Saddle Road Reviews

When we first came to the Big Island you couldn't take rental cars up here. The road has been improved. The new high speed part makes crossing the island fast and easy. The old road is a favorite for poking along looking for birds, pigs, sheep, and goats. Great views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Provides access to the Observatory visitor center on Mauna Kea.

The changing scenery and vistas you get by driving the Saddle Road are unmatched anywhere else in the world. Going in either direction brings different and amazing vistas. An amazing drive.

We traveled from Kona airport to Hilo late afternoon. The road is very smooth and the scenery is amazing - constantly changing. We had heard some old reviews about the quality of the road but apparently it has been totally redone and no worries at all. Just be sure that you have a full tank of gas as there are no stations along the way.

Nice drive, enjoyed the time in the car. Speed limit were crazy increasing and decreasing. Saw goats.

Since the road got redone. Transit time between the East side and West side has dropped by about 15 minutes. The road is designed for speeds higher than 60 mph. The pavement is nice and smooth.

Great drive, the sun setting on our drive back to Kona and with the clouds in the right areas was breathtaking. Also visit all the protectors of Mauna Kea. Stay strong. All in all great road trip. .

Please, check the weather before you travel this road. We enjoyed the travel on Saddle Road from Hilo to Kona but ran into immediate fog just outside Hilo. We were on Saddle Road around 200pm. The fog/mist was so thick it was impossible to see more than a few yards in front of your vehicle. We were all extremely nervous but even more nervous pulling to the side of the road since visibility was so poor. We marched through it and we rewarded with a lovely trip once we passed through the fog. The fog lasted a while. It dissipated once we came back to a lower altitude. Certainly a recommended method of travel between Hilo and Kona. The road was in excellent condition. But remember, check the weather BEFORE you leave.

Unbelievable views and sites as you cross the island. We drove from Hilo to Kona. The views are astonishing. Multiple places to pull off for pictures. Watch out for goats, nene and donkeys along the way.

It was recommended by our concierge that traveling on our day trip from Kona to Hilo and on the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, we use Saddle Road and then use the same route for our return to Kona. He said the road had been redone & for three years was now safe for rental cars to use. Glad we took his advice as it was an excellent highway and perhaps faster and safer than other options to the National Park.

This is the road to Hilo from the Kona side of the Island. Good paved road. Long up hills and down hills, straight as a pin. But be prepared, do not be the person who over heats. Get gas and snacks and drinks before you take off. Check the oil and radiator on your personal rig before you take off. There are a number of long miles with no services. Great views. Interesting the way the land and the landscape changes from lava and rock, to lush green, to even some critical habitat. Take the time to visit the observatory if it is open.

We were here in late February, early March 2019. Saddle Road cuts through the middle of the north central part of the Big Island. I read before we left that some rental car companies do not allow their vehicles on this road, so I asked in advance. It was true; some do not. So ask if your rental car can go here.
Saddle Road is also called the Daniel K.Inouye Highway, highway 200,but there is also a small section of it that connects the Daniel K. Inouye Highway with highway 190 further north than the regular Daniel K. Inouye entrance off highway 190. The turn for it is better marked coming from the south than from the north. Look for the road sign to Waiki'i Ranch if you want to go on this shortcut.
The shortcut section of Saddle Road is narrow and twisty. The regular Saddle Road, a.k.a. the Daniel K Inouye Highway, is a multi-lane highway much of the way.
We took the shortcut going back from the visitors center on Mauna Kea to Waimea. We took the other route going there. We did not take it between the visitors center and Hilo.
The part we were on is mostly grassland, small scrub, and lava fields. The shortcut is ranch land. We saw one rest stop, across the highway from the road going up to the visitors center, and it was primitive. The visitors center has clean, modern rest rooms, although it is at 9,000+ feet, accessed on a steep, winding road.
If you are in a hurry to go from Kailua-Kona to Hilo, this is the way to go.

