Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park Statistics

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, on the Big Island of Hawai’i, is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve¹. It protects two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, along with large stretches of wilderness and plenty of hiking.

At a Glance

• 1.88 million people visited Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in 2025, up 31% from 1.43 million in 2024 and 37% above the 2019 total of 1.37 million².
• From January to September 2026, the park recorded 1,172,029 visitors, about 18% fewer than in the same nine months of 2025³.
• Visitor spending reached about $445 million in 2024⁴, a jump driven largely by the National Park Service’s updated, park-specific spending methodology.
• About 110,600 people camped in the park in 2025, up 8% from 2024⁵.
• It was the 18th most visited national park in the U.S. in 2025⁶.
• Entry costs $30 per private vehicle, and each entrance pass is valid for 7 days⁷.

Nearly 1.88 million tourists visited Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in 2025².

• The park had 1.37 million visitors in 2019². When the pandemic hit in 2020, visits fell 57% to 0.59 million.
• Visits began to recover in 2021, reaching 1.26 million².
• In 2022, visits climbed to 1.58 million, passing the 2019 figure², and in 2023 they rose another 2% to 1.62 million, at the time the highest total since 2017.
• In 2025, visitation reached 1.88 million, up 31% from 1.43 million in 2024², a strong rebound after that year’s dip.

How many people visited Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in 2026?

• From January through September 2026, the park recorded 1,172,029 visitors³. January was the busiest month so far with 175,855 visitors, followed by July (155,863) and June (153,131).
• That is about 18% fewer than the 1.43 million visitors recorded over the same nine months of 2025³.

How many people visited Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in 2025?

• The park welcomed 1.88 million visitors in 2025²: 111,000 camped overnight and 1.77 million came for the day⁵. That was 37% more than in 2019².

How many people visit Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park per day?

• In 2025, the park averaged about 5,140 visitors a day, based on its 1,877,854 recorded visits over 365 days².

• A visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park costs $30 per private vehicle⁷, $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person on foot or bicycle, and each entrance pass is valid for 7 days.
• For travelers planning a longer trip, the Hawai’i Tri-Park Annual Pass costs $55⁷. The entrance fee is only a small part of the bill, though: the National Park Service says overnight visitors to the park spent an average of $763 per group per night and stayed 6.4 nights on the Island of Hawai’i⁴.

• Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is busiest in December, January, June and July, when parking is limited and tends to fill early each day¹⁰, so other months bring quieter trails and easier parking. There is no reliably dry season to plan around: the weather at the Kīlauea summit varies daily and may be rainy and chilly any time of the year¹¹.
• To avoid crowds at popular spots like Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) and the Kīlauea Iki Trail, arrive early in the morning and check the National Park Service’s forecast busy times for each parking lot before you go¹⁰.
• To see the summit eruption glow, come after dark or before sunrise. Evenings at the summit overlooks can be busy too: if a parking lot is full when you arrive, the park suggests choosing another destination or trying again at another time of day¹⁰. The park is open 24 hours a day.¹²

About 110,600 people camped at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in 2025⁵.

• The park had 91,200 campers in 2019⁵. When the pandemic hit in 2020, that fell 54% to 41,900.
• Camping began to recover in 2021, reaching 90,800⁵.
• In 2022, camping visits rose to 124,300⁵, passing the 2019 figure, before falling 11% to 110,500 in 2023.
• In 2025, camping reached 110,600, up 8% from 102,800 in 2024⁵.

Most Popular Types of Camping at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in 2025

• Concessionaire Lodging (33,480 visits)⁵ – Overnight stays in hotels, lodges and cabins run by a park concessioner¹³. At Hawai’i Volcanoes, that is Volcano House, which runs the historic hotel and the camper cabins at Nāmakanipaio Campground¹⁴. This is the second-largest category.
• Concessionaire Camping (4,870 visits)⁵ – Camping at sites run by a park operator, with managed services and amenities.
• Backcountry Camping (5,120 visits)⁵ – For campers who want somewhere more remote and challenging.
• Tent Campers (1,130 visits)⁵ – The smallest group.
• Other/Misc (65,980 visits)⁵ – A catch-all category, and the largest share of overnight stays.

A few simple habits keep you safe and help protect the park’s wildlife, landscapes and historic sites:

• Stay on Marked Trails: Volcanic terrain can be hazardous, with unstable cliffs, cracks, and dangerous gases. Avoid closed areas.
• Prepare for Weather: The park can be chilly at higher elevations. Pack warm layers and rain gear, and bring water.
• Driving Safety: Slow down, stay alert, and watch for pedestrians and wildlife.
• Wildlife Caution: Keep a safe distance from animals and never feed them.
• Hiking: Wear sturdy shoes, stay hydrated, and know your limits.