Camping on Hawaiʻi Island: county parks, state parks and Volcanoes

Hawaiʻi County beach parks need a county permit, sold online or at county offices, priced per person per night: $21 for non-resident adults, $6 for resident adults. Popular parks include Spencer, Hoʻokena and Punaluʻu. State park camping and cabins (Kalōpā, Kīholo, the Hāpuna A-frames) are closed for hurricane recovery. In Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kulanaokuaiki is first come, first served.

• County permits: per person per night. Non-residents: adults and teens $21, children $20. Residents: adults $6, teens $3, children $1. Book through the Hawaiʻi County online camp reservation system, or in person at the Hilo or Kona parks offices. Refunds need 15 days' notice.
• Good county parks: Spencer Beach Park (Kohala Coast), Hoʻokena (South Kona), Mauna Kea Recreation Area, Punaluʻu (Kaʻū) and Kohanaiki. Miloliʻi, Kapaʻa and Whittington have no drinking water.
• State parks: Kalōpā, Kīholo and the Hāpuna Beach A-frames are closed to camping and lodging for hurricane recovery, with no reopening date (day use open at Kalōpā and Kīholo).
• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: Kulanaokuaiki Campground, about $10 a night, first come, first served. Nāmakanipaio Campground was listed as closed in the park's March 2026 update; check before you go. Backcountry sites need a park permit. Park entrance fee is separate.
• Waimanu Valley backcountry camping needs a state permit, but the Waipiʻo Valley road to the trailhead is limited to residents in 4WD.

Sources: Love Big Island: Big Island camping (updated Oct. 21, 2026) · Hawaiʻi County: camping reservations · NPS: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes areas reopen (Mar. 2026)

Last checked Oct. 31, 2026. Hours, fees and rules can change, so confirm with the official source before you go.