While in Hawaii, one can always opt to stay in some upscale hotel suite or a fancy room in a resort. But getting close and personal with some breathtaking views that this beautiful island state has to offer, one should set up a camp here. Not only it is cheap, camping at different campgrounds opens up options for various outdoor activities that one can enjoy.
It is advised to obtain a permit from Oahu before venturing out into the wild here in Hawaii. The breathtaking views of the morning sun, the cool breeze from the Pacific, the serene landscapes and the dazzling night sky everything that a backpacker can dream of, Hawaii has on offer.
- Kalalau Campground (in Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park)
The Kalalau Beach campground is within the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park. People consider this as the best campground in all of Hawaii. Camping here at the Kalalau beach with the cliffs of Napali at the backyard, a lush valley with a creek and a waterfall on one side.
The is a state run campground that hosts a single tent only campsite which is accessible by taking a short walk.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Boating
2. Fishing 3. Hiking 4. Paddling 5. Swimming 6. Wildlife watching |
1. Toilets
2. Picnic table 3. Fire pits 4. Pet friendly site 5. Access to potable water |
Location Details:
Kapaa, HI 96746, USA
Phone: (808) 274-3444
- Waipi’o Hostel Camp
The Waipi’o Campsite and Hostel is in the Kukuihaele. It is half a mile away from the magnificent Waipiʻo Valley. It is the older part of the Hawaii and a common treading path of wild horses and turkeys.
The scenic view of the Pacific Ocean topped up with the delicious smell of fruits from different fruit trees all add to the appeal for the campsite. A privately owned camping site that hosts only one spot, the Waipi’o Campsite and Hostel is accessible via a short drive.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Hiking
2. Surfing |
1. Toilets
2. Showers 3. Picnic table 4. Fire pits 5. Potable water |
Location Details:
20.119° N, 155.573° W
- Polihale State Park Campground
The road to reach the Polihale State Park Campground might be too muddy to like, but once there it is hard for anyone to leave. It is advised to drive a 4WD vehicle on a rainy day. This is the best camping in Kauai, Hawaii. The single tent only campsite that this campground host in a completely undeveloped coastal stretch of the Napali Coastline.
This place is quite popular for breathtaking sunsets long relaxing hours and shore fishing sessions.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Biking
2. Boating 3. Fishing 4. Swimming |
1. Toilets
2. Showers 3. Picnic table 4. Fire pits 5. Access to potable water 6. Pet friendly camping site |
Location Details:
Hwy 50, Waimea, HI 96796, USA
Phone: +1 808-274-3444
- Kīholo Campground (in Kīholo State Park Reserve)
The Kiholo campground is located remotely in the coastal park made from cooled lava. The park is in the Kiholo Bay Fishery Management Area. The campground hosts eight camping sites and is available only for tent camping.
This is the best camping in Hawaii big island. Modern amenities are absent on these sites as these are based on the primitive style of camping.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Fishing
2. Hiking 3. Swimming 4. Wildlife watching |
1. Toilets
2. Picnic table 3. Fire pits 4. Access to potable water |
Location Details:
2000 96740, 71-2000 Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, United States
Phone: +1 808-695-4620
- Polipoli Campground (in Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area)
The Polipoli Campground is at an elevation of 6,200-feet above the sea level. The campground provides a wide angle view of the Kula Forest Reserve and is surely an appealing destination for anyone who loves landscapes.
The campground offers numerous hiking trails that crisscross throughout the area. It is a state operated operation that is accessible via a short drive and hosts a single camping site available only for tent camping.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Biking
2. Hiking |
1. Toilets
2. Picnic table 3. Access to potable water 4. Pet friendly site |
Location details:
Kula, HI 96790, USA
Phone: +1 808-984-8109
- Waiʻānapanapa State Park Campground
The Waiʻānapanapa State Park Campground is known for its wildlife and bird watching opportunities. It is a hotspot to view some of the most exotic species of migratory birds and sea bird species. This is one among the best camping places in Hawaii and also offers the best RV campgrounds in Hawaii.
The Waiʻānapanapa Campground serves as a hotspot for amateur and veteran ornithologists alike. It is governed and maintained by state run authorities and host a single camping site made available only to the tent campers.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Fishing
2. Hiking 3. Swimming |
1. Toilets
2. Showers 3. Picnic table 4. Access to potable water 5. Fire pits |
Location Details:
Waianapanapa, Hana, HI 96713, USA
Phone: +1 808-984-8109
7. Pālāʻau State Park Campground
Soaked in the local folklore and history, the Pālāʻau State Park Campground is situated in by the side of a phallic stone. It is believed that the stone is capable to boost fertility to couples suffering from lack of children.
The campground is noteworthy for being a tent only site that enclosed within the ecosystem of the ironwood grove. The campground is state run and hosts only one camping site.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Hiking
2. Bird watching |
1. Access to potable water
2. Fire pits 3. Toilets 4. Picnic tables |
Location Details:
Highway 47, Ho’olehua, HI 96729, USA
Phone: +1 808-984-8109
- Kīpahulu Campground (in Haleakalā National Park)
The Kīpahulu Campground rests on a grassy patch of land above the sea level. The campground host a single camping site that is accessible by a short drive and made available exclusively to tent campers. Located just off the scenic Road to Hana on the eastern side of the island, it is a popular destination for campers. The sound of crashing waves can be heard all the way back to the camping site. It is advised to come prepared for tackling typical tropical problems like mosquitoes, humidity, and breathtaking views! This is also the best camping hiking Hawaii.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Hiking
2. Swimming |
1. Toilets
2. Picnic table 3. Access to potable water 4. Fire pits 5. Pet friendly site |
Location Details:
Hana, HI 96713, USA
Phone: 808-572-4400
- Hōlua Campsite (in Haleakalā National Park)
The Hōlua Campsite is nestled in the Haleakalā National Park. It is popularly categorized as a wilderness camp that sits at an elevation of 6,940 feet above the sea level in the Koʻolau Gap(native shrubland). The campground is accessible to the guests by covering a hike of about 3.7 miles of the Halemauʻu Trail or by just traversing the 7.4 miles of the Sliding Sand Trailhead.
