ALOHA!
So you DO need to rent a car in order to do some of the BEST things to do on the Big Island. (Either that, or you need to book a tour.)
But do you specifically need a FOUR WHEEL DRIVE or a jeep rental in order to do the BEST things on the Big Island?
The short answer is no, you don’t.
Well, I guess if you want to drive to the Mauna Kea summit, it is officially said that a “4-wheel drive vehicle is required” to drive past the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, although there are reports of tourists driving up in a normal car.
But aside from this, there are some things that you may WANT to do that DO require a 4wd.
More below about specific scenic drives on the Big Island where you need a 4wd!
🌴
And so…
Do YOU need a Jeep rental on the Big Island?
Here’s the list!
Drives where you NEED a 4-wheel-drive on the Big Island
1. You need a 4wd if you want to drive to Makalawena Beach
👆 Map of a 4×4 drive on the Big Island: Makalawena Beach. Explore the map.
But… you actually DON’T need a 4wd to GO to Makalawena Beach. Because you can HIKE there instead!
Doesn’t walking across old lava flows to get to a beach sound like a great unique Hawaii experience?! 😉
Well, disclaimer, most people drive to Mahaiula Beach in order to hike to Makalawena Beach. You will need to also decide if you consider Mahaiula Beach drivable. A bit on that below. Otherwise, hiking from near Kua Bay is also an option, although it’s a very long hike. You’ll hike from the Puu Kuili hill to Makalawena Beach. This is all within Kekaha Kai State Park.
See your options:
2. You need a 4wd if you want to drive to the green sand beach
But… you actually DON’T need a 4wd to GO to the green sand beach.
Because again… you can HIKE there instead!
You will be hiking the same road as the driving.
See your options:
- Drive to the green sand beach (which is actually discouraged)
- Hike to the green sand beach
3. You need a 4wd if you want to drive to the Waipio Valley beach
IMPORTANT!!! Waipio Valley Road is CLOSED. So you can’t drive to the Waipio Valley beach even if you have rented a 4wd.
As of spring 2022, Waipio Valley Road is CLOSED to non-residents due to a “geotechnical assessment.”
Below reflects the Waipio Valley experience when Waipio Valley Road is OPEN.
But… you actually DON’T need a 4wd to GO to the Waipio Valley beach.
Because… you guessed it… you can HIKE there instead too!!
And you are again hiking on the same road that you would drive.
As of 2022, Waipio Valley Road is also closed to foot traffic, so it’s also not possible to hike to the Waipio Valley beach either.
You can also just visit for the Waipio Valley lookout which doesn’t require a 4wd or hiking.
This you CAN still do despite Waipio Valley Road being closed.
Waipio Valley Road is past the Waipio Valley Lookout.
So you can still go see the famous Waipio Valley from above even if Waipio Valley Road is closed.
If Waipio Valley Road is closed, then you just can’t do anything more than see Waipio Valley from above.
Check for updates before you go.
See your options:
PLUS…
You might want a jeep to drive to Mahaiula Beach
The road to Mahaiula Beach is a little rough and can feel like an off-road drive. Having a little extra clearance might make you feel more comfortable.
But people do drive it in regular cars. It will be a bumpy ride.
There’s not really an option to hike to this beach unless you don’t mind a really long hike.
So Mahaiula Beach is a beach most people would say you need to drive to. Whether you need a 4-wheel drive… well that might depend on your tolerance.
Mahaiula Beach is the starting point for the hike to Makalawena Beach.
See more: Drive to Mahaiula Beach
In the case that you’d rather not drive to Mahaiula Beach, Kua Bay is a great alternative beach with a paved road to drive! And a scenic drive, too. Both beaches are a part of Kekaha Kai State Park.
So these are the most popular activities on the Big Island that you’ll find people requiring a 4wd
You can do these things even without a 4wd if you don’t mind hiking.
And if you don’t want to rent a 4wd and you don’t want to hike… well there are plenty more things to do on the Big Island too!! Here are ideas for 7 days on the Big Island… sticking to regular roads or hiking!
So, you don’t have to feel like you’re missing out even if you don’t rent a 4wd.
All that said…
It sure can seem like a ton of people rent a jeep on the Big Island. You will likely see a lot of jeeps when you are driving around.
So if you have even an inkling of wanting one, well, maybe you’re better off renting a jeep! You don’t want to end up with regrets when you’re there. You can also just rent a jeep for a day or 2 and a regular car the rest of the time.
Cost of gas
This may also be something to consider. The cost of gas will likely be (much) more than what you’re used to back home.
$4.50 a gallon for gas?! Well, this was in an even more expensive area for gas on the Big Island. (Near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.)
For comparison, when it was $4.50 here, gas was listed in Kona as an average of around $3.80 a gallon, and the U.S. national average was listed around $2.70.
And… the necessary disclaimer… 😜
When you are renting a car, make sure you are aware of what roads are acceptable to drive with your rental car, no matter what… etc etc.
Some or all of the roads mentioned above may technically be “off limits” or may officially be roads in which car rental companies may say you’re on your own if something happens to your car.
And of course, you want to limit your risk so you don’t damage your rental car!
If you are hiking, be sure to bring WATER and SNACKS.
Remember, Hawaii is HOT and these things are even more important when hiking in hot weather.
See more about hiking essentials for Hawaii.
Where to rent a car (Big Island airports)
The main Big Island airport is Kona airport (KOA), and this is where most people fly into, and it’s probably where you’ll find the best car rental prices.
There is also an airport in Hilo (ITO), and you can find car rental companies around here too.
HAPPY DRIVING AROUND THE BIG ISLAND!
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