Great views from up top. Only 4wd. Its winter weather. Be prepared. Can hike up 8 miles buts it 4-5 hours up 1 way.

This is my favorite place on the face of the planet. The scenery is beautiful. The Volcano unbelievable. The telescopes are fantastic. The sunsets here are to die for. Drive up yourself. Bring a jacket. It can be cold.

This is such a powerful sacred place. Its not a tourist attraction. If you go treat it like a temple and have the greatest respect for it. Plan to take your time and connect with the spirit of the mountain. Set your intentions or ask questions, clear your mind and be open to receiving an answer.Bring an offering, in earnest. Kava, kalo and turmeric are traditional. Tobacco, coca leaf or cacao are always great offerings as well. Make it a heart felt offering and put your love and gratitude into your offering.On the physical side of things is almost 14,000 feet elevation. The air is thin and its cold. Dress for warmth, preferably in layers, even if its a warm day at the bottom. The wind cuts through you. Dont forget sun protection as well.

What a view! Watching the comet and then later the perseids meteors in the completely light unpolluted skies is amazing! But bring your winter clothes, hat and gloves.

Read all the reviews prior.. this is the truth..Do you need 4x4 no... I literally watched a rental mustang and Hyundai go up, is it more comfortable in a 4x4, Im sure. Do take a hour to adjust at the visitor station. Do take really warm clothes, once the sun sets winter is coming..(GOT) you do feel funky because of the altitude. Other then that the views, sunset, stars, are amazing

Top of a volcano. Can you beat that? Driving literally from sea level to 14,000 feet. Above the clouds. Super thin air so be prepared. Seriously though...how to do travel 4000 miles to a place with a volcano and not do this?

We drove up to check out the sunset at the Mauna Kea summit. The experience was absolutely amazing! Bring pants and a sweater/coat as the weather drop to 5-13C .

I went up Mauna Kea for a Star gazing tour! Loved the drive up and hearing about the observatories! Sadly we had to go back down the mountain to actually star gaze. All in all amazing views. Great time!

Like being on the top of the world. Great Tour company with star gazing after dark, never saw so many stars in my life

One of the most incredible views anywhere on the planet!

Please dont drive up to the summit! If you have the time and energy, wake up early and hike from the visitor center to the summit to experience this absolutely stunning and otherworldly terrain at its best. Ive done plenty of other long hikes, but theres something about Mauna Kea that is quite incomparable. Seeing the vast array of telescopes at the summit just made my day, Ive wanted to see em ever since I first saw them on the Discovery channel almost two decades ago. The hike, the summit, and the observatories certainly lived up to all the expectations and then some. Definitely recommend this if youre on the Big Island and have a full day to explore. Start at 6:30 am or earlier to make the most of your day, carry lots of carb rich snacks and at least 3 litres of water.

Didnt have much time to do the stargazing but the view is great during the day as well.Stop off at the visitor center for refreshments and a bathroom break, or enjoy a snack at their picnic area.Parked at the top and took tons of photos and enjoyed the cool air

Great views from the top of the mountain! I was a little concerned about the drive up on the unpaved portion, but as long as you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, dive slowly and engine brake on the way down, the road is no problem. Well worth it! The staff in the visitor center are helpful as well.

We travelled with Mauna Kea Summit Adventures and we could not recommended the trip more highly. Our guide was hugely knowledgeable about all aspects of the island and astronomy. A highlight of our trip, especially the stargazing.

Good visit at 14000 feet. You could tell you were at altitude if you walked up a hill or ran. The people at the visitors center were great and highly interested in you acclimating at 9500 feet and not getting altitude sickness. It was quite windy and 51 degrees felt cold since we were wearing shorts. It was fun to look at the observatories and look at a very desolate area. We ran into a group of Japanese having a great time. They were dressed for the weather. Sunset was good but would have been better with no clouds. Driving up was slow following paved and washboard dirt roads. The grade was up to 15 percent and would be a bit of a challenge if you werent used to driving on hills. Overall good time but be prepared for a slow drive up and especially down.

Absolutely amazing experience. The views are incredible on the way up, at the top and on the way down. Make sure you come prepared as the temps are much cooler up there.

Rough road up, so definitely recommend visiting with a tour company who will drive you up. Amaaaazing views from the top, especially at sunset. You can see all the way to Maui on a clear day.

Well worth the trip. Even my 15 year old daughter enjoyed this. View is spectacular, stars are awesome. Make sure to dress warm. We went on a tour, definitely reccomend doing it that way, because they have all the gear. About 1.5 hour drive each way. Not too many switch backs. Prone to car sickness and I was fine.

