Volcano·Guide
Kīlauea's summit caldera by day, seen from Wahinekapu across the gray caldera floor toward the collapsed Halemaʻumaʻu crater Red glow from lava inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater at night, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park (photo from 2008) Lava fountain in Halemaʻumaʻu during episode 20 of the Kīlauea eruption on May 6, 2025, with glowing lava spreading across the crater floor

Kīlauea

By day: a gray caldera with steam rising out of it.

When the light goes, the steam turns red – and on most evenings, that is all.

And on a few days, lava shoots hundreds of feet into the air.

Scroll –
night falls over the crater

As of 21 September 2026Kilauea eruption viewing: can you see lava today?

Not today. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) reports WATCH / ORANGE and lists the eruption as paused. Since December 23, 2024, Kīlauea has been erupting in episodes inside Halemaʻumaʻu, its summit crater – 54 so far, the latest on August 25, 2026. Fountains and lava flows are visible only during an episode: hours, sometimes a day or two. In between come pauses of days to weeks, with steam and at most a faint glow at night.

Precursory activity for episode 55 has been under way since September 7: sluggish overflows at the north vent and, since September 14, several small new vents on the northwest wall of the crater. We cannot tell you when fountaining will start – in the HVO notice of September 20, the spot where the forecast window normally appears held only unfilled placeholder text. What to check on the day you go: the HVO status page and the USGS webcams linked from it. If it says “paused,” there are no fountains – whatever a travel blog promises.

Paused

The eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu

WATCH / ORANGE, notice 2026/H445 of September 20, 2026. Precursors to episode 55, no fountains. All lava stays inside the closed crater. There is no documented forecast window today.

Episodes since Dec 23, 202454
Open
24h

Park and overlooks

The park is open around the clock, with no reservation and no timed entry. Crater views from Crater Rim Drive: Welcome Center, Kilauea Overlook and Uēkahuna on the west side, Kilauea Iki and Devastation on the east.

per vehicle, 7 days · cards only$30
Closed

Caldera rim and crater floor

The rim around Halemaʻumaʻu has been closed to the public since late 2007. You cannot walk to the lava, and there is currently no ocean entry. During heavy tephra fall, rangers also clear the entire summit.

Documented 2017 case: $100 + $30 per person
Closed

Kilauea Visitor Center

Closed since February 18, 2025 for a full renovation; reopening announced for late 2026. Rangers, maps and the park store are at the Welcome Center in Kilauea Military Camp, about 1.2 miles (2 km) past the entrance.

Welcome Center daily 9:00 am–4:45 pm
Sources: USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, Volcanic Activity Notice 2026/H445 of September 20, 2026 and notice of September 14/15, 2026 · National Park Service pages “Fees,” “Eruption Viewing” and “Construction Closures,” accessed 21 September 2026. After Hurricane Lala, most of the park has been open again since August 28, 2026; according to the latest NPS releases still closed: Mauna Loa Road above Kīpukapuaulu, the Kīpukapuaulu trails, Nāmakanipaio campground and cabins, upper Kahuku Road. The binding source is “Alerts & Conditions.”
Two lava fountains on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater during episode 4 on January 16, 2025, seen from the south rim of the caldera
This is what an episode looks like. Arrive a day late and you are looking at black rock.

Photo: USGS / K. Lynn · Public domain

What to expectCan you see lava at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

You stand at a railing at about 4,000 ft (1,200 m), with the collapsed caldera and Halemaʻumaʻu crater in front of you. During a pause, steam rises from the ground, the wind sometimes carries a sulfur smell, and after sunset the plume above the vent turns faintly orange. That is the normal day.

During an episode it is a different place. The fountains can be seen from the overlooks along Crater Rim Drive, and at night the whole caldera is lit. In episode 43 on March 10, 2026, they reached roughly 1,300 ft (400 m) – tephra rained down as far as Highway 11 and rangers cleared the summit. Pele's hair, fine strands of volcanic glass, travels for miles; do not touch it.

For Native Hawaiians, Halemaʻumaʻu is a sacred place. The National Park Service explicitly asks visitors to watch the eruption respectfully.

