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⛺ Hawaii Camping Reservations 2026

Hawaii uses Hawaii DLNR for state park camping reservations, with a 30 days booking window. This page covers how to book, what fees to expect, and which state park and federal campgrounds are best for hunters, anglers, and outdoor travelers.

🌐 Hawaii DLNR
📅 30 days
🏞️ 12 reservable parks
🎫 180 sites

How Camping Reservations Work in Hawaii

Hawaii State Parks camping is unusual in the US — a very short 30-day booking window and a limited number of campsites concentrated on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Iconic bookings include Polihale (Kauai), Kokee (Kauai), Ha'ena (Kauai, permit-only), Waianapanapa (Maui's black sand beach), and Namakanipaio (Big Island). Kalalau Beach (Napali Coast) uses a separate multi-month advance lottery for its 60 permits per night.

🌐 Ready to Book

Hawaii campsite reservations are made through Hawaii DLNR, run by Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks. Reservation phone: 1-808-587-0300.

Book on Hawaii DLNR

Quick Facts

Reservation Portal
Hawaii DLNR
Booking Window
30 days
Total State Parks
50
Reservable Parks
12
Total Campsites
200
Reservable Sites
180
Nightly Fee Range
$20–$30
Reservation Fee
$5.00
RV Hookups ✓ Cabins / Yurts ✓ Group Sites

🎯 Peak Season & Deadlines

Peak season is essentially year-round with dry-summer months (April–October) generating slightly more demand. Popular Napali Coast (Kalalau) permits are lottery-only and separately administered from the main camping portal.

💡 Booking Tips

For Napali Coast's Kalalau permits, apply via DLNR camping portal exactly 90 days before your target date at 12:00 AM Hawaii Standard Time — they sell out within seconds. Waianapanapa (Maui) is one of the most competitive standard state park bookings. Consider Kokee (Kauai) for a cooler-weather upland Kauai basecamp near excellent fishing streams.

🔄 Cancellation Policy

Cancellations more than 30 days out receive a partial refund; late cancellations forfeit the full fee.

🏞️ Featured State Park Campgrounds

state park
Kokee State Park
20 sites $20–$25/night Near Waimea (Kauai)
Kokee State Park sits at 3,600 feet elevation on Kauai's central highlands — a cool-weather (60s-70s daytime) alternative to Hawaii's beach camping. The 20 campsites and 12 rustic cabins offer immediate access to Waimea Canyon overlooks, Awa'awapuhi Trail (a stunning 6-mile hike to Napali cliff views), and rare Kauai native forest streams that support the state's only wild rainbow trout population. Trout fishing here is unique in Hawaii — August-September openers require a state fishing license and specific area permits.
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state park
Polihale State Park
15 sites $20–$30/night Near Kekaha (Kauai)
Polihale State Park on Kauai's remote western shore offers what is arguably the wildest state park camping in the United States — a 17-mile stretch of raw beach, dramatic Napali Coast views to the north, and zero developed amenities. The 15 primitive campsites lie behind dunes just yards from an oceanside cliff that drops 200 feet into the surf. Access requires a 5-mile drive on a rutted dirt road (high-clearance vehicle strongly recommended); rental car agreements often prohibit driving here. The reward is one of the most isolated, star-filled, and dramatic camping experiences in the state park system anywhere.
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state park
Waianapanapa State Park
12 sites $20–$30/night Near Hana (Maui)
Waianapanapa State Park protects one of Maui's most photographed sights — Pa'iloa Beach, a dramatic black-sand beach ringed by lava sea cliffs, freshwater caves, and coastal ironwood forest. The 12 campsites and 12 cabins sit atop the ocean cliff just yards from the black-sand beach, offering unbeatable sunrise views and access to the Piilani coastal trail that runs 3 miles along the shoreline. Waianapanapa is one of Maui's most competitive state park bookings — advance day-use reservations are now required for non-Hawaii residents even for daytime visits.
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