Planning a Trip to Maui?  Here are 9 Things You Need to Know About Haleakalā Summit

1 Bring Snacks

There’s no place to get them in the park. If you’re like us and get the munchies whenever you’re on a road trip, you’ll need to plan ahead and bring your own.

2 Bring Warm Clothes

Cold weather clothing is not something you normally think of when packing for Hawaii, but once the sun goes down at the summit it is coooold. It can also be pretty windy up there. You don’t need to pack a parka, but you do want to plan ahead.

3 Watch for Animals on the Road

Especially cows! I’ll bet you weren’t expecting that one, were you?  There’s at least one (maybe more?) large cattle ranch in Haleakalā National Park and cows roam freely, including on the road.

4 Bring Something to Sit on to Watch the Maui Sunset

This is another thing I wish I had known ahead of time. Since you’re going to be there for a while, you might as well try to get comfy. Trust me on this, sitting on little chunks of volcanic rock is not comfy. Plus, it’s dirty.

5 The Best View is After Sunset

The real show starts when the sun is already down. It lights up the sky like it’s literally on fire and is stunningly gorgeous! Stick around for a bit, because honestly, the show is just getting started!

6 Don’t Block Anyone’s View of the Sunset

The rocks are slippery so be careful, but find a spot where there’s enough space around other people that you don’t make it hard for them to get good photos, too. (This is definitely easier to do at sunset than sunrise.)

7 Get to the Haleakalā Summit Early for a Parking Spot

The upper parking lot fills up early, so get there in plenty of time to get a spot. There is a lower parking lot, too, but you'll have to walk the rest of the way to the top of the summit.

8 It Costs to Get into Haleakalā National Park

The park service has an entrance at the base of the mountain and it’s a $30 entrance fee per car. The good news is that your permit is valid for three days, so if you decide you’d like to come back for another visit, you won’t have to pay twice.

(Some people get in for free, so check our site to find out if that's you.

9 No Reservation Needed to Visit Haleakalā at Sunset

However, if you intend to see Haleakalā at sunrise, you’ll need to make a sunrise reservation. (See #7 about lack of parking.)

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