You do not need a guide for any of this, and you do not need a reservation. A tour makes sense if you are staying in Kona or Waikoloa and would rather not drive two to two and a half hours each way – or if you want to see the park in half a day with someone who knows it. No operator can promise you lava.

Most bookedBig Island: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, & Coffee Farm Day-Trip11 hours · 4.9 ★ · 478 reviews · GetYourGuide
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Big Island: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Hilo Tour7 hours · 4.9 ★ · 171 reviews · GetYourGuide
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From Hilo: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tour5 hours · 4.9 ★ · 105 reviews · GetYourGuide
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Kilauea: Volcanoes National Park Guided Hike3 hours · 4-mile (6.5 km) loop hike · 4.9 ★ · 68 reviews · GetYourGuide
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Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 21 September 2026. Whether lava is visible is up to the volcano – none of these tours can promise it.

The rulesHawaii Volcanoes National Park fees, passes and closed areas

Kīlauea is the least complicated active volcano we know of: no timed entry, no daily cap, no mandatory guide. There are still three things to know before you reach the entrance station.

1

The entrance station does not take cash

You pay at the park entrance – by card only. The pass is valid for seven days, so a second visit at night costs nothing extra.

2

The annual pass is $250 for non-residents

Since January 1, 2026, the $80 America the Beautiful pass is for US residents only. Visitors from abroad pay $250. The additional $100 non-resident fee applies to eleven parks on the mainland – not to the Hawaiian parks.

3

Rope lines are not a suggestion

Behind them are earth cracks and undercut cliff edges. In 2017, 13 tourists inside the closed area were cited for $100 plus a $30 processing fee each, and their guide faced up to $5,000 and six months in jail. Whether the same amounts apply in 2026 has not been confirmed. Drones are banned throughout the park.

Official fees · as of 09/2026
Private vehicle (up to 15 people), valid 7 days$30
Motorcycle, 7 days$25
Pedestrians and cyclists age 16 and up, 7 days · under 16 free$15
Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Annual Pass: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, Haleakalā, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau · 12 months$55
America the Beautiful annual pass, US residents$80
America the Beautiful annual pass, non-US residents (since January 1, 2026)$250
Backcountry permit per site (overnight trips only, as of 11/2025)$10
Source: nps.gov/havo “Fees” and nps.gov “Nonresident Fees,” accessed 21 September 2026 · Superintendent’s Compendium of November 14, 2025 (closed area, drone ban, backcountry) · NPS news release of March 8, 2017 (citations). Fee-free days still to come in 2026: October 27 and November 11. If you are also visiting Haleakalā on Maui, the Tri-Park pass costs less than two separate entrance fees.

Roads and trailsCrater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road and the Kilauea Iki trail

Everything here is covered by the entrance fee. According to the NPS, summit parking lots are usually full by 10 am – the west side of Crater Rim Drive generally has more space.

Route → what to expect
Crater Rim Drive West: entrance → Welcome Center → Kilauea Overlook → UēkahunaThe road to the eruption overlooks, open year-round, 24 hours a day. The Welcome Center is about 1.2 miles (2 km) past the entrance; Uēkahuna, with a viewing platform and restrooms, is at the end. Vehicles longer than 25 ft are not allowed to Uēkahuna. Closed on short notice during tephra fall, storms or high gas levels.
Chain of Craters Road: from Crater Rim Drive to the coast18.8 miles (30.3 km) each way, ending at hardened lava fields – lava flows have buried almost 9 miles (14.5 km) of the former road. No food, water or fuel along the way; restrooms only at the Maunaulu parking area and at the end of the road. Closed from August 14, 2026 because of Hurricane Lala; since August 28 it no longer appears on the NPS closure list, but we did not find an explicit reopening notice.
Kilauea Iki: loop across the hardened 1959 lava lake3.3–6 miles (5.3–9.7 km) depending on the variant, 2–5 hours, 400 ft (122 m) down and back up. The NPS rates it moderate to challenging: steep, rocky, with cracks and sharp lava on the crater floor. Kilauea Iki Overlook has very few parking spaces; the alternative is Devastation Trailhead.
Crater Rim Drive: Chain of Craters Road junction → KeanakākoʻiPermanently closed to cars, open as a walking route.
Kahuku Unit: separate section of the park on Highway 11 between mile markers 70 and 71About an hour southwest of the summit, with trails on the southwest flank of Mauna Loa. Open Thursday to Sunday only, 8 am–4 pm. Open again since September 3, 2026; four-wheel drive is recommended above Lower Palm Trailhead, and upper Kahuku Road is closed.
Source: National Park Service – “Eruption Viewing,” “Chain of Craters Road,” “Kīlauea Iki Trail,” news releases of August 28 and September 2, 2026; Superintendent’s Compendium of November 14, 2025. Accessed 21 September 2026.
The hardened lava lake in Kilauea Iki crater: cracked black ground with the first plants, forested crater walls behind
In 1959 this was a lake of lava. Today you simply walk across it.

