The Chain of Craters Road, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a 20-mile, paved road that is located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It connects and provides visitor's access to a series of volcanic features including craters, active and dormant lava flows, and scenic views of tropical rain forests, mountains, wilderness areas, and seacoast areas.

Complete Guide to Crater Rim Road:

The Chain of Craters Road, on the Big Island of Hawaii, is a 20-mile, paved road that is located inside the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. It connects and provides visitor's access to a series of volcanic features including craters, active and dormant lava flows, and scenic views of tropical rain forests, mountains, wilderness areas, and seacoast areas.

Adjacent to the Chain of Craters Road is the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive that circles around Kilauea Caldera.

The geology along the road can be divided into four areas characterized by different features and the age of the rocks (see the map below for links and more details on each spot). The road begins on the upper East Rift Zone of Kilauea where pit craters are common. This area receives enough rain to support rainforest. About 3 miles down the road is Mauna Ulu, a vent that was active from 1969-1974. Much of this area is covered by fresh-looking lava flows. Vegetation is sparse because of the young age of the lava flows and the lower amount of rainfall that precipitates in the area. At about 10 miles, the road descends the steep Hilina Pali fault system, which marks the top of a giant landslide. The road continues in the Coastal Area on the gently-sloping south flank of the volcano. The rocks here are 500-750 year old. Vegetation here is sparse as well due too the low rainfall. At the end of the road is the lava viewing area and the youngest rocks in the park. Viewing conditions often change. If your heart is set on seeing lava, Kilauea Eruption Viewing Conditions can usually be obtained by asking the Rangers. Most of the time, you likely will not see lava though; much of it flows in underground tubes to the ocean. Regardless of what the eruption is doing though, the Chain of Craters Road is one of the most scenic and spectacular drives in any national park in the United States.

Adjacent to the Chain of Craters Road is the 11-mile paved, Crater Rim Drive that circles around Kilauea Caldera, and the half-mile, paved road to Mauna Ulu, site of the 1969-1974 eruption that covered and closed the Chain of Craters Road.

The majority of the park's 2.5 million annual visitors use the Chain of Craters Road or Crater Rim Drive, or both. The roads are a key element in carrying out the purpose of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park:

To protect and preserve the volcanic landscapes and the associated cultural and natural resources of the park, and to facilitate visitor use and access to active volcanism, scenic vistas, diverse geographic settings, and wilderness by providing a safe and functional infrastructure and neded visitor services.

Tips and Information

There is no gas or water along the byway. The road is 22 feet wide and paved. It is used by passenger vehicles, and small, 20-passenger buses.

Open to the public year-round. Rare and temporary closures are caused by heavy rainfall, fog, tsunami waves, seismic damage, and extreme fire danger. Lava flows have historically closed sections of the road on a long-term basis.

The National Park is usually busy at a constant rate, but increased tourism during the summer months (May-August) does make the area a little busier.

Directions and Maps

To reach the northern end of the byway from Hilo: drive 28 miles west on Hawaii Route 11, from Hilo, Hawaii, to the entrance of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Chain of Craters Road.

To drive the byway: Chain of Craters Road begins with the junction with Crater Rim Drive and proceeds generally south until it ends abruptly in the Pu`u O`o lava flows across the road at the coast (may be temporary.)