Hello fellow travelers! Over the summer, I partnered with the Island of Hawaii Visitor’s Bureau to go on the ultimate trip of a lifetime through the beautiful Island of Hawaii. Today, I am sharing with you the exact itinerary I used for my 6 day road trip. My trip planner, Jourdyn, worked very hard to put this awesome itinerary together for me, and it turned out amazing! You can see the article I wrote about the trip here. The pictures above were all taken from the roadtrip! One thing I have learned about traveling, is the more effort you put into planning your trip on the front end, the better your vacation will turn out.
There’s nothing worse than going somewhere new and having to Google things to do while your there. To prevent this from happening to you, I’ve detailed where we stayed, where we ate, what we did, and what companies we used. There are multiple options on where to eat for every meal, so you can have your pick based on what you are in the mood for!
I hope you find this itinerary to be of help. If you have any questions or need more recommendations, feel free to comment below or send me an email! I have provided links to where we stayed, as well as restaurant links so you can check out the menus before you go!
Day 1:
Arrive at Hilo International Airport (ITO)
Dinner recommendations in Volcano:
• Thai Thai (casual, Thai)
• ‘Ōhelo Café (wood-fired pizzas, island-inspired dishes)
• Kilauea Lodge Restaurant (continental cuisine, local flavors)
Evening: Check in to 5th Street Ohana
Estimated drive time from Hilo International Airport: 40 minutes
Overnight 5th Street Ohana
Day 2:
Morning: At leisure Explore Hilo
• Onekahakaha Beach Park
• Lili‘uokalani Gardens
• Waiänuenue (Rainbow) Falls – Wailuku River State Park
• Downtown Hilo
Afternoon/Evening:
KapohoKine Adventures – Evening Volcano Explorer 1:30-8:30 PM
Overnight at 5th Street Ohana
Day 3:
Breakfast recommendations in Volcano
• Kilauea Lodge Restaurant (breakfast served 7:30 – 10 a.m.) –
**My personal favorite- we ate here twice! The banana pancakes, loco moco, and French Toast were our favorites!
• Volcano’s Lava Rock Café (breakfast served 7:30 – 11 a.m.) –
At leisure Explore Ka‘ü
• Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach
• Punalu‘u Bake Shop
South Point Beach **Amazing lookout! The Visitor’s Bureau discourages cliff jumping. But…. *cough..it’s a must do..cough**
Estimated drive time from 5th Street Ohana: 40 minutes
Drive to Kona via Highway 11 / Hawai‘i Belt Road
Lunch recommendations near Captain Cook:
• Loko Wraps (Hawaiian, Mexican, smoothies) –
• Big Jake’s Island B-B-Q (Hawaiian, barbeque) –
• Da Poke Shack (casual, poke)
Afternoon/Evening:
3:00 p.m. Check in to Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Estimated driving time from 5th Street Ohana: 2 hours and 15 minutes
Dining recommendations in Kona:
• Honu’s on the Beach (buffet)
• Kona Brewing Company
• Huggo’s
• Broke Da Mouth Grindz –**Our favorite restaurant in Kona! It’s tricky to find but so worth going!
Day 4:
Morning:
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Captain Zodiac – 4-Hour Morning Raft and Snorkel Adventure
(Go in the morning while the water is super clear! Once the crowds begin to arrive, the water becomes cloudy and it’s hard to see.)
Afternoon/Evening:
Explore Kona
• Historic Kailua Village
• Hulihe‘e Palace
• Moku‘aikaua Church (oldest Christian church in Hawai‘i) –
Overnight Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Day 5:
Breakfast recommendations in Kailua-Kona:
• Island Lava Java (coffee shop, café) –
• Daylight Mind Coffee Company (coffee shop) –
Explore North Kohala:
• Häwï town
• King Kamehameha Statue
• Pololü Valley Lookout –
*You may hike to the valley floor, but swimming at the beach is
discouraged because of strong currents. Once you get to the valley floor, the trail continues on! It’s tough and wet but the views at the end are incredible!
Estimated drive time from Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s
Kona Beach Hotel: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Lunch recommendations in North Kohala:
• Häwï
o Bamboo Restaurant (casual, Pacific Rim cuisine) –
o Sushi Rock Restaurant (sushi, Pacific Rim cuisine) –
• Kapa‘au
o Kings View Café Hawaii (casual, café) –
o Minnie’s (casual, Hawaiian) –
• Waimea
o Village Burger (casual, Hawai‘i Island beef burgers) –
o Merriman’s Waimea (Hawaii Regional cuisine) –
Evening:
Dinner & Show: Island Breeze Luau
Located at the hotel. (We got the premiere seating and it was so worth it! We were up front and first to the food!)
Day 6:
Morning:
Paddle boarding at Kona Boys Beach Shack
Kona Boys’ Beach Shack is located on the beach at Kamakahonu Bay, fronting
Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. The Kona Beach
Shack opens at 8:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m. Check out of Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
At leisure:
Kaloko-Honoköhau National Historical Park –
Greenwell Coffee Farm Tour
Board flight back to the mainland!
