Free Camping in Hawaii

69 sites across 4 federal and state land agencies. 0 sites have full agency-grounded write-ups; the rest are in the indexing queue.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration sites

5 sites. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration camping rules →

  • Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale Kihei Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kaua'i Ocean Discovery
    Developed· Indexing
  • Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
    Developed· Indexing

National Park Service sites

25 sites. National Park Service camping rules →

  • Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail
    Developed· Indexing
  • Arizona Memorial Tours
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hale Ho'okipa Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Haleakalā National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Haleakalā National Park (Wilderness Tent Permit)
    Developed· Indexing
  • Haleakalā Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Backcountry Permits
    Developed· Indexing
  • Headquarters Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Honouliuli National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kahuku Visitor Contact Station
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kalaupapa National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kulanaokuaiki
    Developed· Indexing
  • Nāmakanipaio
    Developed· Indexing
  • NPS Pearl Harbor National Memorial Ford Island Bus Tours
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pearl Harbor Narrated Multimedia Tours & Virtual Reality Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pearl Harbor National Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pu'ukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Puʻuhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Visitor Center
    Developed· Indexing
  • Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site
    Developed· Indexing
  • Waiʻānapanapa State Park
    Developed· Indexing
1 more National Park Service site in Hawaii.

PRIVATE sites

21 sites. PRIVATE camping rules →

  • Anahola Beach Park Camping
    Developed· Indexing
  • Anini Beach Camping
    Developed· Indexing
  • Black Sand Beach Park Camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Boy Scout Camp Honokaia
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Alan Faye
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Hale Koa
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Mokuleia
    Developed· Indexing
  • Camp Olowalu
    Developed· Indexing
  • Halapē Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Kahana campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kawaikoi
    Developed· Indexing
  • Ke'ehi Lagoon Memorial
    Developed· Indexing
  • Keauhou Campsite
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Kumu camp
    Developed· Indexing
  • Lydgate Beach Park Camping
    Developed· Indexing
  • Malaekahana Beach Campground
    Developed· Indexing
  • Malama Kiholo
    Developed· Indexing
  • Nāpau Crater Camp Site
    Dispersed· Indexing
  • Sugi Grove
    Developed· Indexing
  • Waimanalo beach park
    Developed· Indexing
  • Whittington Beach Park
    Developed· Indexing

US Fish and Wildlife Service sites

18 sites. US Fish and Wildlife Service camping rules →

  • Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Howland Island National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Hulē‘ia National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kakahai‘a National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Pearl Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing
  • Rose Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
    Developed· Indexing

Common questions about camping in Hawaii

How long can you camp on public land in Hawaii?
The federal limit on BLM and USFS land in Hawaii is 14 days within any 28-day period at one camp area, then a 25-mile move. Source: 43 CFR §8365.1-2 for BLM and 36 CFR §261.10 for USFS. NPS sites in Hawaii have separate per-park limits, usually set by the park superintendent's compendium. Always check the local field office before relying on the rule for any specific site.
Are there fire restrictions in Hawaii right now?
Fire restrictions in Hawaii change weekly during fire season. Check the BLM Hawaii state office page and the USFS Hawaii forest pages for the current Stage I, II, or III restrictions before lighting any fire. Stage I usually means no open fires outside developed grates. Stage II usually means no fires anywhere on the unit, including stoves outside developed sites. Carry a backup stove and a check-in plan.
What's the difference between dispersed and developed camping in Hawaii?
Dispersed camping in Hawaii means primitive, no fee, no facilities. You pull off a public-land road and camp where established disturbance already exists. Developed camping means a designated campground with a host, vault toilet, fire ring, picnic table, and usually a nightly fee through Recreation.gov. Per 36 CFR §261.13 and the Travel Management Rule.
Can you run a generator at public-land campsites in Hawaii?
Generators are generally allowed at developed campgrounds in Hawaii with quiet hours, usually 8pm to 8am. The exact window varies by site and is posted at each campground or in the host's contract. On dispersed land, the federal noise rules and Leave No Trace ethics apply: do not run a generator within 200 feet of water or after dark. Some NPS units in Hawaii prohibit generators entirely; check the park's compendium first.
Are dogs allowed at public-land campsites in Hawaii?
Dogs are generally allowed on BLM and USFS public-land sites in Hawaii when leashed, with the same Leave No Trace ethics that apply to humans: pack out waste, keep your dog on a 6-foot leash or under voice control, do not let them chase wildlife. NPS units in Hawaii are stricter; dogs are typically barred from trails and backcountry, allowed only in developed campgrounds and on paved roads. Always check the specific unit's rules before driving in. State park rules vary too.
Can you camp on public lands in Hawaii in winter?
Winter access in Hawaii depends on the unit. Many BLM dispersed sites and USFS forest roads stay open year-round when conditions allow but become snowed-in or gated above certain elevations. Developed campgrounds usually close from mid-October to mid-April. NPS units in Hawaii often shift to limited winter operations with reduced services. Check the agency office or Recreation.gov for current road status and gate closure dates. Carry chains and emergency supplies in shoulder season.
Where can you dump RV waste on public lands in Hawaii?
Most dispersed and primitive sites in Hawaii do not have dump stations. You need to plan a stop at a developed campground (USFS, BOR, USACE, or NPS) with a dump station, or a paid commercial dump at a Pilot/Flying J or KOA on your route. Recreation.gov lists which federal campgrounds have dump stations. Never dump on dispersed land; it is a federal violation under 36 CFR §261.11 and 43 CFR §8365.1-1. Sites that have a dump station show it in the Boondock site page.
What's cell coverage like at public-land campsites in Hawaii?
Coverage in Hawaii varies sharply by carrier and site elevation. Carriers' coverage maps are aspirational; the FCC National Broadband Map is more honest but still self-reported. For remote Hawaii sites you should expect no signal on Verizon and T-Mobile at most BLM dispersed land and on dry-side USFS roads. AT&T tends to drop in canyons. The Boondock site page shows coverage data when we have it; absent that, assume no signal and tell someone your plan before you go.

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