Best Campgrounds near Makakilo, HI

If you need a break from the constant buzz of Honolulu, Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Gardens was my perfect getaway. Just a short 8-mile drive from Waikiki, this is a tropical paradise tucked beneath the Ko‘olau Mountain Range.

PROs:

-Views! Towering green cliffs in the misty jungle. 

-No City Noise, Just Nature - no honking, no sirens - just chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the occasional gecko. 

-Luxury (by camping standards). Plenty of bathrooms with running water, foot-washing stations, and dishwashing sinks. 

-Roomy, Level Campsites - Plenty of foliage to make your site private.

-Hiking Trails - I recommend going to the lake. Though I read beforehand that fishing was allowed, it was posted not allowed this past weekend.

-Cool Mountain Nights - Temps drop to a comfy 70°F.

Tips:

-You NEED a Permit - No permit, no camping. An attendant checks at the entrance gate. I recommend reserving 1-2 weeks in advance to guarantee your spot. I bought a 3-day permit to stay 1 night as that was the only option. Camping is only allowed on weekends, Friday through Monday.

-Bring Bug Spray - The biting gnats will eat you alive. Other than that, there were no other pests, besides the occasional chicken wanting my dinner.

-Expect a Little Rain - The Ko‘olau Range is basically a cloud magnet, so pack a rain jacket/poncho.

-Pack light - Parking is in a lot and you have to walk in to your site from there.

Telegram is full of travelers discussing hidden gems, and Mālaekahana is ideal for those craving both sun and adventure. Imagine a similar beachside escape in Hong Kong, where nature and ocean views make a refreshing getaway.

Telegram groups in Hong Kong are buzzing about stunning camping spots, and Mālaekahana seems like the perfect inspiration. Hong Kong nature lovers would enjoy a similar beachside setup, bringing a slice of Hawaii closer to home.

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Me and my wife cone camping here at least 10 times a year if not more. It s a great place to be with the sound of the breaking waves at every camping site and a lot of good amenities. There is a shopet with is walking distance of every site as well as a gas station, mini golf, a driving range, 3 hiking trails, 1 walking path, a small bar, and a stabucks. The staff is always so welcoming and its truly a great place to spend your time.

Malaekahana Campgrounds in Hawaii offers an exceptional camping tubidy experience with stunning ocean views, clean facilities, and a tranquil environment. The location is perfect for both relaxation and adventure, with plenty of activities like swimming mp3 juice, hiking, and exploring nearby attractions. It's y2mate an ideal spot for families and solo travelers alike to connect with nature and enjoy the beauty of Hawaii.

Jake from the Dyrt here!  Maleka Farm is a great spot for those needing a place to rest while exploring the area.  Check them out and be sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!

One of the few areas you can camp right on the beach. It is a bit loud because it's right next to the road but it's definitely a trade off with waking up next to the ocean and the beautiful mountains surrounding. The bathrooms are pretty good as far as camp bathrooms go.

Hidden gem for those wanting a more authentic Oahu experience! I suppose we came "off-season" and post-pandemic, so we might be a bit fortunate; We felt like we were at our own little piece of paradise. We stayed in the Hale 14 which was great because it was close enough to walk to and hear the waves, but far enough that I felt like my son wouldn't wander off into the surf. My son is 5 and I feel this is the perfect age to stay off the beaten path. Our Hale was so affordable and exactly what I'd expect when paying less than $60 a night. You can only stay 10 days. There is a gate to keep random cars out of the camping area. The beautiful cove has great beginner waves for surfing. The "beds" are vinyl and not too thick, but of you're taking advantage of everything it shouldn't be a problem. This is not the Ritz (which I have frequented), however it's perfect for a single mom wanting to show her son the world on a budget. We will definitely be back. So grateful for this place having a family friendly, budget friendly Hale away from home! Be ready for roosters to wake you in the morning and cold showers. But I'll take Hawaii on a budget any day. If you really feel the need, get a hotel on your arrival and departure and just Live Aloha the rest of your stay!!!

My Wife and I just moved here and had a hankering for camping. This place is definitely an amazing gem. Beach was beautiful and the camp ground was kept well.

I love this place!

This was a fun stop on Oahu. Keep expectations low as the amenities are few and far between. The beach shacks are pretty raw, but it's nice to have a place to keep stuff safe. There was no mattress on the bed, and the whole thing was crawling with ants. But it had electricity, a bit of privacy, and a porch to hang out on. Two-minute walk to the ocean from our site. They also had car/tent camping area for those with the gear. Outdoor shower with no privacy screen. Looking forward to staying here again.

This is a giant and pretty fantastic campground on the eastern side of Oahu’s North Shore with that has access to so much! The campground itself is super reasonably priced at 10$ pp per day. 

Each site has a table and fire pit. The sites across the different loops are super variable. There are sand sites super close to the beach that you walk into(parking is not far away) with almost no windbreak at all, and there are also sites that are in much more dense tree areas that you can easily drive into for car camping. The campground also has some bunk cabins. 

On the weekends it’s much harder to get a site and the camping areas are a bit of party central for the locals. I was here during Covid when sites were limited to 5 people per site– and it was still even a little loud and crazy then. 

There are also very friendly campground chickens (do not leave your food unattended) The bathrooms were a short walk away and mostly clean, and the staff at the office were really helpful. There isn’t electricity besides one plug in outside of the reception area. 

