A Complete Guide to Eloping at the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
If you’re dreaming about a bold, quiet, and wildly different kind of Hawai’i elopement, a Chain of Craters Road elopement might be exactly what you’re looking for.
When most people think about eloping in Hawai’i, they picture the white sandy beaches of Maui. But you and your partner aren’t most people. You like doing something off the beaten path and that goes against the traditional expectations. If that sounds like you, the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is the perfect elopement location. It’s dramatic, in a less visited area of the park, surrounded by ocean without any sand in sight and has a way of making you appreciate the power of Pele.
In this guide, I’m walking you through everything you need to know about eloping at the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park; from logistics and permits to why this spot might be one of the most underrated ceremony locations on the Big Island.
Table of Contents
- Where is the end of Chain of Craters Road?
- Why Should You Elope Here?
- FAQ’s About Eloping Here
- Permits & Rules
- Why I Love this Location
- Best Time of Year to Elope at End of Chain of Craters Road
- Where to Stay
- End of Chain of Craters Road Elopement Inspiration
- How to Get Your Hawai’i Marriage License
- Your Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Elopement Photographer
Where is the end Chain of Craters Road?
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is on the east side of the island of Hawaii, spanning over 350,000 acres. The park includes two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, and ranges from over 13,000 feet in elevation to sea level. Within the park you can find lush rainforests and sprawling desert landscapes.
If you visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park while Kilauea or Mauna Loa are erupting, park rangers will direct you to areas of the park that are safe for viewing the eruption. Rangers will also evacuate the park or areas of the park if conditions aren’t safe for viewing.
The best way to get to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is to fly into either the Hilo or Kona airport. While you are visiting the Big Island, it’s easiest to rent a car at the airport to get around the island. Public transportation, ride shares, and taxis aren’t a reliable way to get around. However, there are many tour companies that operate vans and buses that tour Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and have various pick up locations near the hotels in Kona and Hilo.
Closest Major Cities/Towns:
- Driving Time From Volcano Village: 10 minutes
- Driving Time From Naalehu: 30 minutes
- Driving Time From Hilo: 45 minutes
- Driving Time from Kona: 2 hours 15 minutes
There are a few small towns near Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, including Volcano Village. This small town is home to many AirBnBs and VRBOs, a few restaurants and 2 small hotels. It’s a quaint little village that borders the entrance to the park and is perfect to stay in if you want to be closer to the park than Hilo or Kona. Because this village is so small, I recommend staying in a rental with a kitchen so you can make meals and not have to rely completely on the few restaurant options that are in and near the park.
Just south of the Park is the town of Na’alehu. This is a small residential town, but boasts the Punalu’u Bake Shop, a cute little coffee shop, and a weekly farmers market. It’s a great place to stop on your way to or from Kona.
The nearest ‘big city’ to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is Hilo. Hilo offers plenty of shopping, restaurants, hotels & vacation rentals. Often people eloping in Volcanoes National Park will stay in Hilo to still have access to all of these conveniences.
The other major city on the Big Island is Kona, and that’s about a 2 hour and 15 minute drive from the entrance of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Kona is on the west side of the island, which makes the 90 mile drive feel quite far. If you’re planning on spending more than one day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this drive can be exhausting, so it may be worth it to spend a night or two in Volcano Village so you have quick and easy access to the park.
How to Get to Chain of Craters Road within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Closest Major Airports:
There are two main airports on the Big Island of Hawaii. The Hilo airport is closer to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and is quite convenient if you plan to spend most of your time in the park. The Kona airport is further away but can be a good option if you want to include some time on the dryer, beachier side of the island in your elopement week on the Big Island.
- Hilo Airport: 1 hour and 30 minutes to the end of Chain of Craters Road – Google Maps Directions
- Kona Airport: 2 hours 45 minutes to the end of Chain of Craters Road – Google Maps Directions
How to Drive to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
There is one main road that loops around the entire island, which means if there is a car accident or traffic delays, there aren’t many ways to divert traffic around those blocks. This can be especially problematic if you are driving from Kona to Volcanoes National Park. Traffic delays are something to plan for when you are driving from Hilo or Kona to the park.