Photo: Navin Rajagopalan · CC BY-SA 2.0

Good to knowGetting there from Hilo and Kona, best time, tips

Getting there

Without a car: There is no shuttle or public transit inside the park. The county's Hele-On Bus serves the park only on a limited basis, and schedules can change. Ride services such as Uber are hard to find because of the remote location – realistically, you need a rental car.

By car: Access is via Highway 11. Summit parking lots are usually full by 10 am; the west side of Crater Rim Drive (Welcome Center, Kilauea Overlook, Uēkahuna) generally has more space. At the Welcome Center you park at the ball field. There is no fuel along Chain of Craters Road.

  • From Hilo · about 45 minutes
    Highway 11 heading southwest (30 miles)
  • From Kailua-Kona · 2–2.5 hours
    Highway 11 heading southeast (95 miles); alternative via Waimea and Hilo, 125 miles / 2.5–3 hours
  • From Waikoloa · about 2 hours
    via Highway 200 (Saddle Road), 90 miles

Best time to go

If you want to see lava, go by the HVO status, not by the season: fountains run for only hours to days, and in between there is at most a faint glow. The observatory publishes forecast windows for the next episode. Time of day: before 10 am or at night – parking is available then and the glow is easiest to see; the park is open around the clock. Hurricane season (2026: Lala in August) and winter storms (March 2026) can close the park for days.

Who it suits

Children
Children age 15 and under enter free. The NPS lists infants and children among the groups especially sensitive to volcanic gases – check air quality repeatedly during your visit.
Minimum age
none
Fitness
The overlooks can be reached by car and short walks. Kilauea Iki requires sure footing (400 ft / 122 m down and back up, rocky).
Heart and lungs
According to the NPS, volcanic gases are hazardous for people with heart or respiratory conditions, infants, children and pregnant women. If the air is bad, leave the area.
Dogs
Allowed only in parking lots, along open roads (Crater Rim Drive, Chain of Craters Road as far as Puʻuloa, Mauna Loa Road), at Nāmakanipaio campground and in parts of Kahuku – on a leash no longer than 6 ft (1.8 m). Prohibited on all trails and in the backcountry.
Clothing
The NPS recommends warm clothing and a rain jacket, plus a headlamp for night visits. During tephra fall: long sleeves and pants, eye protection, hat, gloves, dust mask. Do not touch Pele's hair.
Footwear
sturdy closed-toe shoes; the ground on lava fields is sharp-edged

Tips you will need on site

  • Check the HVO page and the webcams before you leave: if it says “paused,” there are no fountains – whatever a travel blog promises.
  • Bring a credit card: the park entrance does not take cash.
  • If you are also visiting Haleakalā on Maui, the Tri-Park pass ($55) saves money compared with two separate entrance fees ($60). At $250, the America the Beautiful pass rarely pays off for non-US residents since 2026.
  • If the parking lots are full, head for Crater Rim Drive West (Welcome Center, Kilauea Overlook, Uēkahuna).
  • The Kilauea Visitor Center is closed until an expected late 2026 – rangers, maps and the park store are at the Welcome Center in Kilauea Military Camp (9:00 am–4:45 pm).
  • Fill the tank and pack water before Chain of Craters Road: 19 miles (30 km) with no services at all, and the same distance back.
  • Keep safety glasses and a mask in the car when an episode is expected – tephra and Pele's hair irritate eyes, skin and airways.
  • Take rope lines seriously: behind them are earth cracks and undercut cliff edges, and crossing them has demonstrably cost people money.