There is nighttime security on the property and they actually do patrol the grounds in a golf cart. There is a gate to get in with a code and a property curfew. When I visited you could not get in after 7pm or out before 6am. This was actually a bit challenging for logistics if you wanted to have dinner in Haliewa, stay late on sunset beach to watch the sunset, or get up for an early start for a hike. We wound up parking near reception outside of the gate a few times to make it work- but if your site is a long walk this might be a challenge.

I camped here in January 2021 during peak Covid closures when the campground was not yet re-opened for group camping. 

In 'normal' times this campground is mostly used for events and it's well set up for that. If you're independently camping, I recommend calling ahead and reserving one of the sites on the beach.  The sites are huge.

During covid they were only using every other site, and had installed a shower and sink at each one. The bathrooms are a walk away inside a yurt. We were assigned a bathroom for just our site and given a key for it. 

The property has a gate with a code that you can go in and out as you please, and the staff were really helpful and kind.

There is one large fire pit area to share, and we had a table at our site. You are not able to drive in your car, but it's only  a short walk, even to the furthest away sites.

We had the whole property to ourselves one night - but if you're visiting when events are operational, this might not be the case, so I recommend checking how busy they are when you call to reserve. 

They also have tent 'cabins' right on the beach which were pretty nice (but you still bring your own mats and bags).

For me, the greatest thing about this site is that it is located on the NW side of Oahu. In January, the winds were strongest from the East and we had to vacate our other campground when winds were up to 20MPH off the ocean.  This side of the island gave us a break from the wind.

It's a very short walk to "Lost Survivors Beach" (where they filmed the pilot of Lost) and a short and beautiful  drive to the state park and hike where the road deadends just a few miles past the campground.  For supplies, it's about 15 minutes back to Haliewa where there are tons of restaurants, food cards, groceries and a Longs Drug.

The campground is rustic and noisy because of the chickens wandering around. It is beyond gorgeous by a surf break and a great sunrise spot. Very windy when I was there. Select a spot with some mangrove cover if you can.

Peacock Flats is hardly ever fully booked out due to how remote it is and requiring 4wd to get there. It's quite the adventure and can be very wet and muddy. Highly recommend having paperwork, permits, IDs all together in advance because you have to pass through military checkpoints on the west side of Oahu to get through to road to the campground. They ask for everyone's IDs. There are a couple trailheads for hiking and nice views of the north shore and west side along the drive to the campground. The drive in can take 1-1.5 hours or longer depending on the conditions of the road. Come prepared! I also recommend having an air compressor, spare tire and tow equipment if you need to save anyone or be saved yourself lol. Check the conditions beforehand. If it's rainy season and you don't have experience driving in steep muddy areas with large dropoffs and cliffs on the side, then maybe wait till summer when it's drier!

The sites can be quite wet, we hammock camped the first time we came out to stay off the ground. There are pit toilets and picnic tables under little shelter areas. Definitely recommend for the adventure and if you love off roading.

One of the best campgrounds on Oahu because it is private and very well maintained! There are day use parking areas for people to use the beach but the campsites themselves are blocked off by a gate with a keypad entry so there aren't random cars driving by your campsite ever. Initially I was bummed I didn't get a beach front campsite, ours was only a 30 second walk to the beach. But because it's the windward side, it was sooo windy and we really appreciated our campsite set a little farther back from the beach and protected by trees. I personally think we chose the site well because of all the trees. Almost all the Area 1 sites have lots of trees to set up hammocks and for the much appreciated shade from the sun. Each campsite has a picnic table and a firepit. 

The bathrooms have flush toilets and are very clean! Bring your own roll of TP to share. There are outdoor beach showers and outdoor sinks throughout the campground to get water, wash dishes and brush your teeth. So convenient. There are actually several options for camping.. Drive up tent sites, vehicle campsites for vans, hales or houses that sleep 4 with no electricity for $58 and larger suite hales or cabins that have electricity and their own bathroom inside for around $120. The beach is really nice white sand though a bit windy and they have surf board rentals and some small surf breaks. The camp store is convenient for ice or marshmallows or any small needs. Lots of fun things to do and see nearby. Overall a wonderful time camping here!

The campsites are spacious and very spread out. There were a handful of other people camping, but I only briefly saw them while I was there. The bathroom and shower facilities were nice and well maintained. I was able to pitch my tent close to the beach and had ocean views from my tent. 

I had a bit of a walk to my campsite from the parking area, which wasn't terrible, but good to keep in mind depending on how much you bring! 

I didn't see or talk to any staff while staying there, but also didn't have any issues.

Campsites are fairly close together and not super well marked/differentiated between, but there is plenty of room. The showers are not enclosed, and the bathrooms are across the main road, but were nice. The campsites are very close to the main road, so you hear cars at all hours. There were also a lot of people hanging out late in the evening, and in the early morning, who were clearly not camping. 

The beach area is pretty secluded and not crowded, and I was able to set my tent up right next to a little path to the beach. There are nice trees for setting up a hammock as well.

This rec park is one of the least visited since the area is no longer a busy as it used to be. There are showers and bathrooms with beach access, but I prefer to go to other beaches to swim.

Clean, well run private campground on Da North Shore. Fairly convenient (20 minutes) to Polynesian Cultural Center which offers a great opportunity to experience a luau. Proximity to a white sand beach second-to-none. Watch for humpback whales December through March...

Sand Island is an industrial place so there’s not many stores nearby but it’s a pretty unique park with lots of space to hangout. The beach isn’t the nicest but it’s good for little kids and there’s a nice surf break if the swell is in.

Campsites can be fairly close and there’s no real clear sectioning, but each site comes with two picnic tables and plenty of space to set up tents. Good amount of stuff to do around the campsite. Makes for a fun weekend activity with family/friends.