Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour Discount Tickets

Get your discount tickets for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour, save up to 12% !

Overview

Witness the explosive majesty of Hawaii with this self-guided tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Stand at the precipice of Kilauea Crater. Visit the Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs. See the beauty of the Hōlei Sea Arch before erosion destroys it for good. Along the way, you’ll find out how volcanoes really work, what they’ve meant in the history of Hawaii, and so much more. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Begin from Entrance Station, Volcano, HI 96785, USA. After booking the tour, search your emails and texts for "audio tour". Your tour is VALID FOREVER, so follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.

Language Offered

English-AUDIO

English-WRITTEN

Itinerary

1. Entrance Station
Your journey begins at the park’s Entrance Station, Volcano, HI. First, we’ll go straight through the Entrance Gate and explore the area around the visitor center. Note: The tour is over 24.5 miles long, with more than 43 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
2. Kilauea Military Camp
It’s a recreational facility for soldiers, but its history wasn’t all fun and games. During World War II, this became an internment camp not only for prisoners of war but for innocent Japanese citizens as well.
Duration: 10 mins
3. Steam Vents
Steam Vents are created by the heat of the Kilauea Volcano, which heats groundwater trapped in underground pockets. The steam that rises from the vents is an indicator of the volcano's underground activity.
Duration: 10 mins
4. Kīlauea Visitor Center
This is where the short but sweet Sulphur Banks Trail begins. Well, I say sweet… but that’s a lie. It’s actually extremely smelly!
5. Kilauea Overlook
This spot looks out across the simply jaw-dropping and is one of the must-see spots in the park. Although the crater doesn’t look like a typical volcano, it’s actually one of the most active in the entire world!
Duration: 10 mins
6. Kīlauea Iki Trailhead
This trail leads directly through the Kilauea Iki Crater! It’s a 3.3-mile loop that takes about three hours, but the elevation change can be strenuous.
Duration: 10 mins
7. Nahuku - Lava Tube
The Thurston Lava Tube was formed over 500 years ago when molten lava flowed through the area and created a tunnel-like cave as the lava on the outside cooled and hardened while the lava on the inside kept flowing. The result is a unique cave system that visitors can explore today.
Duration: 10 mins
8. Luamanu Crater
The Luamanu Crater was once filled with a dense forest… but that all changed in just one day.
Duration: 10 mins
9. Puhimau Crater
Puhimau Crater is a volcanic feature located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and if travelers book an experience to visit it, they can witness the unique geological formations created by volcanic activity.
Duration: 10 mins
10. Pauahi Crater
Pauahi Crater is a steep-sided pit crater that was formed by explosive volcanic activity. The crater is approximately 330 feet deep and 1,000 feet in diameter, and it is known for its interesting geological features, such as the lava spatter deposits and the fumaroles, which emit steam and gases.
Duration: 10 mins
11. Pu'u Huluhulu Trailhead
Pu’u Huluhulu is a cinder cone, just like Pu'upua'i. The name means "hairy hill" because low shrubs have grown across it, giving it a fuzzy appearance from afar.
Duration: 10 mins
12. Kipuka Puaulu Trail
Kipukas are formed when a lava flow surrounds an area of older vegetation, and over time, this vegetation can continue to thrive, creating a unique island of life in the middle of a barren lava field. These kipukas often have their own microclimate, with different soil types and moisture levels than the surrounding area, allowing for the growth of different plant species.
Duration: 10 mins
13. Mauna Ulu Lookout
This raised platform offers panoramic views of the Mauna Ulu lava flow. It’s mostly flat and gray, but look for the toadstool-shaped formations.
Duration: 10 mins
14. Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs
Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs is a historical site located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. If travelers book an experience to visit Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs, they can see over 23,000 ancient petroglyphs etched into the hardened lava rock.
Duration: 10 mins
15. Holei Sea Arch
The famous Holei Sea Arch. This picture-perfect sea cliff naturally formed into the shape of an arch!
Duration: 10 mins
16. Volcano Art Center Gallery
You might notice a small building separate from the rest of the Visitor Center. That will be the Volcano Art Center Gallery, a lovely place to stop if you’re a fan of the fine arts.
Duration: 10 mins

Inclusion

Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.

Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.

Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.

Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.

Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.

Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.

One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.

Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.

Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.

Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.

Exclusion

No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.

Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.

At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.

Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.

Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.

More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.

Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.

Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.

Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.

Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.

Supplied by History with Action

Reviews

4.6

★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 35 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5 stars
25
4 stars
9
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 stars
1

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