We have driven many times in past years and this is very good road now. Takes about one hour or more depending on where you star from. Most of what you will see is lava fields but think about it, it’s HAWAII and there is so much beauty on this island it’s hard to believe.
When you get to Hilo side it changes into two roads 200 and 2000 so that can trick someone up a little. There is lots to see in Hilo, but it also rains more over there.
When coming back to Kona side on saddle back as you start to descend down to Kona area just make sure you have a car with good brakes. The speed can get over 75 miles per hour and start braking when the sign says 1 mile from end. One year with my family & friends and a rented van with Bad brakes I really feared we would not stop! There also is a rest stop on the way and a park area for the kids to get out and play. All and all the Big Island is just a really enjoyable place to spend some time and to take lots of pictures and take away memories.

Very diverse and interesting drive dissecting the island from the west to the east coast and back. The landscape really changes as you gain and loose elevation throughout this drive. West coast dry to the wetter east coast at Hilo make for an education in climate diversity. Not too many pullouts along this drive, but the road is in great condition.

A steady up and then a steady down.. road was in great shape and an easy drive. Watch the speed limits!

Tour went long and we ended up on the summit late. The protesters/ protectors were camped along the road, so there is a stop light at a make-shift crosswalk.
To make things worse, it started to rain fairly hard but just kept the speed limit and it was safe. Daytime driving this area is better for views and conditions.

Well graded, wonderful views in both directions. Good passing lanes, several pull outs and trails along the way.

This road is fairly new and has good restroom facilities. The views of the volcanoes on either side were great (it wasn't raining when we went). This is the road to take when going to Mauna Kea. I liked that it was several lanes wide and relatively straight. It does climb, so if you are prone to altitude sickness, you may want to make a few stops along the way to get acclimated rather than driving straight through.

If you didn't know you were in Hawaii, you would think you were in the desert on this road. It seems long, desolate, and boring, but it is still a shortcut versus driving around the whole island. All in all, I'm thankful for the road.

The intention was to find an overlook and stargaze. Constant traffic prevented that as headlights destroy night vision. However the road is paved with great reflectors marking the lanes. Would be nice to see it in the daylight.

I drove this returning to the Kohala coast from Hilo. Easy drive at night no issues. Only slow down was where the folks were protesting at the observatory and activity was minimal due to the late hour. Law enforcement was there as a slow down warning for motorists but no activity occurred while I came through.

If you want to go from Hilo to Kona and vice-versa, using Saddle Road Highway 200 is pretty much your fastest route and only option under 2-hour unless you don't mind spending 3.5 hours going from the southern route thru Kilauea.
The ride is mostly a 1 lane road on both directions so you will be often either tailed by other cars if you're in front or tail other cars. Because it often rains on the way up and down Saddle Road, with near zero visibility (at least in Feb), you will feel stressed driving this road.
The landscape is therefore very bare, stuck between the 2 tall volcanoes of Mauna Laua and Kea. It is reminiscent of Icelandic landscapes or Auvergne in France with Big Island's unique feature of black volcanic rocks.
Mainly it is a scenic drive but only if you are a good driver who doesn't mind near zero visibility for 50% of the drive, so about 1-hour between Hilo and Kona. You will be very high up the mountain, at around 6000 or 7000 feet, and will go up and down in a matter of 2-hours! So the slopes are steep and some roads are twisted and very slippery. I really advise people to be cautious when driving this road under rainy conditions which is pretty much all time in February.

This is a great shortcut from Hilo to Kona. It is very scenic, as it takes you from the eastern side to the western side of the island. You will travel through different environs, as well as have the opportunity to see the feral sheep and goats.

A great drive to do to see the belly of the island and then drive back along the northern coast. Plenty of sites to see along the road and en-route.

If you are traveling From Kona to Hilo use the Highway 200 Saddle road. It is a pleasant and much faster route although you do have to drive with caution as there is low lying clouds on many parts of the highway.

Crazy road trip experience. Multitude of landscapes along the way. Breathtaking experience!!

I went to Akaka Falls from Kona using this road and was taken away by the the shear natural beauty present along the road.

I'm not sure I've ever reviews a highway before, but here goes! The highway is well built and is in very good driving condition, so it's an easy drive. There are some spectacular views as you drive along from the west side to Hilo or visa versa. You go through a variety of climatic conditions, from warm or even hot steamy "jungle" to much cooler barren rocky hillsides and lava fields at the higher elevations. We saw both "mountain" sheep and goats along the way.

