The Overland Directory · Beyond the Lower 48
Overland businesses in Hawaii
Builders, mechanics, 4x4 shops, outfitters, campgrounds and guides in Hawaii, and a free way to get build quotes while the list grows.
Denali Park Road, Alaska
We’re working on adding the latest builders, mechanics and outfitters in Hawaii here.
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Why Hawaii is a four-rulebook state with two federal campgrounds
Hawaii is 21 percent federal, and none of it is the kind of federal land the rest of this site runs on. The Congressional Research Service counts 861,254 federal acres of 4,105,600, of which the Bureau of Land Management holds zero and the Forest Service holds zero. There is no national forest here, no grazing district, no dispersed camping on public domain. Our build of the federal recreation database finds two campgrounds a vehicle can reach in the whole state, both of them at Haleakalā, both booked in advance.
- of Hawaii is federal land 1
- 21%
- 861,254 of 4,105,600 acres, and the Park Service holds more of it than any other agency
- acres of BLM or Forest Service land 1
- 0
- The two agencies that carry most of the West manage nothing in this state. There is no national forest here
- acres in 57 state forest reserves 41
- 700,645
- The division’s by-island table. Its forest reserve page gives over 683,964 acres for the same system
- acres at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes 7
- 354,461
- 106 miles of roads, 155 miles of marked trails and 123,100 acres of legislated wilderness
- Puʻu Wēkiu on Mauna Kea, the state high point 2
- 13,796 ft
- USGS published. Our own reading of the elevation surface at its map point gives 13,797
- miles of state trails, roads and access routes 46
- 432
- 154 features in the Nā Ala Hele system. Its own executive summary says over 400 miles
- climbed by the eight-mile Maunakea summit road 25
- 5,000 ft
- Two-wheel drive vehicles are not permitted above the visitor station at 9,200 feet
- federal campgrounds a vehicle can reach 4
- 2
- Hosmer Grove and Kīpahulu, both at Haleakalā, both reserved ahead; our build of the federal recreation database
Sources for this page
58
- Congressional Research Service. Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data (R42346), Tables 1 and 2, data as of September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Elevations and Distances in the United States, online edition. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Geographic Names Information System and 3D Elevation Program point query. Elevation of the 3DEP surface at the GNIS coordinates of the named place, rounded to the nearest foot. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Recreation.gov. Recreation Information Database (RIDB) full export, the site’s own build of it. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Mauna Loa. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- U.S. Geological Survey. Kīlauea. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park fact sheet, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Drive Chain of Craters Road. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. See Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Drive Hilina Pali Road. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Campgrounds, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Backcountry hiking, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Fees and passes, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Directions and transportation, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Mauna Loa Lookout. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. The Kahuku Unit. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Frequently asked questions, Haleakalā National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Fees and passes, Haleakalā National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Camping, Haleakalā National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Hosmer Grove Campground. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Wilderness, Haleakalā National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Directions, Haleakalā National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Park Service. Kīpahulu District, Haleakalā National Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Visit Us. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Center for Maunakea Stewardship, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Visiting Maunakea safely and responsibly. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Center for Maunakea Stewardship, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Maunakea Visitor Information Station. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Center for Maunakea Stewardship, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Activities and permits on Maunakea, under Hawaii Administrative Rules Chapter 20-26. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Camping, Division of State Parks. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Polihale State Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Waiʻānapanapa State Park, with the campervan permit. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kōkeʻe State Park. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kaʻena Point State Park and the Vehicle Access Special Use Permit. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, park information. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hāʻena and Nāpali Coast access information. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. DLNR working towards reopening Polihale State Park, news release nr20-139. