Best Time to Visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Pick a month. Best months are in bold.
The best month to visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is April — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. December is the crowd peak (150,746 monthly visits); April is quietest at 73% of peak.
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Bring for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes in April
- Rain shell + pack coverSee it on AmazonWhy: 22.0″ of precipitation is normal this month.
- Waterproof bootsSee it on AmazonWhy: 22.0″ of precipitation is normal this month.
- Water bottles for the daySee it on AmazonWhy: hydration is one of the NPS Ten Essentials.
April is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes's best month. Going in another month? Pick it in the month row above: each month page has its own list.
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Best months for fewer crowds
The quietest months at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.
Monthly crowd curve
Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes month by month
| Month | Verdict | Avg visits | % of peak | High / Low | Precip | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Peak crowds | 142,358 | 94% | 74°F / 56°F | 13.1″ | 11.1h |
| February | Peak crowds | 123,884 | 82% | 72°F / 56°F | 15.8″ | 11.5h |
| March | Peak crowds | 119,145 | 79% | 73°F / 57°F | 22.9″ | 12h |
| April | Best window | 109,889 | 73% | 73°F / 58°F | 22.0″ | 12.6h |
| May | Peak crowds | 112,776 | 75% | 75°F / 59°F | 15.0″ | 13h |
| June | Peak crowds | 145,127 | 96% | 76°F / 60°F | 18.1″ | 13.3h |
| July | Peak crowds | 146,134 | 97% | 77°F / 62°F | 19.0″ | 13.2h |
| August | Peak crowds | 139,355 | 92% | 77°F / 62°F | 23.5″ | 12.8h |
| September | Peak crowds | 116,627 | 77% | 78°F / 61°F | 16.1″ | 12.3h |
| October | Peak crowds | 117,453 | 78% | 77°F / 61°F | 18.2″ | 11.7h |
| November | Peak crowds | 131,594 | 87% | 75°F / 59°F | 23.1″ | 11.2h |
| December | Peak crowds | 150,746 | 100% | 74°F / 57°F | 22.3″ | 11h |
Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station GLENWOOD #2 55.4, HI US (8 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.
How many people visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes each year
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park had 1,877,854 recreation visits in 2025, 31% more than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2017, with 2,016,702. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 1,555,088 visits a year, which makes it the 20th most-visited of the 63 national parks.
| Year | Recreation visits | vs. year before |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,877,854 | +31% |
| 2024 | 1,433,593 | −12% |
| 2023 | 1,620,294 | +2% |
| 2022 | 1,580,961 | +25% |
| 2021 | 1,262,747 | +114% |
| 2020 | 589,775 | −57% |
| 2019 | 1,368,376 | +23% |
| 2018 | 1,116,891 | −45% |
| 2017 | 2,016,702 | +7% |
| 2016 | 1,887,580 | +3% |
| 2015 | 1,832,660 | — |
Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.
What to pack for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes in April
Computed from April's weather normals — Hawaiʻi Volcanoes's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.
- Rain shell + pack cover — 22.0″ of precipitation is normal this month
- Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 22.0″ of precipitation is normal this month
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
April ranks best for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes on VisitWhen's computed score — the strongest balance of low crowds (NPS data), comfortable weather (NOAA normals) and daylight. The numbers are on Hawaiʻi Volcanoes in April.
What is the most crowded month at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes?
December: an average of 150,746 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). The quietest is April, at 73% of the December peak.
When is Hawaiʻi Volcanoes least crowded with decent conditions?
April. It is the park's quietest month (73% of the December peak, 109,889 average visits) without harsh-season weather.
How many people visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes per year?
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park had 1,877,854 recreation visits in 2025, 31% more than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2017, with 2,016,702. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 1,555,088 visits a year (how we average NPS counts).
What is the weather like at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes through the year?
The warmest month is September, with average highs of 78°F. The coldest nights come in February, averaging 56°F. The wettest month is August, with 23.5″ of precipitation. (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, GLENWOOD #2 55.4, HI US station.)
Dive into a month
Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Hawaiʻi Volcanoes ranks against all 63 parks in April.
Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks
Also check
- Haleakalā — about 110 mi away (straight line), best months: April, August and September
- Pinnacles — about 2,370 mi away (straight line), best months: May, October and November
- Redwood — about 2,380 mi away (straight line), best months: April, May and August
- Channel Islands — about 2,390 mi away (straight line), best months: January, March and May