A great new smooth road and quicker travel from Kilo to Kona. Watch for hikers and sheep crossing the road!

This road would stretch miles longer if it simply ran straight! Instead this road bumps up and over tons of little hills.
Really a fun simple experience.

The Saddle Road is now practically a Super Highway, absolutely no comparison to what it was the first time we traveled it 15 years ago. It’s a quick way to go across the Island. It is a steady climb at first, regardless from where you start but going uphill, it is a double lane, no worry. Stop at the Saddle Rest Stop, there are clean restrooms and a great view of both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea to be had.

Our Cousins live on The Big Island. They drove my Lady and myself so we could fully enjoy the sights and not have to watch the Road.

We liked this drive as it gave us a chance to see the two volcanoes and their flows. Amazing that Mauna Kea is nearly 700,000 years old.

Man, just do it. a 5000-6000 foot road in the saddle between the Islands Tallest mountain Mauna Kea and the world’s largest active volcano, Mauna Loa. Old Army base from WWII, used recently for Iraq operations. Weather permitting you can drive up to Mauna Kea visitors center (it was closed when we went). Very good road.

We took the saddle road to Mauna Kea. So unexpected! We saw SO many wild turkeys! And that was before we came to the entrance to a hunting area true 4-wheel-drive required there). You may see some outdated information online, that indicates that Saddle Road itself is a rough road. Not so! The road is great and the scenery is lovely.

Drove the Saddle road from Kona to Hilo and stopped at many points of interest. Just amazing to see the topography of island and what lava flows did to it!

This is the fastest way to get between Kailua and Hilo if you have to do that, but it's so much more. On a typical day you might start in hot, sunny Kailua, and in the space of less than 2 hours, you can experience fog, rain, a 10 to 20 degree temperature change, views of desert, grasslands, ancient, old, and relatively new lava flows, two very tall mountains, wildlife, and the two separate species of local drivers, those who live on Hawaii time and are in no hurry to get anywhere, and those who seem to want to see just how fast they can get from one city to the other. There are several turnouts along the way so you can enjoy the scenery, and some trailheads for hiking trails which looked intriguing but we didn't have time to explore them on this trip. Kudos to Hawaii County for the excellent road work building this, it's a real gem.

The saddle road is now a very nice smooth road. Its construction in the last few years has made the cross island trip a much more pleasant drive. The major irritation is the amount of slow drivers. Every time we crossed the island we spent long time behind a slow driver. We found it to not be unusual for a vehicle to be driving 10 to 15 MPH below the posted speed limit with 5 or more cars following.

After getting a $172. Speeding ticket on my birthday while being pulled over by a bunch of cars we were following we find out it’s known for speed traps. First time on the Island spent a ton of money.Last time they’ll see me!

We were staying in Hilo so we drove this road often to Kona. Beautiful drive, varied weather, there was a 17 degree difference from the top of the mountain into Hilo it was 60 on the top of the road and 77 in Hilo, lots of goats and pigs you need to keep an eye out for

OK, it's just a road, but this trip the west side of the island over the the east, highlights in an hour just how varied this island is. You experience about 5 different micro-climates in a tiny amount of time.
Starting on the west, near Waikoloa coast, you are in any ultra-dry , solid lava field, at maybe 32'C / 90'F , as you begin to climb, the temperature begins to fall, and the scenery becomes more green and grassy, as you continue, some areas are almost like England with grassy fields of sheep. Then you have great scenes of long-dormant volcanic mounds.
As you near the 'top' where you would turn off to the access road, you are on mountain top type terrain, at 15'C / 60'F.
Then within a few hundred yards , you descend onto the wet side, that almost hits straight away. Through, weird looking forest, then lower into effectively rainforest.
At the end you can visit rainbow falls, boiling pot falls and peepee falls just before Kona. All must-sees on the island.

It’s easy to drive, had minimal traffic, with a nice view of the Hawaii landscape. It was a peaceful drive. It was nice and pleasant!

