Please refer to the Haleakala NPS website for up-to-date fee information.
Make sure you have plenty of gas before you head out.Parking lots will close when full- a common occurrence at sunrise- another reason to arrive early.
The very latest we'd suggest entering the park in the morning is 4:30 AM. It takes one hour to reach the summit when leaving from Kahului, 1-1.5 hours from Kihei, and 2 hours from Lahaina. For sunrise trips, leave no later than 3:30 AM.If you’ll be taking a guided tour, you won’t have to worry about driving, timing, or a meal. You can choose to visit the summit either on your own or via a Haleakala Sunrise Tour or Sunset Tour. No time for hiking and exploring afterward. (Often making it feel just as cold as sunrise.) + You can often see the moonrise at the same time. + Sun is behind you, making colors of the crater more distinguishable. + 'It's just as nice at sunset and potentially nicer,' per Haleakala National Park staff. + More sleep- a big factor for many jet-lagged vacationers. + Temperatures usually not as cold as at sunrise. + Fewer people mean a more intimate experience and more personal space. And by ‘fewer’ we mean a lot fewer (more than 1,000 vs. You’ll have to get up very early- not a favorite activity for many vacationers. Early morning wake times combined with freezing temps and high elevation make an easy hike much more difficult.) + Many people like to go hiking and/or explore after watching the sunrise. + If you arrive early enough, you can watch the stars and the sunrise. Take advantage of this and watch the sunrise within the first couple of days there. + If you’ve traveled to Maui from the east, you’ll likely be waking up early. + Many people say the drive up in the dark is easier than the drive down in the dark. And among those who have had the good fortune to witness both, most pick the AM journey as their favorite. Most Haleakala visitors prefer to watch the sunrise in fact, the overwhelming majority do. Maui Haleakala Sunrise & Sunset Chart Haleakala Sunrise vs. Tickets are limited to one per customer every three days. Please Note: Tickets are per vehicle, not per person.
Beginning April 7, 2021, you may book a reservation up to 60 days in advance. Reservations now required for Haleakala SunriseĪ reservation is now required for each vehicle entering the park from 3:00 a.m. There’s a reason it’s one of Maui’s top attractions- the views are legendary, you’ll have a chance to see rare plants and animals such as the nene (Hawaiian goose) and the silversword plant, and the landscape is simply otherworldly. That said, we are often asked: “Which is best: Haleakala sunrise or sunset?" The answer is: That depends.īefore we get into the pros and cons of each, allow us to tell you that whether you choose to get up with the stars and watch the sunrise, or stay late and watch the sunset, you simply cannot miss visiting the summit of Haleakala. No trip to Maui would be complete without a trip to Haleakala National Park to watch the sun dance over the “House of the Sun." Haleakala Sunrise and Sunset Viewing Tips Which is Best for You?