Watching the sun drop below the clouds while on top of a dormant volcano is a MAGICAL experience. Maui is a special place but the Haleakala Summit sets this island apart. Only on Maui can you start your morning sun-bathing and swimming with sea turtles, and end it over 10,000 ft. (almost two miles) above sea level overlooking the clouds. It might seem bizarre to pack jackets and beanies for a Hawaiian vacation, but you’ll need them for the nearly freezing temperatures at the summit.

Making the Drive? I’m Here to Help.

If you plan on making the trip yourself, check out the rest of this blog post to learn everything you need to know before visiting! You can do your own research about Haleakala in general, as this blog will be focused solely on how to get to the top.

Sunrise Reservations

Sunrise is the most popular time for tourists to visit the summit, accounting for almost two-thirds of all daily visitors. Since I only went at sunset, I can’t compare whether sunrise vs. sunset is better, but you have to do some advance preparation if you want to go at sunrise.

Reservations are REQUIRED

The limited parking and dangerous roads are why reservations are absolutely REQUIRED for anyone wanting to make the trek before dawn (3:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.). Cars are regularly turned away at the gate if they don’t have a reservation. Considering it takes about 90 minutes to simply get to the gate, it is a giant waste of time if you don’t prepare properly.

Don’t Wait to Reserve

We tried, I mean really tried, to get limited release reservations (2-days in advance)…but the moment tickets were released, they sold out in SECONDS. I tried four days in a row, setting my alarm to check out EXACTLY at 7:00 a.m., and failed each time. It was incredibly frustrating.

If you want to try your hand at it, you have two options:

60 Days in Advance: If you can, aim for this. There are more tickets available and you’ll have better chances to score a reservation.
2 Days in Advance - Limited Release: Two days prior, at exactly 7:00 a.m. HST, a very limited number (around 25-ish) of reservations are released.

— Scroll towards the End for ALL the Sunrise Details —

Don’t Want to Drive?

Book a Tour

If you find that all of this is way too complicated, you can always book a bus tour. It will run you at least $180 per person - yikes. You might spend a pretty penny, but at least you’ll secure a sunrise spot and let someone else do the driving. Some tours will even pick you up at your hotel and feed you.

Consider a Sunset Visit

If you’re not a morning person or are unable to make reservations, consider going up to watch the sunset instead. Honestly, I think going at sunset might have been the better (or at least easier) experience. I’m so glad I didn’t concede the trip when unable to book a sunrise reservation.

Pros of going at sunset

Reservations are NOT required to visit after 7:00 a.m.
It is less crowded and parking usually isn’t an issue.
Magic-hour lighting across the crater makes for AWESOME pictures.
Better visibility to find a spot.
The glow after the sun goes down is STUNNING.
Stargazing!

Cons of Going at Sunset

Nothing is open on the way down.

Preparation is Required

No matter what time of day you plan on going, you still need to prepare if you plan to make the trip up to the summit.

Bring a credit/debit card

It is $30 per car to get into the National Park once you reach the gates, and I don’t believe they accept cash. Paid entry is valid for three days. National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Annual Passes are accepted if you have one!

If you have a National Parks Annual Pass and go at sunset, you could technically say you made the trip up for ZERO dollars.

It can get COLD - Pack appropriate clothing

Our days were in the low 80s while at the beach, but the summit is a little over 10,000 ft. above sea level and it gets REAL COLD up there. It was about 43 degrees when we finally parked, and once the sun went down, it got even colder.

You can check the summit forecast here: https://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Haleakala/forecasts/3505

GPS the correct location

Make sure you set your directions to the Haleakala Summit or Haleakala Observatory, and NOT just Haleakala National Park. Once you pass through the park gate, it is an extra 30-ish minutes up to the top. You don’t want to miss the big moment.

We gave ourselves 2.5-hours to get up the mountain out of Lahaina, and it was the perfect amount of time. We were able to take things nice and easy, and we made it with plenty of time to park and set up for the sunset. I used Apple Maps and searched for “Haleakala Summit Parking”, which worked perfectly.

It’s a long, WINDING road

Prepare for a long, winding, and steep drive. It’s a gorgeous ride but I’d recommend taking anti-nausea meds if you’re prone to motion sickness.