A short history

  • Hawaii National Park was established on August 1, 1916; in 1961 it was split into Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and Haleakalā.
  • In 1980 the park became an International Biosphere Reserve, and in 1987 a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers about 554 square miles (1,434 km²), including the volcanoes Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
  • Chain of Craters Road was dedicated on April 15, 1928 and extended to the coast in 1965; lava flows have since buried almost 9 miles (14.5 km) of it.
  • In 1959, during the Kilauea Iki eruption, a lava fountain shot up to about 1,900 ft (580 m) – the hardened lava lake is a hiking trail today.
  • In 2018 an intrusion into the lower East Rift Zone ended 35 years of continuous activity; the summit collapsed and the park was largely closed for about 134 days. The Jaggar Museum and the old HVO building at Uēkahuna were damaged so badly that they were demolished.
  • Since December 2020 new eruptions have been refilling the collapsed crater; in 2024 there were additional eruptions on the Southwest and East Rift Zones.
  • The current episodic summit eruption began on December 23, 2024. Episode 43 on March 10, 2026 reached fountain heights of roughly 1,300 ft (400 m) and sent tephra raining down as far as Highway 11.
  • For Native Hawaiians, Halemaʻumaʻu is a sacred place; the NPS explicitly asks visitors to watch the eruption respectfully.

If you would rather not driveBig Island volcano tours: with stargazing, by helicopter, or from Oʻahu

Four options for different starting points: volcano and night sky in one day, the park plus a beach from Hilo, the view from a helicopter – and a day tour for anyone staying on Oʻahu. What exactly is included is listed in each description.

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Hilo: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach6 hours · 4.6 ★ · 107 reviews · GetYourGuide
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Hilo: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Helicopter Flight1 hour · 4.3 ★ · 269 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€353
From Oʻahu: Big Island Volcano Day Tour with Hotel Pickup12.5 hours · 4.7 ★ · 71 reviews · GetYourGuide
from€509

Affiliate links to GetYourGuide: if you book, we earn a commission and the price stays the same. Prices and ratings as of 21 September 2026. Whether lava is visible is up to the volcano.

Outdated onlineWhat other sites get wrong

“You can see flowing lava at Kilauea anytime.”
The eruption has been running in episodes since December 2024. According to the NPS they last hours to days, with pauses of days to weeks in between; on September 21, 2026, HVO reports “paused.” Without a look at the USGS status, a visit is a matter of luck.
“You can hike to the lava or take a boat to the ocean entry.”
According to the USGS, all vents and lava flows are inside the closed Halemaʻumaʻu crater. There is currently no ocean entry; no lava boats are running and no hikes to active lava are possible (as of September 20, 2026).
“The best viewpoint is the Jaggar Museum, open daily 8:30 am–8 pm.”
The museum was damaged beyond repair in the 2018 summit collapse and, according to the NPS, has been removed. What is open is the Uēkahuna viewing platform at the same location.
“The America the Beautiful pass costs $80.”
Since January 1, 2026, that price is for US residents only. Visitors from abroad pay $250.
“You pay the entrance fee in cash at the gate.”
The park is cashless.

Quick answersBefore you visit Kilauea

When will Kilauea erupt next?

Nobody knows to the day. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory publishes forecast windows ahead of episodes; in the notice of September 20, 2026, that spot was not filled in. Precursory activity for episode 55 has been under way since September 7. The USGS “Volcano Updates” page shows today's status.

Where is the best place to see lava at Kilauea?

From the overlooks along Crater Rim Drive: Welcome Center (Kilauea Military Camp), Kilauea Overlook and Uēkahuna on the west side; Kilauea Iki, Devastation and the start of Chain of Craters Road on the east. Fountains only happen during an episode – during pauses there is usually just a faint glow at night.

Is Kilauea worth visiting when there is no lava?