The saddle road offers beautiful views of the vast volcanic mountains. The roads are paved well, many areas to safely pull over and take pictures or just sit and enjoy watching the clouds or sometimes fog roll by.
That being said, often the fog is very heavy and can be a concern while driving.
There are wild goats and sheep grazing, sometimes wild pigs as well. This is the route to visiting Mauna Kea summit as well as the quickest route from Kona to Hilo... depending on the exact location you are going or going to.
Word of caution.. the highway from Kona to the saddle road is very narrow, with very little shoulder and large rocks along the edge. Drive carefully, and don’t overtake multiple cars as there have been some sad deaths from car accidents. Otherwise, enjoy the beauty of the island.

What s treat! Beautiful new road, over the mountains, from Hilo to Kona. Shaved a lot of time off the trip around the island. No traffic, just some fog at the top that we slowed down for.

Volcanic landscape viewed for most of the drive. May 14, I had some hard rain and fog travelling from Kona to Pahoa. My return trip, I went from Hilo to the Saddle Road. The first two junctions had signs while the third did not. May 30 when I returned to Kona the weather was nice. I'm so glad that I drove the Saddle Road in the daytime for viewing and staying on the right road.

We took this road over the mountain, thru cowboy country to get to The Hilo side of the island. Amazing lava fields, deserts, and lush vegetation...you see so much of this diverse island along this route.

Amazing, go before the moon comes out to truly see the picturesque sky with all its stars, planets, satelites .. it was so clear it was like looking at a movie in an IMAX theatre. We managed to see a couple of shooting stars.

The road itself is in great condition and the cut off on time is great.

How ever, the weather can be challenging. We experienced some heavy rain then there was driving through the clouds. Fog is one thing but the clouds cut visibility down to 20-30 feet.

Road has been greatly improved since our last trip to the island. Easy traveling. A++++++. Really makes the drive from Kona to Hilo more pleasant.

I am from Oahu and am only used to mostly sea level. We took saddle road for a faster drive from Hilo to Kona but I had no idea that it reaches an elevation of up to about 7,000 ft. I was using the Compass app on my iPhone to track it. I was already prone to altitude sickness as I’ve had mild reactions before, but I am 4 months pregnant and this was the worst reaction to the altitude I have ever had. My heart started racing and I began to feel my body go weak and I couldn’t get enough oxygen and couldn’t breathe. Also had a headache from lack of oxygen. There is NOTHING on saddle road between Hilo and kona so I panicked thinking we were at least an hour away from any medical care. The only thing I could do was to slow my breathing and heart rate was to inhale in through my nose and out through my mouth. Even my nearly 3 year old son began to struggle with breathing and he began to cry. It was terrifying. Thankfully all was well as we descended the mountain and got to see a doctor before boarding our flight home.

I read that babies are also prone to altitude sickness so please do not take this route if you are not used to high elevation.

Since I am not used to it being that I live on Oahu I will probably never go this route again. The drive was beautiful though. There was a huge ʻōhiʻa lehua forest.

Highway winds by both major volcanoes and lava fields. Drive up Mauna Loa is a must, beware of 13000 ft altitude, have warm clothing handy.

From the Kona/Kohala coast this quite the shortcut to Hilo; 90 minutes gets you to the heart of the Big Island’s largest city, with the best bakery on the Island (Moonstruck patisserie), and a great Wednesday/Saturday farmer’s market that’s funky fun. Other great stuff too.

The only thing going for this road is that it allows access to the Visitor Centers on Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea

Get out and enjoy the big island, open road with plenty to see. This made traveling to Hilo very easy.

Took this route on the way back from Volcanoes National Park / Hilo to Kona. It was a clear day and cars moved really fast. The road looks new as it is well kept and nicely paved. Traffic slowed a little around Mauna Kea due to the protesters but not a big deal. Glad we took this route and experienced it after taking Highway 11 from Kona making a very successful round trip around the island.

It is a wonderful road with wild goats watching you from the sides of the road as you drive either towards Hilo or Wailea. The vastness of the terrain between the two Volcanoes, Mauna Loa And Mauna Kea, is spectacular. The road takes about 1.5 hours to travel one way. On the way back west from Hilo in the late afternoon, we hit some heavy fog. It made it very difficult to drive and I had to slow down, which extended the drive time. So be on the look out for fog when driving this highway. Be patient, enjoy the surroundings and have a great drive. Enjoy!