Such a cool experience! We didnt have a 4wd car so we hitchhiked and got a ride to the top from the visitor center. Definitely felt the altitude change!

Spectacular views of either the entire Big Island or cloud tops, depending on the weather. Be sure to give yourself time to acclimate to the final altitude of approximately 14,000 feet so you can enjoy the sights instead of suffering from altitude sickness.

High above the clouds with many telescopes. Very cool place.

A perfect place to watch sunset. The easiest way to get to the summit is to join a stargazing tour. You can drive to the summit with a 4-wheel-drive car. What I heard is it costs $5k to tow a car down to the visitor center in case anything happens above the visitor center and insurance provided by rental company may not cover it. Hiking is another option but it takes 8-10 hours round trip and it’s not an option for watching sunset since it’s not possible to hike down in the dark.

This is a must do if you are on the island. Do not worry about the ride up, you can do it with non 4 wheeler too, we did see several cars. So below are the full details:You will drive on the Mauna Kea access road for a while until you get to the visitors center. Stop there for 15 to 30 minutes to get used to the elevation. From there you will see signs stating that 4×4s are recommended but we checked with authorities and its fully legal to use your 2 wheeler to go up. It is for sure a bumpy drive up and if you are going just before sunset, the sun will be in your face. When you reach the top, avoid regerous activity. The air is very thin and will make you light headed. Enjoy the view and you can also see the telescopes opening up after sunset.Now for the drive down, you will need to use your engine brakes. What does this mean? It means keeping your car on gear 1. Yes even automatic cars can be set to gears. The drive down is quite steep so make sure your car is in the first gear and use your paddle breaks to make sure the car does not rev above 3.Also make sure you take moment to observe the night sky even from the visitors center. The view is beyond amazing. Something pictures cannot capture.

Awesome. Book ahead - we used Mauna Kea Summit Adventures - and watch the weather. I wasnt able to get to the summit during the Christmas holidays (winter here too - particularly at almost 14k ft), but did make it during March 2017. Wonderful views and guides are well informed and able on details. Stargazing is fun, but can be chilly depending on weather/wind.

Mauna Wa Akea, The White Mountain This is the Piko of ancient Hawaii for Na Kanaka Maoli (Original People) of Big Island.This place is of EXTREME Spiritual and Cultural Significance- more than most given the substantial symbolism of the recent victory here by the people thwarting Multi-national takeover of Hawaii and this Mountain.I salute the People of Mauna Ke and the efforts of Kanaka Maoli to restore their Kingdom. Mauna Kea is one of the three greatest mountains on Earth in terms of sheer size.Mount Everest is the highest at 29,000 feet above sea level, yet is only about 10,000 feet atop a 19,000 plateau.Mt. Denali of Alaska (mistakenly called My. McKinley) is the tallest above sea level at 20,000+.Mauna Kea when measured from the ocean floor is the BIGGEST mountain on Earth at 33,000 feet!As with all wild, natural or especially important places, Enter with Care and respect then Leave this Place Better than you found it

The star tours at the visitors center are no longer being conducted, which is a real bummer because it was awesome and super informative. Sunset is spectacular, and the star gazing is second to none. It gets cold, and if its windy VERY cold. It was 25°F with 30-40 mph winds on our last visit.

Friendly staff but also they are good at making sure you stop and acclimate at the 8,000 point before going to the top. Dont expect to make this is a quick trip. Just enjoy and take your time. At the visitor center there is Coco and ramen noodle bowls but thats about it so if you want more plan accordingly. When we went to the top it was about 31f.

Ummmm, nearly out of this world. Nothing was open, but I came up just to see the Keck scopes. Stayed long after sunset to stargaze, what a treat. After sundown, bring the warm clothes. No, not those, bring the really really warm clothes - gloves, scarves etc.

I think the picture says it all. Sunset viewed from the summit of Mauna Kea. Its quite a journey but well worth the effort. Four wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle required for your safety. Air is thin & temperatures are cool & often windy. Be prepared with warm clothing regardless of the time of year you visit. Enjoy, its quite beautiful!

Extraordinary views.Get prepared for the cold.

If you are on The Big Island dont miss the observatory. Just make sure it is a clear night for the best views. It will probably be freezing but you will be able to come extremely close to the stars and the moon with the help of the telescopes. Very unique experience!