How to Drive to the End of Chain of Craters Road
Once you arrive inside of Volcanoes National Park, at the traffic circle, you’ll turn left on Crater Rim Drive. From there you will follow the signs for 3 miles and then turn left on Chain of Craters Road. Drive for 18 miles, until you reach the literal end of the road and park in the designated parking area.
Why Should You Elope at the End of Chain of Craters Road?
If you’re planning on eloping in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, you and your partner are likely the type of couple who likes to do things a little bit differently. You’re attracted to areas off the beaten path and unique experiences. And this location, the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park offers just that. And since it’s a less visited area of the park, it tends to be far less crowded than some of the main attractions.
The areas that allow wedding ceremonies at the end of Chain of Craters Road in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park are accessible without much hiking. And the 21 mile drive from the entrance to the park down to the end of Chain of Craters Road is beautiful, with so many places to stop and explore the park along the way. You’ll see everything from the active Kilauea caldera, the fern forest, the Nahuku Lava Tubes, and old lava flows that have very few plants growing on them because of how new they are.
FAQ’s About Eloping at End of Chain of Craters Road
Can you get married here?
Yes—with a Special Use Permit.
Do you need a permit?
Yes. (More details below!)
Are there designated ceremony locations?
Yes, including areas along Chain of Craters Road.
Can we have a sunrise or sunset wedding?
Yes! You can have either as long as the permit states those times. Because this spot is on the east side of the park, the sunrise is absolutely beautiful there and because of how long it takes to drive there from the park entrance, it’s not common to see people at that location before 9:00am.
How far is the end of Chain of Craters Road from the park entrance?
Just shy of 22 miles from the park entrance to the end of Chain of Craters Road. Because of slower speed limits in the park, plan for the drive to be 40-45 minutes.
Is the end of Chain of Craters Road a good location if we feel awkward in front of a camera?
Yes! This location is infrequently visited, meaning you will most likely have plenty of space from other park-goers. And with all of that space, I can also give you and your partner space to be present with each other so you can try to forget that I’m even there with a camera.
Will there be other people around during our ceremony?
It really depends. Time of year and time of day greatly impact the number of visitors in the park. And as I’ve mentioned before, the end of Chain of Craters Road is a less popular area of the park. There are spots that we can walk to that are a little bit further from the parking area that can help mitigate the number of visitors we’ll see. However, the park is open to the public, so there is a very real chance that other people will be around during your elopement.
End of Chain of Craters Road Wedding & Elopement Permits
A special use permit is required for getting married in Volcanoes National Park. It’s not a complicated process or a difficult application, but it is required. The fee to apply for the permit is $150. This fee does not cover the park entrance fees for you, your guests, or your vendors. Each vehicle that enters the park will pay a $30 entrance fee, which is good for 7 days. If you have an America the Beautiful Pass or a Hawaii Tri Park Annual Pass, this fee does not apply.
Information about the permit can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/havo/learn/management/special-use-permits.htm
Your permit allows you to have a ceremony in any of the approved locations. I’ll share more about the locations in the next section. The permit allows you to have one table and up to 12 chairs for your wedding ceremony. Potted plants, dried flower arrangements, or any plants with seeds are prohibited in the park.
Parking is relatively easy at these locations on the approved wedding location list, especially if you avoid the busier times of year.
Why I love the End of Chain of Craters Road for Elopements
The end of Chain of Craters Road is one of the most underrated ceremony locations in the park. It’s dramatic, overlooks the ocean without any sand in your shoes, and is a lesser visited area of the park.
Why couples love it:
- Fewer crowds
- Ocean + lava views
- Easy access
- Unreal early morning light
Accessibility:
- Car accessible
- Most of the walking is along an old, paved road. The last bit of the walk is across a lava field, so you may want sturdy shoes to wear until we get to your elopement ceremony site and then change shoes if you have heels or other shoes that aren’t great on loose rocks.
