Summit

Haleakalā sunrise: tour or drive?

Sunrise from 10,023 feet is the most famous thing to do on Maui. It also means a 2 or 3 am start, a reservation that sells out, and a long dark drive up switchbacks.

The trade-off

Driving yourself costs $1.50 plus the $20 vehicle entrance fee, if you land a reservation. A tour costs about $240 to $264 per person but includes the permit, the driving and breakfast.

If you drive yourself

Book the sunrise reservation on recreation.gov. It covers vehicles arriving from 3 to 7 am.
It costs $1.50, is non-transferable, opens 60 days ahead and closes at 4 pm the day before.
Pay the park entrance fee too: $20 per vehicle.
Leave your hotel around 2 to 3 am, depending on where you are staying.

If you take a tour

Sunrise tours hold their own park permits, so you skip the reservation. Some include breakfast; bike tours give you a ride down from 6,500 feet. Several tours do not include the park entrance fee, so check.

Tour	Price	Ages	Meets or picks up	Included
Bike Maui self-guided bike tour	$264	15 and up	Haʻikū (810 Haiku Rd)	Shuttle to the summit, bike and safety gear, windbreaker, fleece vest, gloves, breakfast stop
Mountain Riders downhill bike tour	$249	12 and up	Pāʻia (497 Baldwin Ave)	Summit transport, bike, full guide, water and granola bars; stops in Makawao and Kula
Majestic sunrise tour with pickup	$260 adult, $250 senior, $240 child 3 to 12	All ages, infants free	Hotel pickup island-wide	Light breakfast before sunrise and a sit-down meal after
Sunrise tour with breakfast, West Maui pickup	$240	All ages	Lahaina, Kāʻanapali, Nāpili, Kapalua	Hotel pickup and a sit-down breakfast at Kula Lodge

Dress for winter

Temperatures at the summit often drop below freezing before dawn, even in summer. Bring a warm jacket, a hat and gloves, or pick a tour that hands out windbreakers and fleece.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation to see sunrise at Haleakalā?

Yes, if you drive yourself. Any private or rental vehicle entering between 3 and 7 am needs a $1.50 sunrise reservation from recreation.gov, plus the park entrance fee.

How far ahead can I book a Haleakalā sunrise reservation?

Reservations open 60 days ahead and close at 4 pm the day before. They are only sold online, not at the park.

Do tour guests need their own sunrise reservation?

No. Commercial sunrise tours operate under their own park permits, so guests on a tour do not book one. Check whether your tour includes the park entrance fee.

How cold is Haleakalā at sunrise?

Often below freezing before dawn, even in summer. The summit is 10,023 feet up. Bring real warm layers.