Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour in Big Island of Hawaii booking from $16.99

Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour

Overview

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Get a taste of paradise on Hawaii’s Big Island. This driving tour guides you along the island’s picturesque coast and through lush jungle scenery. Lounge on pristine beaches, hike atop dormant volcanoes, go snorkeling in crystal-clear water, and more—all while learning about the fascinating history of this island and the people who call it home. Plus, learn about Hawaiian history, visit ancient burial grounds, and really get to know this island’s rich culture.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Mon 23 Jun

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You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $16.99

Make a reservation

Mon 23 Jun

Starting at $16.99

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Great value: One purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!

Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone

Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!

Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.

Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!

Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!

Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

What To Expect

Hilo

Hilo is a town on Hawaii, commonly called the Big Island, in the state of Hawaii. It’s known for Wailuku River State Park, featuring Waianuenue, or Rainbow Falls, with its colorful mist effects. The bubbling basalt-lava rock pools known as the Boiling Pots are nearby. To the south is Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to rainforests and the active Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Note: This 75-mile-long tour covers the essentials of the Big Island in 2-4 hours. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Honoli'i Beach Park

Popular with surfers, this picturesque cove is located less than two miles from downtown Hilo. It’s rocky bottom and occasional strong currents make it less of a swimming beach and more of a great spot for experienced surfers and watching surfing pros. Limited parking; must be able to climb down/up stairs to get to this beach.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden

The Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve and Garden is a nonprofit botanical garden and nature preserve

Laupahoehoe Point Cemetery

On April 1, 1946 the Big Island of Hawaiʻi was struck by the so-called "April Fools Day tsunami", originating from the Aleutian Islands earthquake. Approximately 160 people on the island were killed. While the greatest number of deaths occurred in Hilo, the school building at Laupāhoehoe was inundated, and twenty students and four teachers were drowned. A monument to the dead now stands on Laupāhoehoe Point.

Kohala Coast

As you drive 20-minutes north of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, you’ll marvel at the rugged lava fields surrounding you. You may not see it from Queen Kaahumanu Highway, but the Kohala Coast is where you’ll find some of the island’s finest resorts.

Anna Ranch Heritage Center

Anna Ranch Heritage Center is a former cattle ranch in Waimea, Hawaii County, Hawaii named for Anna Leialoha Lindsey Perry-Fiske (1900–1995).

Kings Hwy Foot Trail

Get to know this 7.7-km out-and-back trail near Waikoloa Village, Hawaii. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 44 min to complete. This trail is great for hiking and trail running.

Kekaha Kai State Park

Kekaha Kai State Park, formerly known as Kona Coast State Park, is a beach park located along the north Kona coast on the island of Hawaiʻi. The main beach areas are Maniniʻowali Bay, Makalawena beach at Puʻu Aliʻi Bay, and Mahaiʻula Bay.

Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in the Kona District on the Big island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaiʻi. It includes the National Historic Landmarked archaeological site known as the Honokōhau Settlement.

Kailua-Kona

Public park with white sand beach & rocky shoreline, offering lifeguard-overseen swimming & surfing.

Hulihe'e Palace

Small beach & reef with generally calm water, making it a popular place to snorkel.

Lekeleke Burial Ground

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located on the west coast of the island of Hawaiʻi in the U.S. state of Hawaii.

Honaunau

Kīlauea is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. Historically, it is the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the Big Island of Hawaiʻi.

Heavenly Hawaiian Kona Coffee Farm Tours & Konalani Coffee Bar

Kona coffee is the market name for coffee (Coffea arabica) cultivated on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa in the North and South Kona Districts of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world.

Hawaii Belt Road

The Hawaiʻi Belt Road is a modern name for the Māmalahoa Highway and consists of Hawaiʻi state Routes 11, 19, and 190 that encircle the Island of Hawaiʻi.

Kula Kai Caverns

Centuries-old lava caves & tube systems once used by native tribes for shelter & water collection.