We were her 10 years earlier & couldn't drive this. It is great! Love it! An adventure in itself! Beautiful. Serene! Efficiently gets one right into the heart of Hilo!

We drove this in the morning coming from Kona and initially enjoyed tremendous views all the way to Maui. As we moved east we were captivated by views to Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. A great finish as we came upon the east coast view.

This is a fun road to drive. And even better for the passengers to see all the farms, people, houses and views on this small road.

As with most roads on Hawaii, this was in excellent condition and provided a quick way to get across the island. The dry ranchland provided an interesting change in landscape. It reminded us of the ranchland in Canada’s Rocky Mountain foothills, except for the swaths of lava rock and small rounded knolls here and there.

Nice road to take when you are traveling between East and West of the Big Island, cut the time by 2 hrs.

Breathtaking scenery all along Saddle Road! We used it for practical purposes to get where we needed to go, but the drive itself was an experience thanks to the stunning views, changing landscape and easy ride on well-paved roads. The journey was just as fun as the destination!

I think how this road rated its dependent on what one is trying to accomplish, at what time, and if you encounter weather or not. That said, it was the quickest route for us to get from Hilo back to Kona. The road seems well maintained, though I don't know how old it is either. We drove through rain, which ended by the time we got to the crest, and then on our way down the sun was setting. Thus, we got to see Mauna Kea in orange and red, coming out of the clouds, so that was pretty neat. Again, though, were it not for seeing that, if it rained the whole time, or if it was night time with nothing to see, it would simply be what it is, a road, but a decent one at that.

We took this road to travel between Hilo and Kona. He gave us a good sense of the Topography of the island and also the opportunity to see the volcanoes although the peeps were not visible since the clouds were hanging low.

Don't believe any information that this road is dangerous or hard to drive in the dark. The highway is in excellent condition and is very well marked. And during the day (depending of course on cloud cover) the views can be fantastic.

Saddle road provides two purposes. From a strictly economic purpose, it is the fastest way to cross the island. From a scenic purpose, it is a very different view of the island than the 11/19 circle island road.

My wife and I did the Circle Island tour so we wanted to see the only part of the island that we wouldn't see on that tour: the center of it. We landed in Hilo, explored that charming town, so ourselves a to go lunch, used the bathroom, and started the long drive across the island.

There are many trail heads along the route and of course the entrance to Mauna Kea. The environment has dramatic changes from lava flows, to forests, to farmlands and the elevation climb and descent makes for some unique and fun driving.

The road itself is maintained wonderfully and you should have no fears driving across it. The only thing to not is that once you start the main road on either end you will not see a restaurant, gas station or public bathroom along the road. So be prepared for the journey before you head out.

This is the easy way to cross the island. It is relatively straight and fast. You get a good view of the two volcanoes. It was never crowded when we drove it.

60 mph most of the way. Very smooth different scenery from grassy to moonscape. Did not see any speed traps. Watch for the 40 mph zones.

You really see all the microclimates with this drive. On a clear night, pull over anywhere where it's safe to do so, and rekindle your love with the stars.

Great trip. Enjoyed the big island for two weeks. What ever you decide to do you should enjoy it. Wonderful island to visit.

Saddle road has extreme climate almost 7 types from rain to cloudy to sunshine you can experience all in one road drive , and because of elevation the clouds are very low and touches the road it seems like a drive in clouds .

Went as far as the visitors center, saw the sunset as well as star gazing on our own after dark! An amazing experience & hightly recommend.

There are three ways to reach Hilo from Kona. If possible take the scenic route along the ocean side. We found the saddle road very dry, barren with Lava rocks everywhere. No Gas station for very long stretch.

Nice Drive. A must do drive, you get to see unique lava landscape. Road is very well maintained. Cuts travel from one side to other side of the island

The best road to see Hilo and the volcano. They have resurfaced and widened the road.
You'll get to experience the change in altitude, landscape and feelings of Hawaii.
The international observatory group is very active on the side of the mountain and there's even an army base.
So glad we used this road.