Absolutely stunning. Watched the sunset and did a star gazing tour. Star viewing is magnificent. No one in our group got altitude sick as you ascend at a decent pace but they do talk about it alot. One of the mountains has a lake you can trek too, with beautiful spiritual stories behind reasons for visiting. Got maybe 0 Celsius near top with some decent winds but nothing too cold to keep us from stargazing. Visitor center lacking in terms of shopping but expected at 9000 feet above sea level. A must do if visiting Hawaii.

It was cold but the view was spectacular. A short 10 min hike is a must if you dont have an altitude sickness. The drive to the top might be tricky after passing the visitor center, but we saw a lot of cars (not 4WD) making to the top. Going up is easier than going down. One needs to know how to use the engine in the lower gear to control the speed. Minimize the use of your break, and use it only when it is really necessary. Also make sure you have enough gas. There are not so many gas stations in that area.

Experience of a lifetime! The summit of Mauna Kea is not to be missed. Sunset followed by the best star gazing in the world! Unreal.

A definitive must if you are on the Big Island. After 3 pm, a guard stops every vehicle to check if it is 4x5 and has at least half of the tank gas. Be ready for freezing temperatures immediately after the sunset.

Cold but beautiful

Plan on getting up there in a 4-wheel drive or hitching a ride with someone from the Visitors Center who has extra room in their 4-wheel drive. We only made it to the Visitors Center due to our lack of a 4-wheel drive vehicle but got awesome views from 9,000 feet regardless. Next time we will be more prepared! And please take any symptoms of altitude sickness seriously. I live at 5,000 ft elevation and hike in the mountains near my house, but that didn’t prepare my body adequately for the rapid elevation gain from sea level towards the top of Mauna Kea.

Great place to view the sunset and to see the stars. Does get a bit crowded at sunset. Its also very cold even in the summer (close to freezing) so bring a jacket/coat.

If youre into nature, geology and exercise then this is a great place to explore on the big island of Kona. Be prepared this place 1300 feet

Fantastic views. Definitely need the 4 wheel drive. Snow is often found up here. Check out the silverswords by the visitor center, and take time to acclimate

Super place to meet sunset on the top of Big Island. Road to the top is not so good. Parking is not a lot

Beautiful experience. I took off stars just to emphasize a few things. First, it requires considerable preparation (adjusting to elevation, 4WD vehicle and driving knowledge, food/snacks, warm clothes). Second, this location is not safe for many people and there are no emergency services. Third, there are insufficient porta-potties for the volume of people that gather for sunset. And fourth, know that the telescopes are not open to the public. Please research this venue before visiting. Be safe and enjoy!

Spectacular place to rejoice with the big astronomic observatory, big mountains (volcanoes), sunset and stars views.

Amazing experience. Driving up this ancient volcano was so insane. We drove up to the visitors center at 9200ft and stayed there for approx 40 minutes. We used the restrooms, shopped in the store and prepared for the last part of the drive up to the observatory. It really was like being on a different planet up there. While Ive seen other posts and the signs on the access road say 4x4 only it didnt seem the case. I saw minivans and even a Nissan Altima head up there. Glad we had our Jeep Compass that we rented. A must see if you visit Hilo or Kona. Enjoy!

This place is amazing!!! I went up here with some family just to see the observatory and hoped to get some decent views. We ended up being clouded in at the summit, but it was still a fantastic experience. It is very desolate, and the soil near the top is a very deep red. A few things to note before you go: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE 4 WHEEL DRIVE. Part of the way up is actually a dirt road. IT IS COLD AT THE SUMMIT. Pack some warm clothing! VISIT THE VISITORS CENTER BEFORE GOING UP. This is the place to stay for at least 45 minutes to get acclimated to the altitude before heading up to the summit. Its great if you do it right!

Amazingly beautiful. Definitely got elevation sickness. But the drive up was worth it. Stunning views. Stop at the visitors center first and watch the videos and hang to allow yourself to acclimate to the higher elevation.

Very cool and a chance to walk on the snow while you are In Hawaii

Amazing views from above the clouds. Feels like you are on a different planet! If you go to Big Island, the top of Mauna Kea is a must see!

This place is a must. It is very High up! Above the clouds. At the top, there is much to see but very little support to tourists. If you have trouble driving all the way up, stop for a breath on the Visitor Center. Prefer a Jeep. It makes it easy and it is recommended by the park ranger that you drive a 4x4. You can get dizzy and have headaches because of the altitude and thin air. Try to come both during day and sunset. You are allowed to go up for the sunset and star gazing but it can’t be too late or you might not get in at all!

Absolutely breathtaking

Thin Air, bring warm clothes .

