Haleakala Highway in Hawaii: blind turns and very steep drop offs
Usa, north-america
56 km
3,055 m
hard
Year-round
Get ready for an epic climb on Maui's Haleakala Highway, also known as Crater Road or Route 378! This road's a record-breaker, gaining more elevation in a shorter distance than anywhere else on Earth – 35 miles straight up!
Winding through Haleakalā National Park, this fully paved road takes you from Kahului all the way to Pu'u'ula'ula (Red Hill), the tippy-top of Haleakalā at a staggering 10,023 feet.
Built back in the '30s, this two-lane road throws some serious challenges your way. Expect gradients up to 15% on some ramps, so hang on tight! You'll gain 9,911 feet in elevation, averaging a 5.39% grade. Prepare for blind turns, super steep drop-offs (without guardrails!), and a whopping 32 switchbacks! Keep an eye out for cows, nene geese, and fog that can roll in quickly. Make sure you stock up on gas and snacks in Pukalani or Makawao because there are no more services past that point.
The drive to the summit takes about 1 to 1.5 hours without stopping, but you'll want to pause and soak in the insane "moonlike" scenery. And remember, the temperature drops as you climb, about 3 degrees F for every 1,000 feet of altitude. So, if it's a balmy 75 degrees at sea level, it'll be around 45 degrees at the summit. Plus, driving this road is like traveling from Mexico to Canada in terms of ecological zones – pretty wild, right?
Where is it?
Haleakala Highway in Hawaii: blind turns and very steep drop offs is located in Usa (north-america). Coordinates: 37.3334, -98.9656
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 56 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,055 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 37.3334, -98.9656
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