Mauna Loa Observatory

The Hawai'i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS) is a Mars and Moon ... located on a Mars-like site on the Mauna Loa volcano on Hawai'i Island.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on Hawaii Island (the Big Island). At its heart are the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa active volcanoes. The Crater Rim Drive passes steam vents and the Jaggar Museum, which features volcanology exhibits and a viewpoint overlooking Halema'uma'u Crater. Thick ferns mark the entrance to the Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku). The Chain of Craters Road weaves over lava. Trails crisscross the park.

Show 15 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (33)

Elaine_R

Jan 2025

The landscape was beautiful and varied; the stories were interesting. The trip as far as Hilo took longer than we expected. Is there a second half to take us back to the departure point? Can we take this tour, starting much earlier, in a few months?

Response from Host

Jan 2025

Elaine, I’m thrilled you loved the beautiful and varied landscapes on my Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour! You can start the second half earlier if you prefer, and it does take you back to the departure point. Plus, you can use the tour multiple times within a year to explore at your own pace. If you're planning your next adventure, check out my collection of 100+ self-guided tours—you’ll find plenty more to enjoy!

Ett_M

Jan 2025

We loved the tour in general. This tour is well worth it if you don't have days and days on the island to explore on your own. We started out on the east coast and went up north and around the top end of the island. But: if you plan to start out at around 8am as we did, AND stop and do and see stuff along the route, you will not finish in one day (before dark). The island is really a road around the perimeter with a cut through across dark and unlit roads if you want to get back to your hotel. Just be prepared for anticipated potty breaks or "eats" that may be far and few between. We learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture, tsunamis, cowboys, kings and queens, waterfalls, and more. We hiked the entire way [all paved paths but many stairs up and down] at the Akaka Waterfalls stop between the 2 falls, Akaka and Kahana. We did not see the Botanical Gardens for time's sake. We had to abort to return to the hotel by dark and may complete the tour, particularly black sand beach and Volcano Natl park today. The good news is we can always listen to the narrative at any time to learn more even if we are not right there. Tip: I recommend taking a photo of your password so if you have to "start up again" you don't have to search your email for it. Type it in, and the tour is yours once again. The narrator is clear. The start point was a bit difficult to find as we were not sure we were pointed in the right direction, but it turned out ok and the map followed right along. Sometimes the road he says to turn on is not was was labeled on the street sign so we had to guess for these and hope it was correct. Some stops have admittance fees, picnic tables, and restrooms, but some did not, so plan for your drive. Interesting to learn about the climate change as Hilo in the east is very wet and rainy while the west coast terrain is dry and scrubby and very volcanic. Bring a light jacket or rain gear for some of the rain forest stops like Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls. Also non slip shoes as the paved and boardwalk surfaces can be slick when wet. Bring your phone or camera charger to keep you taking pictures the whole way! Enjoy!

Response from Host

Jan 2025

Ett, I'm thrilled you enjoyed my Big Island Hawaii tour and appreciated its flexibility and rich content on Hawaiian history, culture, and landscapes! Your feedback about planning for stops and necessary gear is invaluable and will help future travelers. Ready for more discoveries? Dive into our collection of over 100 self-guided tours for your next adventure!

Patti_H

Nov 2024

I loved the fun facts during the trip. The drive took us places we never would have found on our own. The extra tips of how to better access the sites were handy as well. If we took a detour, the app would catch up with us when we got back on the road. I will definitely search for these driving tours in other travel destinations in the future.

Response from Host

Dec 2024

Patti, I’m so glad my Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour helped you discover hidden gems and shared handy tips for easier site access. The flexibility to detour and have the audio catch up makes exploring even more convenient. If you're planning your next adventure, check out my collection of 100+ self-guided tours—you’ll find plenty more to enjoy!

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Big Island Hawaii Self-Guided Driving Tour

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