Haleakalā National Park guide · 2 min read
Camping at Hosmer Grove, Kīpahulu and Wilderness Cabins
Overnight camping inside Haleakalā National Park is limited to designated campgrounds and cabins, and sleeping in a vehicle outside a campground is not allowed.
Hosmer Grove and Kīpahulu Campgrounds both require reservations made through recreation.gov, and each campsite allows up to six people and two tents. The reservation holder must carry a printed copy of the confirmation email. Across all park sites, overnight camping is capped at three nights in any 30-day period.
Hosmer Grove Campground sits in the cloud belt at nearly 7,000 feet, so expect cold, wet weather. Its six sites lie in an open, grassy area beside forest and shrubland, and each has a picnic table, a grill and access to potable water. Pit toilets are in the parking lot, and a self-guided nature trail starts from the campground and returns to it. Anyone who books a site also gets a sunrise viewing reservation for the next morning, while others need a separate booking on recreation.gov.
Kīpahulu Campground lies near sea level on the wetter east side of the island, reached by the Hāna Highway. Its campsites look out over sea cliffs, a brief stroll from ʻOheʻo Gulch, and wading into the stream anywhere in the park is not allowed. The campground has no water, showers or electrical outlets, so bring what you need. Expect rain, fierce sun and mosquitoes, and note that the campground offers no beach access.
Three historic wilderness cabins, Kapalaoa, Palikū and Hōlua, sit inside the crater and can be reached only on foot. Hōlua is the closest, a hike of at least 3.7 miles, while Kapalaoa is 5.5 miles in and Palikū is 9.3 miles in. Hikers who prefer to camp can also use primitive wilderness campsites reached only by trail. Cabin reservations are made on recreation.gov, and birdlife adds to the stay: nēnē fly over, and ʻuaʻu call as dusk falls.