You can drive up to the summit with two wheel drive car. I did it with a Nissan versa. However, if there is ice or snow. You better have 4wd and snow chain or tire.

Its a nice view. You should go once

Hike it!!! Theres such a feeling of accomplishment when you reach the peak, totally worth it.

Otherworldly. Great views if not too cloudy. Tour of an observatory is awesome, if they still do them (cant go in any on your own). Expensive to get here (tour or 4x4 rental). Freezing temp -- be prepared.

If you are a tourist and are reading this, then youre being put on notice. This location is very sacred to native Hawaiians and should be treated as such. Therefore, if you are visiting please make sure that you leave the place better than you found it. Anything that you brought with you, take it back with you. Do not remove anything off of the mountain as a Memento. This is a major faux pas and not looked upon lightly or kindly.

Great experience to do at sunset. Worth the experience to be above the clouds and on top of the world..

Amazing views. Super windy and cold tho so bring warm clothes.

The summit access road is re-opened to the public on 21 Dec 2019. you can reach the observatories with 4x4 vehicles. btw, The Maunakea Access road is still closed at the Saddle road. However, please DONT TRY MANA RD! SUPER DIFFICULT TO DRIVE!

Drove a Hyundai rental. Sunset was amazing. Really cold. In the 20s before wind-chill. Pro tip: check out the shadow of the mountain to the east just before sunset. Most people up there missed it.

A once in a lifetime kind of experience. At night time at the visitor center students bring out telescopes so you can see planets and stars. We were able to see Jupiter and its four moons! Would definitely recommend going to the summit for sunset. You have to park at the visitor center first and acclimate to the altitude for a bit before heading about another 30min drive to the summit. Definitely need a vehicle with 4wd and we did feel a little light headed at the top with such a high altitude of over 13,000 feet. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous though and made for some very Instagram worthy photo opportunities. After the sun sets, head back down to the visitor center for hot chocolate and looking through those telescopes. It was an absolutely amazing experience and Ive never seen so many stars in my life. Highly recommend!

This place is awesome. You literally are above the clouds. The way uphill is steep, long and not an easy drive (around 5 miles unpaved, so your average rental insurance wont cover it). Make sure you bring a good car with lowrange 4x4 for the descent and stop at the visitor center for a while to get used to the altitude. The view is worth it, amazing!

We had a great trip even though it’ll the weather didn’t cooperate. It was fun seeing the sunset from above the clouds

Stunning otherworldly location! Could be mistaken for the surface of Mars. A must see if you have even a passing interest in astronomy, although do not underestimate the altitude, especially if you drive up. Take time to acclimatize both at the half way point and at the top as the dizziness can catch you. Also, your rental car contract will probably exclude this location, but we had no dramas driving up to the top. Its an easy road to navigate in the summer.

We did the hiking trail from the visitor center to the top. It was an awesome experience! Done and done!

What a viewpointIncredible......You can see everything from there..The clouds, the volcan kilauea ,maui islandAmazing.

What an incredible experience!!

Superb ooops the oxygen and 4 wheel drive

One of the unusual place that I have ever visited. It started with the weather. It was changing very rapidly to all extremes. When I rented the car, it was 80-90 degree. Soon as I started driving up hill, it become gloomy. There was very dense fog which made us to drive very slow even with fog light. Followed by a good rain. Weather become cool and become cold by the time we reach the peak. This would have been my best trip of Hawaii, If I had planned better.I should have looked up for the free stargazing program time. They dont do it everyday. at the Visitor Center. Also should have planned to visit here during the new Moon day. At least there was a telescope put outsideThe visitor Center. I was able to see the sun! Nevertheless I enjoyed this trip.

Best place to see the stars.

I wish I could give more stars. The scenery was breathtaking! If you can handle the extreme altitude, it should be on everyones bucket list.

If you are on big island. You have to go to the top of this mountain. If its a clear day devoid of clouds, the views will be exceptional. We went to the top through an operator.There is not much to do there but if you go during sunset or sunrise, the colors of sky become really beautiful.How to go to the top: If you have a true four wheel drive, you can take it to the top yourself. Please do not take regular cars to the top. Insurance will not cover anything and towing the car down is damn costly.

The best place i have been on hawaii.

On my list of places to visit, and it was awesome.

Definitely a must do. Go up for sunset, stay for the stars. The park rangers really make a case you have to go down at sunset. Take your time and park in the parking lots on the way down.

Stunning sunset on the peak. The last road up to the peak is bumpy, 4wd is not necessary if you have a proper driving skill. But if you would like not to have any unexpected issue, still recommend to get up here by 4wd car. Make sure your tire is not wear out, stones on road are sharp.