It should be kept in mind that the area lacks potable water and other basic amenities. On top of that, guests need to obtain a permit from the authorities before pitching in their tents. The Hōlua Campsite is operated and maintained by state authorities and provides accommodation to the tent campers only.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Hiking
2. Swimming |
1. Toilets
2. Picnic table 3. Fire pits |
Location Details:
Kula, HI 96790, USA
Phone: 808-572-4400
- Nämakanipaio Campground (in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park)
The Nämakanipaio Campground sits 31.5 miles to the south of Hilo just off highway number 11. The campground is situated at an elevation of about 4000 feet above the sea-level and can be perceived as a large, open, grassy patch of land.
The area is dotted with tall eucalyptus and ‘ōhi’a trees. The weather conditions here can be quite unpredictable, to be honest. The temperatures here can range in between the low 60s to the high 70s in the day and within the 30s and 50s during the night.
It is a state governed campground that host 26 camping sites that provide accommodations to tent campers. Camping cabins and lodgings are also available to the guests at a pocket-friendly range.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Biking
2. Hiking |
1. Toilets
2. Showers 3. Picnic table 4. Fire pits 5. Access to potable water 6. Pet friendly sites |
Location Details:
Volcano, HI 96785, USA
Phone: 808-985-6000
- Kulanaokuaiki Campground (in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park)
The Kulanaokuaiki Campground sits just five miles down the Hulina Pali Road. Among the 8 sites hosted by the campground, two among the lot is accessible to the differently abled in their wheelchairs.
It is a campground that hosts camping sites with a primitive setting. The absence of modern amenities and facilities requires the guests to come prepared with food, water supplies and other bare essentials. It is a state run campground that offers accommodations to tent campers only.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Biking
2. Hiking |
1. Toilets
2. Picnic table 3. Fire pits |
Location Details:
Pāhoa, HI 96778, USA
Phone: 808-985-6000
- Kōkeʻe State Park Campground
The expensive beach resorts are for the amateurs, an extraordinary tropical camping session is a must for the adventure crazy individuals. The Koke’s State Park campground provides its guests with opportunities to pitch in their tent at the single camping site hosted by the campground. The camping site is minimally developed for offering a primitive camping experience to the guest. The campsite is nestled in between the rainforest that sits at an elevation of 4000 feet above the sea-level. The elevated position of the camping site allows the guest with magnificent views of the Napali cliffs and Kalalau Valley.
It is a state operated campground that is accessible via a short drive. Accommodations are provided exclusively to the tent campers.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Fishing
2. Hiking 3. Wildlife watching |
1. Toilets
2. Showers 3. Picnic table 4. Fire pits 5. Access to potable water 6. Pet friendly site |
Location Details:
Hanapepe, HI 96716, USA
Phone: (808)335-8405
- Hanakoa Campground (in Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park)
Conquering the Kalalau Trail by hiking is a challenging feat to complete. The Hanakoa Campground is located in the Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park. It is a thickly covered area that doesn’t provide much of a view of anything, to say the least.
It is the best possible destination for campers and tourists who are on their way from or to the Kalalau Beach. The Hanakoa Campground is state run and administered the campground hosts a single camping site that is made accessible only to the tent campers.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Boating
2. Fishing 3. Hiking 4. Paddling 5. Swimming 6. Wildlife watching |
1. Toilets
2. Picnic table 3. Fire pits 4. Access to potable water 5. Pet friendly site |
Location Details:
Kapaa, HI 96746, USA
Phone: +1 808-274-3444
- Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park Campground
The Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana State Park Campground is famous for its serene beauty of the coastal side of the Hawaiian Islands.
Guests are urged to take some time out of their lazy hours and explore the trails and soak in the views that this campground has to offer. The campground is operated and maintained by the state authorities and host 10 camping sites that are made available only to the tent campers.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Boating
2. Fishing 3. Hiking 4. Swimming |
1. Toilets
2. Showers 3. Picnic table 4. Fire pits 5. Access to potable water 6. Pet friendly sites |
Location Details:
52-222 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaaawa, HI 96730, USA
Phone: (808) 237-7767
- Mālaekahana Campground (in Mālaekahana State Recreation Area)
The Mālaekahana Campground is known for its beautiful beaches and serene coastal beauty. It is also the best camping in Hawaii and the best campgrounds in Hawaii, Oahu. The campground is situated near the beautifully maintained natural beachfront and towering shaded natural vegetation. The campground hosts 37 campsites in total which is themed in both the primitive and modern camping settings. It is to be kept in mind that reservations for these campsites need to be made in advance. This is also the best tent camping in Hawaii. This is one among the best campgrounds in Hawaii and the best camping in Oahu, Hawaii.
Best Time to Visit:
| Activities | Facilities |
| 1. Fishing
2. Surfing 3. Swimming |
1. Toilets
2. Showers 3. Picnic table 4. Fire pits 5. Access to potable water |
Location Details:
56-020 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, HI 96762, USA
Phone: (808) 587-0300