There are MANY sharp turns with no guard rails in certain areas, and it definitely gave me some serious anxiety at certain points. It’s all worth it once you get to the top, but boy-oh-boy did it make my heart race.

Oh, and don’t forget to fill up your tank before heading up.

Bring snacks and water

If you go for sunset, there really won’t be anything open food-wise on your two-hour journey back down the mountain, which sucks if you’re starving. Not super critical, but it’s good to know for those hanger-prone individuals such as myself.

Prepare for possible bad weather

It’s not always the case, as you end up quite literally above the clouds, but there are days when you might not get the stellar view you hoped for. I’m told that the view is generally clear, but not always.

Gift Shop is Closed

There is a gift shop at the summit, but it is only open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., which is super lame. Bathrooms are available, but if you are hoping to buy a souvenir, you’ll be out of luck unless you’re there for the 4-hours they’re open.

coolest tour guide

I briefly considered shelling out $400 for Mr. San Diego and me to take a bus tour to the summit just so we could benefit from the tour guide aspect. I love learning new things and am the weirdo who actually listens to tour guides. However, $400 is A LOT of money for something I could do on my own for $30. Plus, I wanted the freedom to drive and explore however I wished, especially since we had a Jeep rental the whole week we were there. Fortunately, I came across GyPSy Guide, and it was a total GAME CHANGER and MONEY SAVER!

GPS Audio Tour

GyPSy Guide is a narrated audio driving tour app that automatically plays tour-guide style information once you reach certain points along your drive.

Free App with Tours for purchase

The app is free to download but you pay for specific tours. It was $14.99 to purchase the tour that covered all of Maui. There is a tour just for Haleakala, which is $6.99, but I chose the full island option since we had planned to do the Road to Hana (which we never got around to, sigh).

Tons of GPS Points

There are A BUNCH of GPS trigger points on both the way up and different ones the way down. The guide is super informative, easy to listen to, and offers helpful tips and recommendations. It was 1,000% worth the $14.99. If you’re doing the trip on your own, I highly recommend downloading the app!

Here is a video explaining how the app works: youtu.be/y5aPGk3av3Q.

SOOO Worth It

I’m not an affiliate, and the link below is not a referral. I’m just raving about it because I genuinely think it made the trip even better!

Check It Out: gypsyguide.com/tour/maui

all the important sunrise details

You NEED to have a reservation if you plan on watching the sunrise at the summit. They will absolutely reject you and make you turn around without one. You can’t get them at the gate, so don’t even try.

Book Reservations in Advance

Link: recreation.gov/ticket/facility/253731.

60 Days in Advance: If you can, aim for this. There are more tickets available and you’ll have better chances to score a reservation.

2 Days in Advance - Limited Release: Two days prior, at exactly 7:00 a.m. HST, a very limited number (around 25-ish) of reservations are released.

$1 Fee - Price is per vehicle.

Create an Account First

Before trying to book, create an account.

Link: recreation.gov/ticket/facility/253731. Click on the “Sign Up” button in the top right corner.

Set Your Alarm

Limited release tickets sell out in SECONDS.

Leave A Few Hours Before Sunrise

Give yourself ample time getting there - many people start their journeys as early as 3:00 a.m., depending on where they are on the island.

We heard the entry gate can get very congested in the mornings since more people visit at that time.

It will be very crowded, so the earlier you get there, the better parking and viewing spot you will have.

Bring a flashlight (or at least your phone’s flashlight) since it will be dark before the sun makes its arrival.

Don’t Forget to Prepare

Did you skip the section above with all my preparation recommendations? Go back and read it. You’ll thank me later.

pit spots

If you head out for sunrise, consider making a few pit spots on the way down the mountain. Upcountry Maui is STUNNING, and there are adorable places along the way that seem worth visiting.

Kula Lodge Restaurant appears to be a very popular brunch spot for Haleakala visitors.

Ali’i Lavender Farm costs only $3 per person to visit, and I’d imagine you could take some gorgeous photos there.

If you plan for a sunset visit, these will be closed by the time you make your way down the hill. You’ll need to leave earlier for a chance to visit these places and still make it to the top in time for sunset.

Maui | Sunset at Haleakala Summit