Need info on Hilo

[suzanne]

We want to spend day in Hilo on our trip to the Big Island in November. We plan to do the zipline, followed by spending time at the Botanical Gardens, the town of Hilo and a stop to see the Akaka Waterfalls. We are at the Wyndham Kona Resort the first week and the Hilton Kohala Suites the 2nd week. Which week would be best for doing a day trip to Hilo mileage wise? Which route should we take from both resorts to shorten drive time? We would stay overnight but our friends going with us are on a very tight budget and can't afford an additional hotel room. Fortunately they both like to drive so long day will be ok with them.

Thanks,

Suzanne

 

[aliikai2]

Is the Hilton near Waikoloa

If so you could take the Saddleback road and go to Hilo on the other side of the island. The time savings isn't much vs from Kona, but you get to see another area of the island. Greg

 

[BevL]

I agree, take Saddle Road to cut straight across. The road is fine, a big zigzaggy and stuff but a good road.

 

[Gracey]

Are you allowed to take rental vehicles on Saddle Road?

 

[SmithOp]

You can easily drive to Hilo and do all those things and more in a day trip from Kona or WKL. You could take the saddle over and return the north shore to hit zipline and akaka falls. Make a res for zipline, and be flexible it rains a lot.

Things to do in Hilo:
Farmers market
Falls
Big Island Cookie Factory
Original Kens

Its about 2 hrs drive time one way from WKL, 3 from Kona using the north coast route through Waimea.

 

[ricoba]

Are you allowed to take rental vehicles on Saddle Road?

Not the last time we were there. It was a mentioned no no in the rental contract.

Having said that my only concern with the road would be breakdown and then the rental company wouldnt provide service to the road.

 

[Gracey]

Thanks Rick, I thought I read somewhere that they did not want you on that road.

 

[tompalm]

Agree that Saddle Road is not the way to go. It might save a few minutes, but not worth the risk. Also, the drive along the road and transition from dry volcanic rock to a rain forest on the east side of Parker Ranch is amazing and worth seeing.

My two cents on this entire question is to forget most of the things listed, and go to Volcano's National Park. Hike the Lava Tubes that will take about 20 minutes and maybe down into the volcano right across from Lava Tubes parking. Also, spend time at the Visitor's Center and if enough time, drive down to the ocean (if there is Lava flowing into the ocean).

On a different day, drive to Akaka Falls and take your time with that. Stop at Waipo Valley and Parker Ranch on the way.

 

[daventrina]

Not the last time we were there. It was a mentioned no no in the rental contract.

Having said that my only concern with the road would be breakdown and then the rental company wouldnt provide service to the road.

But if you read it ....
It voids the CDW that we don't buy anyway.

We have AAA towing so it doesn't matter that they don't come and get the car.

Parts of the road are a little bumpy, and a little narrow. In places one of the lanes is almost gone... The bad part is only a few miles. At night it could be interesting .. but slow would fix that. On the Hilo side the road is wide and well paved. Definitely beats driving all the way around.

Anyway... Saddle Road isn't anything like this:


hi06721 161 by dntanderson, on Flickr

And never gets as wet as this:

P7170830 by dntanderson, on Flickr

or as deep as this:

P7170831 by dntanderson, on Flickr

 

[suzanne]

Thank you all. Love the photos. The Zipline is a must for me and DH, gardens & falls are for all 4 of us. My new issue of the Hawaii Magazine shows a new Segway ride thru the gardens. It looks like fun. Has anyone been on a segway? How difficult are they to operate. We are all on the back side of old(60). We plan to spend a day at the Volcanos National Park exploring the park and going thru one of the lava tubes mentioned in the Big Island Revealed Book. The other must do for me and DH is the night dive/snorkel with the giant mantas. Friends do not dive or snorkel and will be bubble watchers as they want to see the mantas from the dry deck of the boat.

Suzanne

 

[hibbeln]

The Saddle Road is fine in the daytime, we drove it last summer from Waikoloa doing the same thing you are. No big deal at all, and actually kind of fun. I wouldn't drive it as night just because it's as black as sin out there once the sun goes down. Coming back we took the north route.
There are really quite inexpensive places to stay in Hilo.

 

[MuranoJo]

I also thought the Saddle Road was entirely fine, and we were there last September. A nice change of scenery.

 

[BevL]

Agree with the above. We've driven on that lava "road" shown above, if it's where I'm thinking. Saddle Road is a piece of cake although I wouldn't come back that way at night. Not that it's that scary but it would be a much slower drive.

 

[lynne]

Saddle Road is fine, but if you are coming from Waikoloa and going to the falls, zipline and botanical gardens, the easiest and most direct route is Hawaii Belt Road (19).

 

[abbekit]

Dire warnings about the Saddle Road are from before it was repaved and straightened (somewhat). It is now perfectly fine. Hilly and winding in some areas but for the most part an easy drive now that it is almost finished being redone.

I didn't find anything on our rental car contract mentioning not driving this road (and we just had a basic compact car from Alamo)

 

[daventrina]

The other must do for me and DH is the night dive/snorkel with the giant mantas.

Has so much fun the first time we did it again the next year.
Here is a link to our video:

http://youtu.be/Amx_AtHi2yQ

 

[geoand]

We drove the saddle road several times on our trip in January. Twice during the night and I was hugely impressed upon the reflectors placed on the lanes.

Had no problems driving in either direction. Visibility at night was just fine.
In fact, I would say it is better than going on the coast route at night.

 

[suzanne]

Thank you for sharing your video. We dove Stingray City in the Cayman Islands and hand fed the rays in the Bahamas. I have always wanted to dive with the giant mantas. Can hardly wait for our trip in November.

Suzanne