Forest Reserves is usually in remote, mountainous locations providing a wilderness experience. Campsites are accessed by hiking and have few or no amenities. Check site details closely to ensure you are informed and have everything you need before heading out.
At-A-Glance Trail Info:
Measured from the trailhead, the Muliwai Trail is approximately 15.2 miles round-trip. Measured from the Waipiʻo Lookout, it is approximately 19 miles round-trip. The trail is minimally maintained, steep, eroded in places, rocky, and slippery when wet. There are four emergency helipads along the trail used for maintenance and fire and rescue teams only. There is also a shelter about half way into the hike. There are nine designated campsites accommodating up to 48 campers total. There are 2 composting outhouses.
Sandy beach, rocky shoreline. Overnight parking pass required and can be picked up at the guard shack with a valid camping permit.
Gate closes at 9pm and reopens at 5:30am. Security guards on duty 24hours
Macadamia farm on the biggest and best island in hawaii! Five minute drive to City of Refuge and Captain Cook Monument. Wifi, hot shower and lots of nuts. This is a working farm, many animals and dark star filled nites. You can walk to a coffee house, a mexican deli and the painted church, peace gardens and a few other attractions, the bee farm is cool too.
***Please come before 5pm the first day to show you around. email, text prior to coming
YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, please do not just show up
There will be a cash deposit given back after clean check out.
$46 - $60 / night
Nāmakanipaio Campground is located 31.5 miles south of Hilo on Highway-11 at 4,000' elevation. It is a large, open grassy area with tall eucalyptus and 'ōhi'a trees. This campground has restrooms, water, picnic tables and barbecue pits. Campfires are permitted in the barbeque pits only. If there are more than 2 people in your party, you can expand to 4 people per site with another tent. Maximum stay is 7 days.
Kulanaokuaiki camping area is free and is available on a first-come basis. No reservations and No permits are necessary. Stays are limited to 7 days in a month and cannot exceed 30 days per year.
As all the land here is born of lava, many moons ago this land began to host plants and critters. Long after, it was sculpted and a number of families and farmers have contributed to what we have today. An abundance of fruit and vegetables within sight of the ocean. Peaceful breezes and warming sun make for unparalleled tranquility. Today the land still gives back to its visitors. Come recharge.
Scout
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
Legend
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.
Legend
Drove all around looking for something but nothing anywhere around that looked like Camping.
Legend
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
Scout
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.
Scout
We were disappointed as the campground didn't actually come through with a couple of things promised. One is that yoga classes are NOT available for campers. Another is that you have to provide your own toilet paper plus take your trash off site: very tricky when you're a visitor from off Island. The sites for tents were well built, but on the small side, so we had to go into Mcgiver mode to make our 2 man backpacking tent secure. It's windy so that's a critical feature for this location. I think if they added tie on bars on the side of the platforms that would probably fix the issue. It's a beautiful & secluded site, but I'm not sure how much experience the host has with actual real camping.
GuideI 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 !
LegendThis is a lovely piece of property on the north side of the Big Island. The land owner runs a small yoga retreat center and offers this small camping area as an alternative lodging. She is very sweet. Overall, the camping area is a good start, but needs a bit of improvement to make it workable for more than 2 people.
The approach to the camping area is through the retreat property and can be a bit slippery during the rainy season, so be careful with those rental cars, but ours made it up with a bit of luck. The campsites are down a short but steep walk from the ridgeline. There are 6 tent platforms which keep you level and off the ground, nice during any part of the year. We also saw a camper van parked up top, so that is an option if you are camping in a vehicle.
There is a very small kitchen area with running water and a biogas stove. It's big enough for 1 person at a time to cook, not at all a group kitchen. The biogas comes from the toilet digesting tank and is a pretty cool idea. When we were there the tank wasn’t producing enough so they also had some small propane canisters and a burner for our cooking. The toilet and shower were functioning, but were pretty basic with very cold water and an exposed roof. Don’t expect luxury here…as we said, it’s a good start.
The nearby town of Hawi, which is the turn around for the bike leg of the Ironman Triathlon, offers grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and some amazing hiking areas along the north coast. It is a stunning area with lots of things to do. Since we were busy each day, we didn’t mind that our lodging was a little rough– all we needed was a flat place to pitch our tent and lay down for the night.
Legend
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.
GuideWe 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!!
Ranger
Easily accessible and fun to camp here. There are spots for grilling, showers, tables, and drinking water. A good place to go snorkeling too.
RangerFree dispersed camping! Pretty cool lava landscape. Make sure to bring water for your stay.
Ranger
This is more geared for a day used area rather than a camping stay. We decided to look for another camping spot. Shoreline is rocky and area is good for surfing and fishing. No drinking water here. If you decided to camp here its little to no privacy.