Have you ever been to Hawaii? Have you ever been on a road trip? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Don’t forget to check out my book, THE SMART GIRL’S GUIDE TO SURVIVING HER TWENTIES, for loads of advice on how to plan your dream vacation! Order or download your copy here. To read more about it, head to my books tab.
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And make sure to follow me on Insta: @courtneylivin and on Pinterest: Courtney Livingston ♥
Thanks to the Island of Hawaii Visitor’s Bureau for sponsoring this post.
Uplifting pics and your blue dress looks beautiful on you!
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Aw thank you ❤️
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Lovely pics and Hawaii is next on my bucket list!
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Thanks, hope you’ll get a chance to go!
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Stellar views there! That blue dress looks lovely on you (:
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Aw thank you!
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Thanks so much for this detailed itinerary! I don’t know when I will get to the Big Island, but it is on my short list. I visited Honolulu, four years ago, but only had 1 1/2 days there.
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Wow I bet Honolulu was cool! I’d like to spend more time there one day. Hope you’ll be able to head to the Big Island someday soon!
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Awesome pics and nice post too 🙂
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Thank you!
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Wow looks like you had such an amazing time!! 😀 xx
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Thanks Amilia, I did!
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Awww I’m glad 😊 xx
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Loved reading this! Thanks for sharing! I’m so jealous – I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii! ❤ xo
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This is SO amazing! If I make it to Hawaii I will definitely take these suggestions xx
http://www.qustomquinns.com/blog
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Hope it can help one day!!
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Wow this looks amazing, I’m so jealous. That dress looks gorgeous on you! xx
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Aw thanks girl!
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Absolutely desperate to go to Hawaii x
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Yasss put it on your bucket list!!
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Inspired by tradition, but in step with the times. Simple in concept, but ambitious in the goal.
http://www.tedbakerusale.com
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Never been to Hawaii but I’ve always wanted to go! Love these tips.
https://www.bluelabelsboutique.com
https://www.fashionnotfear.com
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Put it on your bucket list!!
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So jealous! Thanks for organizing it all out so we can see all the places to go so easily!
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Your welcome, hope it can be of help one day!!
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Wow…
I need to go to Hawaii! Lovely pics.
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Yassss its so fun, I def recommend it!
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Inspired by tradition, but in step with the times. Simple in concept, but ambitious in the goal.
http://www.ralphlaurene.store
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Omg this trip looks amazing! Definitely want to make it out to Hawaii someday. Also you are gorgeous!! Love the blue dress.
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Thanks Kim! Hope you can make it there one day!
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Amazing pictures & love your sense of style!!!
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Aw thank you!
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Wow, love your photos!
Beauty & Colour | Vegan Lifestyle Blog
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Thanks so much!
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Beautiful post! That must have been so much fun. I want to go to Hawaii so bad, thanks for linking everything that you liked!
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Buongiorno e buon lunedi a tutte! ma cosa piu importante BUON ANNO!
http://www.selww.com
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Great pictures! 🙂
kisses
Agnese & Elisa
http://desiresinstyle.com/
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I’ve been on a road trip that lasted 117 days, but I’ve never been to Hawaii. I definitely want to go someday; it’s just not really the kind of trip you do alone.
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Wow 117 days is a long trip! Where did you go?!
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Everywhere! Well, across parts of 46 states at least, plus DC and both sides of Niagara Falls (my last of only two times out of the USA). I was trying to find myself and thinking I would start over a lot farther away than I actually did. If you have time, you can read about that trip http://justtaketheleap.livejournal.com
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How fun! I cannot wait to start exploring the world more.
Meghan | http://tanlinesanddaisies.com/
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I definitely recommend Hawai‘i as a place to explore one day!
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Beautiful photos! The beach shack looks like a place I could learn paddle boarding. 🙂
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Yassss it was such a cute shack!
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Courtney, love your road trip photos and the recipe for vegetable soup from the previous post. Was I ever on a road trip? Kinda Sorta. You see when I was in Elementary school my sisters and I came home one day and met Mom at the door and she said we’re going to Niagara Falls. She had packed our suitcases and off we went with Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa so that’s the closest to a road trip I ever got.
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Glad you liked the recipe! And that sounds so awesome- you must have made some sweet memories on that trip to Niagra! That’s so cool!
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I did make sweet memories. What I do remember is the weddings that were going on when we went there. The falls were very nice too.
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Rixo is a London based designer name which I’ve come across couple of months ago and have constantly fell in love with.
http://www.selww.com
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Amazing pictures and I love your blog!!!
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Aw thank you 😘
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This looks like paradise!
xx Lisa | lisaautumn.com
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Thanks Lisa, it was!
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This place looks so beautiful. It’s definitely on the list of the places I want to see next year; I usually go to South Carolina when going to the US, because I have friends there, but I definitely want to see other places next time, and Hawaii seems so beautiful!!
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This looks like such a great trip! I love all of your photos 🌺💛 I have to go back to explore more of the Hilo side of the island. One of my favorite spots on the Big Island was definitely Pololu Valley and Hawi town. They cannot be missed! So many things to see I wish I could plan an extended stay to become an expert on all things Hawaii!
https://www.windowseatview.com/2018/01/19/8-places-to-visit-on-the-big-island-of-hawaii/
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