At this location you are standing on the highest mountain on Earth. As the guides will tell you, this is because it is one continuous mountain from the sea floor vs. Everest, which is not. In any event, watching the sun set is more amazingly beautiful then I had thought it would be. Definitely a place to go visit! Even with it being 85 degress F at the seashore, wear pants and bring a heavy jacket as it will be 30 degrees at the top, with the windchill dropping it down to about zero.

Awesome. A must-do if you are in the Big Island. Fun drive upwards, amazing 360 degree views especially if you can malke your way up to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. You can take a tour to the top or drive yourself with a 4WD vehicle. The summit may even be covered in snow during the winter.

Took a Sunset tour of Mauna Kea. It was definitely one of the most beautiful places I have visited. It was snowing and terribly cold (primarily because of the wind). The tour was definitely worth the time . I would suggest doing those tours which stop somewhere near the summit to do some star gazing.

This is a must do on the big island. Breath taking views! Follow the guidelines. Visitor center very helpful staff. 4x4 a must.

Absolutely stunning. Do not attempt climb without an SUV or truck!

Feels like heaven on earth.

Beautiful run to the top. Started at the visitors center and gained 4000ft in route to the summit.

Worth the drive. Bring warm clothes!!!

Just out of this world 13800 ft one of the highest mountains in the us and you can just drive there... amazing sunriseIt was 78 degrees when when left Kona and 27 degrees at the summit, just amazing!!!

The top of Mauna Kea was a beautiful sight to behold. The telescopes are massive and incredible to observe up close. We were able to drive right up to the top. The visitors center will say that 4WD is necessary, but as long as there is no snow the gravel road to the top is a very easy drive. Altitude sickness is an issue though, ascending from sea level to 13,000 ft in only a couple hours can make anyone feel sick. Overall it was a great experience, and who knew there was snow in Hawaii!

What an incredible mountain. Its considered sacred to native Hawaiians so please respect that. Its so one of the most amazing drives in all the world. Where else can you gain so much elevation and change temperatures so quickly? Nowhere I can think of. It was 92 degrees in Kona and 39 degrees on summit, less than two hours later. A must do for Hawaii. The sign says 4x4 vehicles only to the summit but the road isnt that bad. I saw a couple sedans make it to the top no problem.

Pick your time and weather as it can be a disappointment otherwise. But the fact that you can drive to the top of a 4k+ meters mountain is already a definite go-go. Dont worry about the sign saying 4x4 from this point forward - the road can be driven also by a 2WD.

Great place one off my bucket list

Amazing views. Went for the sunset and stayed to see the stars, would definitely recommend to everyone.

Worth the drive to the top! Amazing sunset and wonderful stargazing show at the visitor center. Dress for winter!

By itself, its pretty cool to see the top of the mountain. Currently the visitor center is closed for remodeling. Would highly recommend coming the first time on a tour group to hear some neat history. Definitely need a 4 wheel vehicle to drive up. Also jeans and a winter coat as it gets to about freezing at dusk. Rangers kick everyone out after sunset so plan accordingly.

Saw an Epic Sunset!! Amazing all should go and explore

Incredible view from the top. Highly recommend going to see it at sunset. Can see Haleakala in Maui from the top and it is truly a magical experience

An out of the world place, freezing cold but worth visiting

Mauna Kea is an amazing place and you can hike from the Visitor Station to the summit if u are fit...or take Arnotts sunset and Stargazing tour.

Very cold at the top. Ethereal

Spectacular. Take your time. It is cold and the air is thin. Bring some warm clothing and have a good 4x4 it is a long ride and coming back down you need reliable brakes.

It was so amazing to see sunset at Mauna Kea. I climbed up via compact sedan, which could be highly dangerous. Never recommend to go here not 4x4. My friend working the observatory said its ok with any suv (not 4x4) unless theres snowing. I did a stupid try and very lucky. I will never try it again. The view made me lose my words.

Went Mauna Kea today to see sunset and what an amazing - no words can express “driving above the clouds” feeling experience. If you’re on Hilo side it’s not too far drive is good, roads are safe and solid. If you have done Waipio valley look out this drive is normal for you.4x4 is recommended But have seen normal car going up too. It gets cold, windy and very sunny at the same time as you go up so pls take chapstick, sunscreen, water and some snacks while waiting for sunset.Do not forget to stop by at visitor center. Felt like light headed for little bit but it went away. It will take 30 minutes to go up from visiting center.