Totally paved and good road to cross between Kona and Hilo. As we drove we experienced temperature from 80 to 55, sunny, cloudy and rain; barren landscape to lush green tropical.

Interesting, easy drive.

We set out on saddle road from Hilo and had no idea of the scenery we were going to encounter. Magnificent for sure. Many places to stop and take fabulous photos. Army base on the road with landing strip. Valleys and mountainous regions as you get about 3/4 through. Very unique. Took us about an hour to get from Hilo to Waikoloa village

Driving from Kona side to Hilo side: From stark, dry lava fields to green pastures/grasses. Down towards Hilo, a different world as mist enveloped us and welcomed us to the rainy side of the big island. Fascinating to experience the different climate zones. Road is in excellent condition. Watch out for 45 mph speed traps - we saw several folks pulled over by police.
Access to astronomy sights blocked by protesters on day we drove by.

If you haven't taken this road lately, you're in for a nice surprise! It's been 5 years since we took Saddle Road from Kona to Hilo and I was dreading it. To my surprise, it has been redone and is three lanes most of the way allowing for passing on the big hills. It is wider, smoother and straighter than the old road. The view of Kona and the ocean below is spectacular, although most of the trip is rather boring, save for a random goat or sheep along the way.

Drove this road from Hilo to the Kona side of the Island. Was thrilled by the beauriful scenery. This was the smoothest ride we had on the Big Island. No attractions along the way but would still recommend this trip to anyone just for the scenery.

The trip over Saddle road is pretty to be sure but best in the morning, the earlier the better. I drove to Hilo and back on it. Views to forever in the morning, clouds, rain and fog in the afternoon.

This road has a vast amount of scenery along the way. It's amazing to see the changes as you drive along. Convenient getting from Kona to the volcanos and it's quite the scenic route.

You really don’t have options to cross from Hilo to Kona, other than Saddle Road. Seeing it once is really enough. Not much diversity other than the occasional goats.

It's very easy to drive on this way. Part of the way has two lanes, which is good because you don't need to worry blocking the traffic.

The view along this way is very beautiful. The road condition is really good, smooth, and stable.

Another way to go from Hilo to Kona or vice versa on a smooth highway. No big hotels just local people traversing the island.

Beautiful scenic drive that also happens to be on the fastest route from Kona to Hawai'i Volcanos National Park. As you climb in elevation, go over the pass and then down onto the rainy side, you'll see varying landscapes ranging from black volcano a'a lava from the most recent eruption of Hualalai to semi-arid grasslands to lush tropical foliage as you descend into the Hilo area. At the rest stop near Mauna Kea, we were lucky enough to happen across a local vintage VW club that had parked to share their classics.

We have been using this road for at least 20 years ( back when car rentals weren’t supposed to use it).
It is so smooth and the double lanes are great to elevate traffic from backing up.
Maybe they should give thought to making the entire trip double lanes both ways.

This is a faster way to go from Kona to Hilo to visit the National Park. Can be a bit chilly if you have the top down.

Nothing to write home about, practical convenient road to get to and from the other side. Weather was pretty mild during my travels, but watch out for possible cars passing from the other lane.

The old Saddle Road was a driving challenge but the views of the expansive old lava flows have always been spectacular. The new road is one of the best on Hawaii Island and saves nearly 1/2 hour on the trip from Kona to Hilo. The only 60 MPH road segment on the island. State park at the midway point.

This is the fast way to Hilo from Kona. Good smooth road, rest stops and great views. Can be a little windy at times.

The trip between Hilo and Kona is greatly expedited when time is running out.We traveled on this road at least three different times, conditions are excellent. We visited a road side park which had great facilities including nice clean bathrooms as well as picnic tables.

As we drove from Kona to Hilo the traffic was light so we could take our time enjoying natures beauty.
Around 4 pm, we began our trip back to Kona. Around the half way point, we ran into several miles of "FOG". Visibility was around 30 ft. making our drive back a little tricky.

In all our years going to Hawaii we were finally able to travel the Saddle Road. Beautiful new road, very smooth and great views of the lava and mountains. Uch faster from Kona to Hilo.

