Kīlauea

See one of Earth's most active volcanoes and its summit caldera inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Highway 11, 30 miles southwest of Hilo · Volcano, HI

About Kīlauea

Kīlauea is an active shield volcano on the southeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, rising to 4,091 feet inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Halemaʻumaʻu crater at its summit, home of the volcano goddess Pele in Hawaiian tradition, has been erupting since December 2024 in episodes of lava fountaining. Expect some closures and delays at the summit during a two-year repair project, and check air quality often, since volcanic gas can be hazardous.

#volcano
#national park
#lava viewing
#crater
#big island

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What's around here?

The closest stops to Kīlauea, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Sports & Outdoors
Iconic
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
$25–$50
Drive and hike around Kīlauea's summit caldera, then follow Chain of Craters Road down to the sea.
Transit: reachable by public transit
2.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sports & Outdoors
Sports & Outdoors
Nani Mau Gardens
Check prices
Commercial botanical gardens in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, known for tropical plantings and event hosting.
23 mi awaySwitch it up: Sports & Outdoors
Shopping
Prince Kuhio Plaza
Check prices
A large enclosed shopping mall in Hilo on Hawaii's Big Island, with many stores and restaurants.
Transit: reachable by public transit
24 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping
Sightseeing
Lava Tree State Monument
Check prices
A small Puna District park where hardened molds mark where trees once stood in a forest buried by lava.
25 mi awayMore like this
Sightseeing
History Buff
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Under $25
Walk the Royal Grounds and a centuries-old place of refuge guarded by carved wooden kiʻi on the Kona coast.
41 mi awayMore like this
Sightseeing
Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Under $25
A self-guided historic coffee farm on the Big Island that shows how Kona's early 20th-century coffee families worked and lived.
41 mi awayMore like this