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Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour

4.152 reviewsHawaii Volcanoes National Park

  • 15–20 hours
  • Free cancellation up to 24h before
  • Guided in English
  • Instant confirmation

Highlights

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together! Get a taste of paradise on Hawaii’s Big Island. This driving tour guides you along the island’s picturesque coast and through lush jungle scenery. Lounge on pristine beaches, hike atop dormant volcanoes, go snorkeling in crystal-clear water, and more—all while learning about the fascinating history of this island and the people who call it home. Plus, learn about Hawaiian history, visit ancient burial grounds, and really get to know this island’s rich culture. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
  • Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
  • Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
  • Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
  • Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
  • Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
  • One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
  • Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
  • Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
  • Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.

What's not

  • No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

Itinerary

  1. Hilo is a town on Hawaii, commonly called the Big Island, in the state of Hawaii. It’s known for Wailuku River State Park, featuring Waianuenue, or Rainbow Falls, with its colorful mist effects. The bubbling basalt-lava rock pools known as the Boiling Pots are nearby. To the south is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to rainforests and the active Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Note: The tour is over 300+ miles long, with more than 210+ audio stories, and takes about 7-8 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

    30 min

  2. The deck is a steel grid which creates a singing sound from the tires of cars driving on it.

    30 min

  3. Quiet peaceful location to just sit and relax

    30 min

  4. Popular with surfers, this picturesque cove is located less than two miles from downtown Hilo. It’s rocky bottom and occasional strong currents make it less of a swimming beach and more of a great spot for experienced surfers and watching surfing pros. Limited parking; must be able to climb down/up stairs to get to this beach.

    Passes by

  5. Discover this 0.8-km out-and-back trail near Pepeekeo, Hawaii. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 13 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking and walking. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

    Passes by

  6. The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden is a nonprofit botanical garden and nature preserve

    20 min

  7. World Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls is a commercial botanical gardens with a large waterfall, located between Umauma and Hakalau, at the corner of Leopolino Road and Hawaii Belt Road, State Highway 19, 16 miles north of Hilo, Island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaii.

    1 h

  8. A lush rainforest attraction with tropical gardens, waterfalls, and family-friendly outdoor adventures like ziplining and suspension bridges. It’s a fun stop for nature lovers looking to explore Big Island’s scenic, greener side.

    20 min

  9. Small Waterfall

    30 min

  10. Kolekole Beach Park is a Hawaii county park on the island of Hawaii.

    Passes by

  11. On April 1, 1946 the Big Island of Hawaiʻi was struck by the so-called "April Fools Day tsunami", originating from the Aleutian Islands earthquake. Approximately 160 people on the island were killed. While the greatest number of deaths occurred in Hilo, the school building at Laupāhoehoe was inundated, and twenty students and four teachers were drowned. A monument to the dead now stands on Laupāhoehoe Point.

    Passes by

  12. As you drive 20-minutes north of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, you’ll marvel at the rugged lava fields surrounding you. You may not see it from Queen Kaahumanu Highway, but the Kohala Coast is where you’ll find some of the island’s finest resorts.

    30 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

4.1

  • 525
  • 417
  • 33
  • 23
  • 14

Ratings come from 52 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

Meeting point
You can also begin the tour from 1030 Kanoelehua Ave, Hilo, HI 96720, USA.
Pickup
Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
Ticket type
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operated by
Travel with Action
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Check current weather, road conditions, and closures before beginning the tour, as conditions may change unexpectedly.
  • Some attractions along the Big Island tour require paid admission, while others may require or recommend advance reservations. Kula Kai Caverns requires reservations, and advance booking is recommended for Huliheʻe Palace. Entrance or parking fees may also apply at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and ʻAkaka Falls State Park. These costs are not included with the audio tour.
  • Allow approximately 1–2 days to enjoy the complete tour at a relaxed pace.
  • Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
  • Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
  • At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.

How it compares in Big Island of Hawaii

  • Its from-price is 95% below the median of the 150 day trips we list in Big Island of Hawaii.
  • It is longer than most of them.
  • By number of reviews it ranks 48 of 150.
  • The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Big Island of Hawaii

The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest and youngest of the main Hawaiian islands, with active volcanoes, black-sand beaches, coffee farms and clear skies.

The Big Island is larger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined and still being shaped by active volcanoes. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has steaming craters, lava fields and the Chain of Craters Road down to the sea. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa both rise above 4,000 metres, and snow dusts their summits in winter.

Top-ranked sights in Big Island of Hawaii: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku).

See all 565 experiences in Big Island of Hawaii

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