Left airport had no real idea where we where going. Its 10:00pm
Raining. Its along drive to Hilo.. But a very nice drive in the day time.. Plenty of emergency call boxes. But not a service station on this road..

Yeah - 60 MPH on Hawaii Big Island. New road is great way to get across to Hilo. Faster, safer, smoother. Long to coming, finally completer.

A great way to travel from Kona to Hilo or vis-versa, this road cuts through the middle of the island. Go the speed limit for their are wild pigs, sheep, goats, horses and maybe some other animals that been left to defend for themselves, along the road.

This 1.25-2 hour drive (depending on conditions and how many scenic stops) you make is very well marked and fairly straightforward, however, there’s only rest stop (that we found), so plan your bathroom breaks accordingly. Speed limit varies between 30 to 60, average about 45 mph.

On a clear night, go after dark, stop about 6500 feet up, (yes, take a jacket), then turn off your car lights and just stare in awe at the stars. They are so close, you can almost touch them.

We drove from Kona to Hilo yesterday on the Saddle Road. It's extremely well maintained. Depending on where you are going in Hilo, the drive is slightly less than 2 hours.

Currently there are protesters blocking the access road to Mauna Kea. There seemed to be several hundred and they are staying in tents and the back of pickups. They have not been interfering with traffic.

There are several police cars watching them AND watching traffic DO NOT go even 1 mph over the speed limit in this area.

We took Saddle road driving from Kona to Hilo. It is a nice easy drive. It was pretty at sunset with the sky changing colors around the volcanos. We did drive past the Mauna Kea entrance and the protest was going on at the time so we saw all the tents and people camped out. It is a pretty dark road at night tho, tho only light was the reflectors on the roads.

This is the main highway acroos the island, Hilo on the east and the Kohala coast on the west, 2 hour drive with a rest area about halfway between. Be prepared for potential heavy rains on the hilo side in the afternoon hours. Well maintained road surface, good lane spacing with room on the sides for stopping.

Took the short cut on saddle road and it was a nice scenic drive across to Kona and back to Hilo town. Was able to see Mauna kea Summit too on our way back.

Used the Saddle Road for the first time on t his trip -- I was impressed both by the quality of the road and by the time it saved getting from Waikoloa to Volcanoes. We were fortunate to have good weather and good visibility, which meant we has some nice views and vistas. I would not use the road if you haven't yet traveled on the old roads (through Waimea or the Belt Road) because the sights and views on those roads are well worth t he extra time and effort. If you use the Saddle Road, keep an eye on speed limits -- lots of unmarked cop cars looking to aid the island's economy.

This is a great road to travel from Kona to Hilo. Lots of scenic areas but the day that we drove you really had to watch for the wild goats on the island. I couldn't believe the number of goats on the shoulder of the road.

We traversed back and forth through this road, since we stayed in Hilo. This is the shortest road if you want to get to Kona from Hilo. We enjoyed the scenic views and stoped by Mauna Kea summit and Pawapawa natiure reservation park

Went from Hilo to Kailua Kona. This is tha I believe fastest way. Make sure you get your snacks, use the bathroom and get gas before heading out. Some steep climbs and downhill grades but interesting scenery. Be careful.

I’m sure it could get nasty, but it is wide, well marked, reflectors on the lines. Just drive according to the weather conditions and it is a great option to exploring the other side of the island. I would think coming back in the dark on the scenic routes would be worse.

It's a long road but you get to take in the true beauty of the Big Island. Worth the drive if you love the scenery.

This highway is a great way to get across the island quickly. Travel through the different climate zones and change of scenery the island has to offer! Beautiful scenery ... nice rest areas. If your too hot in Kona head over the Saddle road through the grass lands and hills in between the volcanos to Hilo!! Enjoy the lush rainforest side of the island on the east side !

The views along this road range from lush tropical to high desert. It is the only road to reach the Mauna Kea Visitor Center. It is a shortcut from the southern road to reach the eastern coast.

After a day of traveling around the island, there is nothing better than taking this road to the other side especially after dark.

This is a road. It goes over a saddle. On either side are some nice, if unremarkable mountains (fwiw, I have huge respect for MK and ML, just that the views from this highway do not show them off well).