Best for:
- Couples who want something intimate, dramatic, and a little off the beaten path
- Couples who want as much privacy as possible in a National Park
- Couples who are reverent towards nature
The Best Time of Year to Get Married at the End of Chain of Craters Road
If we are anything alike (and I’m assuming we are since you are here lol), you don’t love a crowd. And coming to the most remote island chain in the world to get married probably means you value privacy.
When to Elope in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
Listen, I love national parks and I truly believe they are meant for everyone to enjoy. Full stop. But if you are planning to get married in a national park, you probably don’t want it to feel crowded like a theme park. So, with strategic planning, it’s completely possible to choose a time of year and time of day that avoids crowds as much as possible.
When to Elope in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
When you’re planning your elopement in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, you’ll want to avoid the peak tourist seasons. Luckily, the temperature is quite consistent year round in Hawai’i with only moderate fluctuations to daily temperatures.
| Peak Months: | Slow Months: |
| March, June, July, August, December | February, May, September, October |
*https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/13190/2023-annual-report-final.pdf
What to Wear & Bring
What you should wear will really depend on the activities you choose to include in your day. If you plan to do any amount of hiking, I will bring my pop-up changing tent with us so you can hike in comfortable clothes and be able to change in privacy into your wedding clothes. I recommend wearing shoes appropriate for the amount of hiking you plan to include in your day. If you have dress shoes or heels, I recommend packing them in with us and putting them on for a ceremony or photos if the terrain allows. This area of the island also receives a great deal of rain and tends to have cooler temperatures. You’ll want to bring a rain jacket and/or a light jacket. Don’t worry, I’ll pack cute umbrellas, rain ponchos and hand warmers, just in case!
Depending on what package you book, I supply a light picnic meal. I’ll also bring some water, but recommend you bring any snacks or other drinks you like to have during hikes.
Where to Stay Near Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park
There are so many options for where to stay when you plan to elope in Volcanoes National Park, but I recommend staying near the park, in Volcano Village as opposed to staying in Hilo or Kona and driving over.
Hotels
Volcano Inn – a quaint hotel within 10 minutes of the park entrance. This cozy hotel offers 4 rooms and guests have access to a shared hot tub, breakfast served daily and the rainforest grounds.
Volcano House – is the only hotel within the park. The rooms are old but have incredible views of the currently active Kilauea caldrea.
Aloha Crater Lodge – an adorable BnB just outside the park that boasts a lava tube on the property which guests can walk through.
Vacation Rentals
There are plenty of vacation rentals, AirBnBs & VRBOs just outside the park in Volcano Village. Because of the remoteness of the park, I recommend choosing a vacation rental that is in Volcano Village, closer to the park entrance.
End of Chain of Craters Road Elopement Inspo
How to Get Your Hawaii Marriage License
The process for getting your marriage license in the state of Hawaii isn’t terribly difficult, but does have multiple steps. Check out this blog post for a full break down of how to get your marriage license in the state of Hawaii.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Elopement Photographer and Videographer
I love love.
Documenting couples on the day they commit their lives to one another is truly the honor of my life. I often have “pinch me” moments while I’m working with couples because I get to help them plan & document their most important day in my absolute favorite place in the world.
I specialize in working with couples who have prioritized choosing what feels right for their wedding celebration, even if that means bucking tradition. My couples often tell me they are “awkward in front of the camera”. My style of photography and videography is based on connection with you and your partner and any guests you choose to include on your elopement day. Of course, we’ll capture some really epic photos, but I’ll also prioritize documenting you, your partner and your people enjoying the moments of your elopement day.
I’m still relatively new to living on the big island. However, I am captivated by this island – the people, the culture, the land – all of it. I’ll share with you everything I know about the island and when there is something I don’t know, we’ll Google it together.
If you’re as obsessed with the End of Chain of Craters Road for your elopement as I am, use this link to book a free consult call where you can “pick my brain” about all things Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Elopements.
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