Driving the scenic Saddle Road in Hawaii
Usa, north-america
84.8 km
2,062 m
extreme
Year-round
Get ready for an epic Hawaiian adventure on Saddle Road! This 52.7-mile stretch of highway (also known as Hawaii State Highway 200 or Ala Mauna Saddle Road) cuts right through the heart of the Big Island, linking Hilo with the junction to Hawaii Route 190 near Waimea.
Prepare for some serious elevation! You'll climb to a breathtaking 6,765 feet (2,062 meters) above sea level at Humuula Saddle. Near mile 28, around 6,632 feet (2,021m) above sea level, you'll find the turnoffs for the Mauna Loa Observatory Road to the south, and the Mauna Kea Summit Road to the north.
Originally carved from lava by the U.S. Army, this road offers stunning scenery, though there's a portion of windy, narrow two-lane road near mile marker 11.
While the drive might take between 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic and stops, Saddle Road is now a smooth, paved highway. Be prepared for quickly changing weather, though! Visibility can drop to near zero in bad weather or heavy cloud cover. Watch out for wildlife darting across the road, and be aware that one section gets incredibly foggy after dark. There are even tales of ghost lights, if you're into that sort of thing.
Cell service is spotty, but call boxes are available. And remember, there are no gas stations or stores along the way, so come prepared! Despite improvements, rough pavement edges and head-on collisions are still concerns, so stay alert. But with extra lanes for trucks on the uphill sections and smoother surfaces, Saddle Road is a must-do for any Big Island road trip!
Where is it?
Driving the scenic Saddle Road in Hawaii is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 40.2486, -94.5025
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 84.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,062 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 40.2486, -94.5025
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