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 13 Chapter 146, State Parks. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Hawaii Administrative Rules, Chapter 13-104, Rules Regulating Activities Within Forest Reserves, amendment and compilation. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Permit guidelines, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Camping, Division of Forestry and Wildlife outdoor recreation. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Forest Reserves by island, with counts and acreages. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Forest Reserve System. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Lands and management classifications, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Nā Ala Hele Trail and Access Program. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Off-highway vehicles, Nā Ala Hele. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Report to the Thirty-First Legislature, 2022 Regular Session: Nā Ala Hele, fiscal year 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources. Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaiʻi Birding Trails, Department of Land and Natural Resources. Palila Forest Discovery Trail and Puʻu Lāʻau Road. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- County of Hawaiʻi, Office of the Mayor. Twenty-fourth Mayor’s Waipiʻo Valley Road continued Emergency Rule No. 2 and Emergency Rule No. 1, effective July 4, 2026. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- County of Hawaiʻi. Out of state permit, Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- County of Hawaiʻi. Camping reservations, Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- County of Kauaʻi Department of Parks and Recreation. Campground guidelines, rules and fees. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- County of Maui Department of Parks and Recreation. Campground guide and rules, and camping information and fees. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- National Weather Service, Honolulu. Climate of Hawaiʻi. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Transportation. Saddle Road renamed Daniel K. Inouye Highway, realignment to Māmalahoa Highway opened. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Transportation. Maui state roads and highways, with the definition of each route. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The State of Hawaii Data Book 2023, Section 18, Table 18.01: distances of selected state routes and interstates, from the Department of Transportation Highways Division. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
- Federal Highway Administration. America’s Byways in Hawaii. Retrieved September 25, 2026.
Reviewed September 25, 2026. Conditions, closures and rules change; check with the managing agency before you travel.
What you need in Hawaii
- Overland builders Shops that take a stock truck, SUV or van and turn it into a vehicle you can live out of for a week or a year. Free quotes
- Sprinter van builders Upfitters and conversion shops that turn an empty Mercedes-Benz Sprinter into a van you can live and travel in. Free quotes
- Fabricators Metal shops that design, cut and weld the parts you cannot buy off a shelf: bumpers, sliders, racks, skid plates, mounts and repairs. Free quotes
- Suspension Shops that set up springs, shocks and geometry for the weight you actually carry and the roads you actually drive. Free quotes
- Tires Tire and wheel shops that understand load ratings, airing down and what a loaded overland vehicle asks of its tires. Free quotes
- Overland mechanics Independent mechanics who know what dirt, weight and distance do to a vehicle, and who will look it over like someone about to drive it a long way from help. Free quotes
- Diesel specialists Shops that live in diesel, from Sprinter vans to heavy-duty pickups, with the diagnostic tools and the patience these engines require. Free quotes
- 4x4 shops The all-round off-road shop: lockers, gears, armor, winches, lights and the knowledge of how they work together on your platform. Free quotes
- RV and van service Service for the house as well as the vehicle: electrical systems, heaters, plumbing, appliances, roofs and seals. Free quotes
- Overland outfitters Stores where you can see the gear before you buy it, and talk to someone who has used it. Free quotes
- Recovery equipment Winches, traction boards, ropes, shackles and the mounting points that make them safe to use. Free quotes
- Roof tents Dealers and installers for rooftop tents and awnings, and the racks that have to carry them. Free quotes
- Camping equipment Fridges, stoves, water, furniture, sleep systems and lighting for camps that start at the tailgate. Free quotes
- Expedition vehicle dealers Dealers and brokers for finished vehicles: expedition trucks, truck campers, adventure vans and the used rigs that come up when someone's trip ends. Free quotes
- Campgrounds Established campgrounds that welcome vehicle-based travelers, from public campgrounds on the way to somewhere to private camps worth a stay of their own.
- Adventure lodging Lodges, cabins, motels and ranches near the dirt, for the night you want a shower, a bed and someone else's cooking.
- Guides Guided trips and local guides for the places where knowing the ground matters: remote deserts, high passes, long river corridors and borders.
- Training Driver training, recovery courses, field repair and wilderness first aid, taught by people who do it for a living.
Planning a trip to Hawaii?
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