Yes, if you come with the right expectations: a steaming caldera, the trail across the hardened lava lake in Kilauea Iki, Chain of Craters Road down to the coast. The pass is valid for seven days – if an episode starts during that time, you simply drive back.

Can you visit Kilauea as a day trip from Kona?

Yes, but it is a long day: 95 miles (153 km) from Kailua-Kona, 2 to 2.5 hours each way. From Hilo it is only 30 miles (48 km), about 45 minutes. Public buses offer limited service – realistically it is a rental car or a tour.

Is the Kilauea Visitor Center open?

No. It has been closed for renovation since February 18, 2025, with reopening announced for late 2026. The replacement is the Welcome Center at Kilauea Military Camp, open daily from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm.

Can you pay cash at the park entrance?

No, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park accepts cards only. $30 per vehicle, valid for seven days.

Is Kilauea erupting right now?

Yes, in the sense that an eruption is ongoing. Since December 23, 2024, an episodic eruption has been under way in the summit crater Halemaʻumaʻu, with 54 fountaining episodes so far. On September 21, 2026, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports alert level WATCH / ORANGE and a pause; precursory activity for episode 55 has been observed since September 7. The USGS Volcano Updates page shows the current status.

Can I see lava at Kilauea?

Only during an episode or shortly before and after one. Then fountains and lava flows can be seen from the overlooks along Crater Rim Drive, and the glow at night. During pauses there is usually just a faint glow. You cannot walk up to the lava – it is inside the closed area.

How much is the entrance fee for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

$30 per vehicle, $25 per motorcycle or $15 per pedestrian or cyclist age 16 and up. The pass is valid for seven days. Payment is by card only; the park does not accept cash.

Do I need a reservation for Kilauea?

No. There is no timed entry and no daily cap, and the park is open around the clock. Only backcountry overnight stays require a permit, at $10 per site.

Do I need a guide?

No, there is no mandatory guide anywhere in the park. You can visit all overlooks and day-hiking trails on your own. Guided tours are a convenience, not a requirement.

Is it dangerous to visit Kilauea?

On the open trails and platforms the risk is manageable. The hazards are volcanic gases, tephra fall during high fountaining, earth cracks and undercut cliff edges. During heavy tephra fall rangers clear the summit, as they did on March 10, 2026.

Is Kilauea suitable for children, pregnant women and people with asthma?

The National Park Service lists infants, children, pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory conditions as groups sensitive to volcanic gases. A visit is possible, but check air quality continually and leave the area if there is vog or a sulfur smell.

How do I get to Kilauea from Hilo or Kona?

From Hilo it is 30 miles (48 km) on Highway 11, about 45 minutes. From Kailua-Kona you drive 95 miles (153 km), which takes 2 to 2.5 hours. Public buses offer only limited service, and there is no shuttle inside the park.

How much time do you need for the national park?

Two to three hours are enough for the overlooks along Crater Rim Drive. Add Chain of Craters Road (18.8 miles each way) and a hike such as Kilauea Iki (2 to 5 hours) and it becomes a full day. Because the pass is valid for seven days, a second visit at night is worthwhile.

Is Chain of Craters Road open?

It was closed from August 14, 2026 because of Hurricane Lala; according to the NPS, most of the park has been open again since August 28, and the road no longer appears on the list of closed areas. The park's “Alerts & Conditions” page is the binding source. There is no water or fuel along the way.

What does it cost if you ignore a closure?

In 2017, 13 tourists inside the closed area at Halemaʻumaʻu were each cited for $100 plus a $30 fee; their tour guide faced up to $5,000 and six months in jail. On top of that comes the real risk from gas, cracks and collapsing crater walls.

Can I fly a drone in the park?

No. Launching, landing and operating unmanned aircraft is prohibited throughout Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park unless the superintendent has approved it in writing.

More HawaiiMore volcanoes in Hawaii

Mauna KeaSame island, 9,800 ft higher: four-wheel drive required above the visitor station, sunset at the summit, stargazing at 9,200 ft.HaleakalāMaui. Hawaii's second volcano national park – covered by the Tri-Park pass.Diamond HeadOʻahu. The crater above Honolulu and the trail up to its rim.

Sources · accessed on 21 September 2026