Best Time to Visit Haleakalā National Park
SeptemberBest month to visit
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Visit Haleakalā in September
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). For comparison, July is the most crowded month (~1.1× the average month) and November is the quietest.
Annual visits
854K
2025
Busiest month
Jul
1.1× avg
Quietest month
Nov
0.8× avg
10-yr trend
falling
-23.3%
More photos of Haleakalā
Photos courtesy of the National Park Service (public domain).
How crowded is Haleakalā by month?
Relative crowd level by month (1.0 = the park's average month), from NPS visitation records 1979–2025.
Month-by-month crowd, weather & daylight
| Month | Crowd level | Best-time score | Avg high / low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Average | 55 Fair | 61°F / 44°F | 10.9 h |
| February | Average | 58 Fair | 60°F / 43°F | 11.3 h |
| March | Average | 41 Poor | 60°F / 43°F | 11.9 h |
| April | Average | 51 Fair | 61°F / 44°F | 12.5 h |
| May | Average | 41 Poor | 63°F / 46°F | 13.0 h |
| June | Average | 45 Fair | 66°F / 48°F | 13.3 h |
| July | Average | 39 Poor | 66°F / 49°F | 13.1 h |
| August | Average | 56 Fair | 66°F / 49°F | 12.7 h |
| September★ best | Average | 58 Fair | 65°F / 48°F | 12.1 h |
| October | Average | 68 Good | 64°F / 48°F | 11.5 h |
| November | Quiet | 70 Good | 63°F / 47°F | 11.0 h |
| December | Average | 38 Poor | 61°F / 45°F | 10.7 h |
Climate normals (1991–2020) from the nearest NOAA station (USC00511004, ~6.8 mi away).
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About visiting Haleakalā
Haleakalā National Park is a National Park in HI and a moderately visited park, drawing about 854,000 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has eased over the past decade, down about 23.3%. Crowds concentrate sharply by season: July is the busiest month at about 1.1× the park's average month, while November is the calmest at roughly 0.8× — a 1-to-1 swing between high and low season. Roughly 27% of the year's visitors arrive in the three summer months of June, July and August alone, so timing a trip outside that window is the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels. Weather swings from an average high-season warmth near 58°F in August down to about 51°F in February, with the wettest stretch in March. About 12 months a year see comfortable average temperatures in the 50–80°F range, which is part of why crowd timing and weather timing don't always line up. The sweet spot is September: pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season). Visit then and you trade a little peak-season certainty for noticeably shorter lines and easier parking than the July rush. Daylight ranges from about 10.7 hours in midwinter to 13.3 hours near the summer solstice, which shapes how much ground you can cover in a day. A standard private-vehicle entrance pass runs about $30, valid for several days, so a shoulder-season trip stretches that fee across quieter, more comfortable days. These crowd figures are drawn from 1979–2025 of National Park Service visitor-use records, paired with 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals, and are updated as new monthly data is released.
Park overview
This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist nowhere else. Come visit this special place - renew your spirit amid stark volcanic landscapes and sub-tropical rain forest with an unforgettable hike through the backcountry.
Weather & conditions
On any given day, the temperatures in the park can range from a high of 80°F (27°C) in Kīpahulu to a low of 30°F (-1°C) at the summit. In either area clouds and rain can quickly replace warm sunshine. Weather in the high-elevation summit and wilderness areas of the park is highly unpredictable and changes often. Cool temperatures, intense solar radiation, and rapidly moving clouds are characteristic. On average, the temperature drops about 3°F for every 1,000 foot rise in elevation.
Park overview text courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Where to stay near Haleakalā
Hotels, cabins, lodges and vacation rentals near Haleakalā National Park — live availability and prices to plan your trip. September is our pick for the best balance of light crowds and good weather.
Top-rated places to stay near Haleakalā
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Getting there — nearest airports
Updated July 2026The closest airport to Haleakalā National Park is Hana Airport (HNM), about 25 mi (1 hr 38 min drive) away. For the most flight options, most visitors fly into Kahului Airport (OGG), about 1 hr 58 min away.
| Airport | Distance | Drive time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hana Airport (HNM)Closest | 25 mi | 1 hr 38 min | Lauda Europe, Malta Air, Mesa Airlines |
| Kahului Airport (OGG)Best for flights | 46 mi | 1 hr 58 min | Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air |
| Lanai Airport (LNY) | ~51 mi (straight-line) | — | Island Air, Malta Air, Mesa Airlines, United Airlines |
| Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) | ~68 mi (straight-line) | — | Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, KLM |
| Molokai Airport (MKK) | ~68 mi (straight-line) | — | Island Air, Lauda Europe, Malta Air, Mesa Airlines, United Airlines |
Which airport should you choose?
- Shortest drive: Hana Airport (HNM) — about 1 hr 38 min from the park.
- Most flights / best value: Kahului Airport (OGG) — the largest hub near Haleakalā, about 1 hr 58 min away.
Entrance fees
A standard private-vehicle entrance pass is about $30, typically valid for several days.
Frequently Asked Questions
September offers pleasant weather with noticeably thinner crowds (shoulder season) at Haleakalā National Park. The park is busiest in July (about 1.1× the average month) and quietest in November.
July is the busiest month at Haleakalā National Park, running roughly 1.1 times the park's average monthly visitation.
November is the quietest month at Haleakalā National Park, at about 0.8× the average month — a good choice if you want to avoid crowds.
Haleakalā National Park recorded about 853,711 recreation visits in 2025. Visitation has been falling over the past decade (-23.3%).
Based on 1991–2020 climate normals, the warmest month at Haleakalā National Park averages about 58°F (August). See the month-by-month table above for the full picture.
Hana Airport (HNM) is the closest airport to Haleakalā National Park, about 25 mi (1 hr 38 min drive) away.
Kahului Airport (OGG) is the nearest major airport, about 46 mi (1 hr 58 min drive) away, with the most flight options of any airport near Haleakalā.
There is no airport inside Haleakalā National Park. Fly into Kahului Airport (OGG) and drive the rest of the way — about 1 hr 58 min.
Nearby parks to visit
Keep exploring
Beach water quality near Haleakalā
Beaches within a 40-mile drive, graded on multi-year bacteria sampling from EPA BEACON — worth checking before you plan a swim day.
- Wailea Beach Park water qualityGrade A · 18 mi · HI
- Kama‘Ole Beach 3 water qualityGrade A · 19 mi · HI
- Kama‘Ole Beach 1 water qualityGrade A · 19 mi · HI
- Kama‘Ole Beach 2 (Ili‘Iliholo Beach) water qualityGrade A · 19 mi · HI
- Oneloa Beach (Big Beach) water qualityGrade A · 19 mi · HI
Sources: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Crowd index = a month's visits ÷ the park's average month.