RangerThe campground was lovely. Great location, just down the road from Volcano House (where you go to check in). We stayed in a cabin and it was excellent. The doors have key cars swipe (don't forget your key, the doors lock automatically behind you!) The shower was good and even the complimentary shower gel in the women's shower was nice! Dinner at Volcano House was good. I only wish we had stayed more than one night to be able to explore the area more.
Guide
It’s super peaceful with very few people, but they don’t currently have the facilities open. Make sure you bring snorkel gear as well. great place for snorkeling and in the “winter” months, there’s a chance you will see whales.
Guide
You have to hike down a hill to get there, but it is super pretty. It’s in a valley, so it will get cool at night and is warm during the day, but it’s super quiet, and an amazing spot.
Guide
Great facilities. Shower, restrooms, etc. You can camp right on the beach. And wake up to the ocean. Definitely stay here when you go to Hawaii
GuideThere are sooo many things to live about this park. The hiking. The proximity to the ocean. Make sure to make a reservation and camping is available on weekends only.
Traveler
This is such a serene park, lots of parking, trails to hike up to the heiau, beautiful open ocean to swim in, basketball court, bathrooms, a pavilion with outlets. Park manager comes through in the morning and night. Kids really enjoyed this location and we had no issues staying.
ScoutAwesome hiking/running trails, many native plant species difficult to find elsewhere. Pavilions and cabins for rent. check the county website for availability.
Scout
This place is amazing. You wake up right on the beach and get to watch surfers in the morning. I would recommend booking a spot well in advance. Very clean facilities is a huge plus. The one negative is gates close at 9pm.
Scout
Beautiful and clean.
Unfortunately, Locally run and corrupt.
I live here. I had a dispute with one of the "security/managers" of the park. I wanted to be treated with respect and he disagreed. Out of spite, he made up a story about me breaking rules.
I wrote a letter to the board and discovered that they're all his friends and family.
So I've been banned forever from camping at my favorite beach in the world, for resisting bullying. So be prepared to be treated with disdain from parking to check out without defending yourself. This experience was only with one man. The rest were really nice.
Guidelots Of trails for a variety of levels
Legend
My husband and I really liked Manuka State Wayside. One thing we really loved about this place was that there was an awesome place to scuba dive close by. It was a company that took us out pretty far, and we were able to scuba dive with some turtles, and even saw some shark. I can't remember the name of the business, but it was right next to Manuka. The scuba diving took about 4hrs total, because of the boat ride plus dive. When we came back we played on the beach and did some people watching. We went to an ice cream shop up the road, and came back to the beach and watched the sunset. This area was pretty busy, but I think thats because it was during the summer. There is a walking/running path that goes along the beach that was nice as well. We walked along here in the evenings after dinner.
TravelerDue to the draining of the Lava Lake and constant earthquakes in Volcanoes National Park, this area is closed. At this time it is uncertain that it will open again.
TravelerI love camping at this spot. Namakanipaio has wonderful views the Milky Way, and used to have a great view of the glowing lava lake. It was a short hike to Jagger Museum, that now is being consumed by the caldera. With daily earthquakes in the area, it is no longer safe. you can not even stop in the highway in that area. Hopefully it will open again in the future.
LegendMy family and I loved this part of Hawai’i and coming to this beach. We had some of the best snorkeling we have ever had, here. We saw turtles, tons of fish, and 1 shark!! The water was super clear and pretty warm. There was also a really cool cliff to jump off of. This beach Park is close to the town, which makes it nice for food. There was a really great fish and chips place down the road. Reminded me of “Ivars” in Washington that we love! We also stopped by a snow cone place that served some of the biggest cones we’ve ever had. They also put ice cream in there’s which was awesome!!! In the morning before we did some hiking nearby, we stopped by a juice place. Wasn’t Sam good as the Kauai Juice Co. but it was still really good! The hiking was great! Great views of the beach and ocean. Super hot though, so I’m glad we started early in the morning. Loved this place and will definitely be back next year!!
Camping near Kailua, Hawaii, offers a unique blend of stunning landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a secluded getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Kailua, Hawaii, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors, with plenty of options for families and solo adventurers alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Kailua, HI?
According to TheDyrt.com, Kailua, HI offers a wide range of camping options, with 22 campgrounds and RV parks near Kailua, HI and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Kailua, HI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kailua, HI is Kohanaiki Beach Park with a 4.7-star rating from 3 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kailua, HI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Kailua, HI.
What parks are near Kailua, HI?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 parks near Kailua, HI that allow camping, notably Pu'u O Umi Natural Area Reserve and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
