Is it necessary to rent an SUV to drive around the big island of Hawaii?
Lindsey B asked:
My boyfriend and I are flying into Kona, but we want to drive to the other side of the island and see the Volcanoe National Park. We’ve been told that we’ll need to rent an SUV to drive on that side of the island. It’s so expensive to rent and SUV though!! So I’m wondering if this is just what travel books tell you, or if it’s really necessary. I’m hoping for some inside info from loals if possible. Thanks!
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My boyfriend and I are flying into Kona, but we want to drive to the other side of the island and see the Volcanoe National Park. We’ve been told that we’ll need to rent an SUV to drive on that side of the island. It’s so expensive to rent and SUV though!! So I’m wondering if this is just what travel books tell you, or if it’s really necessary. I’m hoping for some inside info from loals if possible. Thanks!
November 27th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Not unless you are planning on going off roading. Hawaii roads are well paved and driveable for all car types through nearly every part of the each island. If you want to go explore on roads where only SUV’s can drive then that is a different story. However with all the things you can do and see in Hawaii I dont think you need to do it.
November 28th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
No, it is not necessary. I have driven from Hilo to Kona several times in just a normal regular old car. Not a local anymore, but lived there for several years and my family has been on the island for many, many years.
Have a wonderful time. It’s beautiful there!
November 29th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Does the official site and guide/map for the park say that there are unimproved roads?? If the Park’s guide and not just a travel agent tells you that you’ll need it, you’ll probably need it.
We tried to get down a road rated in “unimproved” in Big Bend and we didn’t get too far. We were in station wagons. Unimproved usually means there are a lot of really big potholes that you just won’t be able to miss.
Make sure the SUV you rent has 4WD capability. Not all of them do! SUV just describes the body type, not the transmission!
November 29th, 2008 at 8:41 am
We drove around the island in a rental car no problem.There is only 1 paved road the circles the island.unless you want to go 4 wheeling off road you should be fine.
December 1st, 2008 at 8:31 am
no – absolutely not required. everyone will be driving either a Ford Windstar mini-van or a Mustang convertable. Those are pretty standard rental cars there. The Mustang is more expensive.
you’re gonna have a blast. The big island and kuai are way better than oahu (total waste of time – crowded big city) & maui (which was o.k but too crowed – some really good restaurants there though).
p.s. You didn’t ask, but definately spring for a helicopter tour. I would recommend that on kuai, but any of the islands would be fun. it’s expensive, but worth it.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Sean seems a little mixed up….you can’t rent a SUV or any other vehicle with a carburetor these days, they all have fuel injection, so altitude will not affect the performance of fuel delivery.. Both the big volcanos on the big Island are under 14,000 feet and there is no reason to rent an SUV on the saddleback road. I have driven up the roads that go to the summits of both Mona Kea and Mona Loa and you don’t need an SUV to go up those roads are they are considerbly worse than the saddleback road. Don’t rent the smallest vehicle either like a Geo Metro or other mini economy class car….a compact Honda/Toyota will do just fine. One more thing…it’s easy to get pulled over on the big island…easy does it!
December 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
only an idiot would say that, unless you were going off roading. you dont need a svu, infact i wouldnt recomend a svu unless you got money.