Maui’s Best Van Campgrounds
Ididn’t camp much as a kid. There, I said it…
And I hadn’t really camped much as an adult either until I moved to Hawaii from New York City in 2014. Then, everything started to change. Between the turquoise blue water, scenic hiking trails, mountainous volcanoes, breathtaking waterfalls and of course, an outdoorsy boyfriend (Brandon!), I was suddenly hooked on adventure. I quickly learned that camping was a big part of that, and that… heck, I actually really liked it!!
Now, don’t get me wrong. My first Hawaii camping trip did involve me bringing a hair straightener and wondering out loud if our tent was going to be knocked down by wild pigs… but that’s a story for another day (and spoiler alert: Wilbur and friends steered clear of the tent). But I’ve come a long way since then. The proud co-owner of a 1972 VW camper van, Lilikoi, and many Maui camping trips later, I now consider myself a good resource on where to camp on this beautiful island.
So, here are some of our favorite Maui Van Campgrounds organized by area:
ROAD TO HANA:
YMCA Camp Keanae
- Location: About 1 hour – 1 hour 15 minutes from Kahului Airport
- Amenities: fire pits, charcoal grills, ice machines, indoor showers with hot water, real toilets, filtered water
- Fast Facts: About halfway to Hana Town, Camp Keanae is the perfect place to stop, relax and enjoy Maui’s most famous road! While the amenities are pretty sweet, one of our favorite things about this campground is its cliffside ocean views!! You’ll barely need to lift your head off your pillow to take in the picturesque scene. Nearby, you’ll also find the Keanae Peninsula, rich in history, and home to taro patches and the legendary Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread Stand. There’s also a swimming hole to keep you cool and the Arboretum to explore.
- Reservations: Book in advance – http://ymcacampkeanae.org/
Waianapanapa State Park
- Location: About 2 hours – 2.5 hours from Kahului Airport
- Amenities: outdoor showers, restrooms, drinking water
- Fast Facts: While we’ve visited Waianapanapa many times, we haven’t camped here yet but have heard great things! And we can totally see why – close to Hana Town center and home to a breathtaking black sand beach, hiking trails and lava tubes, this spot is a must stop.
- Reservations: Book in advance – https://camping.ehawaii.gov
Caroline’s Farm Stand
- Location: About 3 hours from Kahului Airport, just outside of Hana Town
- Amenities: fire pit with grill, picnic table, outdoor shower, portable toilet
- Fast Facts: Brandon I recently discovered this Hipcamp.com gem and are OBSESSED! Located on a 17 acre oceanfront farm within walking distance of Hamoa Beach and less than 10 minutes from Hana Town center, camping at Caroline’s Farm Stand is literally a dream. Hosts Tony and Caroline are very kind and attentive and will make you feel right at home here. They have a few camp sites all with breathtaking ocean views. This is definitely a quiet, intimate experience and you should expect to either be by yourself or with one or two other small groups. Other than that (and the gracious hosts), your immediate neighbors are the beautiful cows and horses on the other side of the pasture.
- Reservations: Book in advance – https://www.hipcamp.com/discover/hawaii/caroline-s-stand-hana-maui
Camp Kipahulu (part of Haleakala National Park)
- Location: About 3.5 – 4 hours from Kahului Airport
- Amenities: shared grills, picnic tables, pit toilets, no potable water
- Fast Facts: Located inside Haleakala National Park (not to be confused with Haleakala Summit or the Hosmer Grove campground) about a half hour – 40 minutes or so past Hana Town, this campground is the most remote (in our opinion) so go prepared! It is completely beautiful though and there’s a lot to do here. From enjoying ocean views at the actual campground to exploring the Seven Sacred Pools (a popular swimming spot when open) and hiking the Pipiwai Trail to the 400 foot tall Waimoku Falls, you could easily spend a day or more here!
- Reservations: Reservations are not accepted and the maximum length of stay is 3 nights. We recommend arriving no later than late afternoon (3:30pm/4pm-ish) to help increase your chances of scoring one of the coveted ocean view sites.
WEST SIDE:
Papalaua Wayside Park
- Location: Right along Honoapiilani Highway (mile marker 11 and 12)
- Amenities: portable bathrooms, shared grills
- Fast Facts: While we’ve never camped here, this is one of only two official Maui beachfront campgrounds. It’s literally along the highway but you are steps away from the ocean. If watching the sunset in the evening and then waking up and jumping in the ocean is important to you, this is a good choice. You will also be within 20 minutes or so from Lahaina and also, Kihei.
- Reservations: Book in advance – mauicounty.gov
Camp Olowalu
- Location: Olowalu off of Honoapiilani Highway (mile marker 14)
- Amenities: enclosed hot water showers, regular toilets, drinkable water, picnic tables, shared grills
- Fast Facts: This beautiful campground is beachfront and has lots of bells and whistles! The grounds are pristine. One thing to note is the van camping is in the parking lot. You’ll be about 10 minutes away from Lahaina here and are right across the street from Leoda’s Pie Shop – known for, you guessed it, their pies! Brandon and I love this camping spot and typically recommend it to campers who have just arrived to Maui since it’s easy to get to and close to everything you could need.
- Reservations: Book in advance – campolowalu.com
Other things to note:
Hosmer Grove is a popular Maui campground located at about 7,000 feet above sea level in Haleakala National Park (towards the Summit District). Due to the elevation, we don’t bring our 1972 VW camper van, Lili, to camp here and thus, we haven’t camped here yet either but depending on what you have in mind, it could be a fun spot to look into (just bring extra blankets!). Additionally, hipcamp.com has some great private van camping locations to check out.
Do the sea and sand make you a happy camper?! Check out this quick guide to South Maui’s best beaches!
