Are you planning a tent camping trip to Makakilo? We've got you covered. The Dyrt can help you find the best tent campsites for your next trip. Whether you're looking for a quiet, dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
$20 - $30 / night
Mokuleia Forest Reserve. Upper elevation, open meadow surrounded by Cook pine, eucalyptus and the occasional native tree. Sweeping views of north shore and excellent star gazing on clear nights. Each campsite has a shelter. No water available. Hiking access to Mokuleia Trail. Campsites are assigned upon purchase of permit. Check-out is by 11:00am. Check-in is any time after 12:00pm noon. Know before you go! All Forest Reserves will be closed during Tropical Storm and Hurrican Warnings. Keep informed on weather conditions and forecasts. Occassionally, the Air Force closes vehicular access through the Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station at Yokohama for security reasons. These closures may be unannounced. It is recommended that you call the KPSTS land line is (808)697-4311 to check on potential closures.
$12 - $18 / night
The Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens are situated against the majestic Ko'olau Range and offer the only city campsites that are not on the beach. Set in a picturesque rainforest, the Kahua Kuou campgrounds offer distinctive camping among plants from India and Sri Lanka. A printed permit is required to camp in this park. All fees are non-refundable.
$32 / night
With 109 beach-side cabins, 16 air-conditioned condo units, 55 family campsites, 10 cedar camper cabins and 2 recreational vehicle sites, we have affordable beach accommodations for your every recreational need. Our furnished cabins sleep four adults comfortably and feature a fully-equipped kitchen and dining/living area. ADA cabins are available. Guests are allowed to pitch one canopy per cabin (15'x15' maximum).
$27 - $169 / night
A hidden gem, Kualoa "A" Beach Park is closed during the summer for dedicated parks programs. A printed permit is required to camp in this park. All fees are non-refundable. Gate closure hrs: 8pm to 7am. The park closes for the summer after the Memorial Day weekend & reopens for the Labor Day weekend. -7 campsites total -1 ADA accessible campsite(s) -1 Comfort Station -Outdoor Showers
$32 / night
We are an Episcopal Camp and Retreat Center located on the North Shore of Oahu that is committed to being a place of rest, recreation, and renewal.
Scout
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.
ScoutTelegram 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.
ScoutYou have an incredible talent for making complex topics so engaging. Keep it up! youtube to mp3
Scout
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.
ScoutMalaekahana 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.
Legend
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!
Scout
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.
TravelerHidden 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 $60 a night. You can only stay 10 days. There is a gate to keep random cars out of the camping area. The beautiful cove has great beginner waves for surfing. The "beds" are vinyl and not too thick, but of you're taking advantage of everything it shouldn't be a problem. This is not the Ritz (which I have frequented), however it's perfect for a single mom wanting to show her son the world on a budget. We will definitely be back. So grateful for this place having a family friendly, budget friendly Hale away from home! Be ready for roosters to wake you in the morning and cold showers. But I'll take Hawaii on a budget any day. If you really feel the need, get a hotel on your arrival and departure and just Live Aloha the rest of your stay!!!
ScoutMy Wife and I just moved here and had a hankering for camping. This place is definitely an amazing gem. Beach was beautiful and the camp ground was kept well.
TravelerI love this place!
RangerThis was a fun stop on Oahu. Keep expectations low as the amenities are few and far between. The beach shacks are pretty raw, but it's nice to have a place to keep stuff safe. There was no mattress on the bed, and the whole thing was crawling with ants. But it had electricity, a bit of privacy, and a porch to hang out on. Two-minute walk to the ocean from our site. They also had car/tent camping area for those with the gear. Outdoor shower with no privacy screen. Looking forward to staying here again.
LegendThis is a giant and pretty fantastic campground on the eastern side of Oahu’s North Shore with that has access to so much! The campground itself is super reasonably priced at 10$ 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.
Legend
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.
TravelerThe 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.
Ranger
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.
RangerOne 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!
GuideThis was my favorite campground I stayed at while on O'ahu! It was the least expensive, and felt the safest. I had a tent spot right by the beach. The bathrooms and shower facilities were basic but very clean and were nicer than some of the other campgrounds. The staff were super friendly and helpful. There were a few groups there using their building and ropes course facilities, which was fun to watch. The beach area was really nice and not crowded at all.
GuideThe 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.
GuideCampsites 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.
Guide
This campground has extremely close access to the beach, which is nice, and it's not far from Kailua. The individual sites aren't really marked, so it feels a little like a free for all, especially if you're arriving on Saturday. The area where all of the tent spots are is all sand, so be prepared with whatever vehicle you're driving. The bathrooms were decent. The campsites were all very crowded and loud throughout the weekend, but most everyone cleared out before Sunday evening.
My campsite was right by the bathrooms, and closer to the beach than most others, which was nice.
RangerThere are cabins and apartments for rent if you have base access. I stayed in a cabin near the beach, it was small and clean. Only problem is the reservations are booked for about year out, so you never know what kind of weather you'll get when the reservation finally comes along. In our case it was rainy and windy... Not perfect for camping on the beach, but what can you do when reservations have to be made so far out?
Ranger
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.
GuideClean, 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...
Guide
There are few sites on island that are not connected to the beach. This place offers different features that make for a fun stay. It can rain a lot in this area so keep that in mind.
GuideSand 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.
GuideCampsites 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.
ScoutThis website is in error. There are no dogs allowed on ANY Hawaii State Campground!!! Don't know if you know this or not. So if you have a dog in Hawaii, you cannot bring your loved one(s) camping anywhere. Too bad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Makakilo, HI?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Makakilo, HI is Mālaekahana State Recreation Area with a 4.6-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Makakilo, HI?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Makakilo, HI, with real photos and reviews from campers.
