Home › States › Hawaii

Camping in Hawaii: campsites, permits and passes

Camping in Hawaii starts in one of a few places: Hawaii State Parks for state park campsites, Recreation.gov for federal campgrounds. Here's where to book each, plus permits, passes and licences.

Most people go to:

State park campsites

Hawaii state park campgrounds are booked through Hawaii State Parks ↗. Book as early as you can for summer and holiday weekends, and check each park's page for cabins, yurts, group sites and pet rules.

National parks in Hawaii

• Haleakalā National Park
• Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Campgrounds in national parks are booked on Recreation.gov. See every park, monument and historic site in Hawaii on the National Park Service Hawaii page ↗.

Permits and lotteries

• Sunrise at Haleakalā summit requires a reservation on Recreation.gov.
• State park campsites require permits booked in advance.

Fishing and hunting licences

Licences for Hawaii are sold by the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources and Forestry and Wildlife ↗, online or at local retailers. Rules and seasons differ by species and water, so check before you go.

Passes

The America the Beautiful pass covers entrance fees at national parks and many federal lands in Hawaii. State parks usually sell their own day or annual passes; see Hawaii State Parks.

Best time to camp in Hawaii

Year-round, with drier conditions on leeward sides. Many state and county campgrounds require permits booked in advance.

Questions

Packing checklists

Nearby states (Hawaii)