It is not a bad road. It is not an incredible road. It is a road. It can take you from Kona Kailua to Hilo, if you need to do that.

Was a bit cautious about a “saddle road” but this was one of the best roads on the island. Very nice drive.

It's a long, fairly easy drive up and over. Beware of fog hazards. Be even more aware of the cops waiting near the top. Speed drops to 45 near the visitors center and they mean it. Saw 8-10 people get pulled over as we went through. Literally a queue of police waiting. Whole groups of cars pulled over in both directions. Trust me, don't speed here. They must hit their quotas on this stretch of road alone.
That said, beautiful views if the weather cooperates.

I'm not sure why this one gets rated so high. It's now built to modern highway standards and it provides a quick route between Hilo and Kona but beyond that there is nothing special. Yes, seeing the goats on the side of the road is fun, but there are other roads on the island which are more fun to drive and provide more interesting scenery.

The Saddle is a great way to get from Kona or Wakiloa area to the Hilo side of the island. One of the best experiences is you get to go 60MPH, just watch out for the goats on the side of the road. The road drops you right into Hilo near Rainbow Falls, the Zoo, and Volcano Nat'l park and the Volcano House (about 30 miles from Hilo). Not to mention they have a great selection of Poke in Hilo. Taking Highway 11 is somewhat of a chore but sometimes we take it back to Kilauea/Kona to check out the black sand beach, the views, and scenery. For us the Saddle is a preferred route to the other side of the island which is a great place to visit

It's a good road, not a lot of traffic, wide enough, clean and somewhat scenic, cuts driving time from west to east of the island.

I love to drive and this drive hits one of my all time favorites even though its only about 1.5 hours long. You experience so may scenery's and weather changes, steep climbs & descents, desert & volcanic fields to lush green fields and forests. This also the fast way across the island if you need to save time, but make sure you have at least a half tank of gas for there are no gas stations once you leave Hilo or the Wailkoloa areas.

Every time I vacation in Hawaii I am reminded of how well maintained the roads are here on the Big Island. The Saddle Road is no exception. It’s a smooth ride and as long as I don’t get behind a Pillsbury Slow Boy I am totally relaxed to and from Hilo. Make sure your phone is hooked into your entertainment system because the radio signal is weak and will frustrate you if you like listening to music during your drive. Less than an hour and a half from Waikoloa to Hilo is a time bargain in my book.

We drove Saddle Road (west to east) from the junction of Route 190 into Hilo. Driving this route, you will pass through lush pastureland, the ubiquitous lava flows of Hawaii, cinder cones, many trailheads, past a military training area and between both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.
Along the almost 50-mile desolate drive there is access to both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa slopes.
The western portion of this route is very undulating and with a few single lane bridges, but with light traffic. There are places on this side that afford views all the way to the ocean.
There are no services along this road so make sure you have a full tank of gas and a good spare because help is a long way off.
If you have the time and desire to experience rainforest, lava desert and lush pastures take the drive on Saddle Road.

The road has all new surfacing and no longer needs to be avoided. We were driving in the dark, but everything was well marked. We hit a tiny little bit of fog for a brief time.

In down town Hilo on Kamehameha Avenue is the zero marker for the start of route 200, or as it’s known locally, the Saddle road and short cut to Kona. The drive takes about an Hour and a half at a reasonable speed along this beautiful new road. It’s a constant drive up hill for the first 20 miles from the Hilo waterfront, over the lava flows and through the bush. Be on the lookout for wild pigs in the bushes, as they might rush out in front of you. When we traveled this road, it was a little misty, and drizzling rain, but this soon cleared up near the top, allowing us to see both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Take advantage of the pull offs to take pictures, but be warned when you get out of your car it will be cold, so take a jacket and wear long pants. There is also a nice rest stop about midway too.

TIP: Make sure your petrol tank is full before you leave.

A beautiful drive between the mountains. Interesting to view the protests that have been happening because of new observatory. But the drive was gorgeous

Back in 1982 when we 1st visited the Big Island, this road was "off Limits" to rent-a-cars as it was un-paved. Now it an all new paved road with passing lanes on the up hill sides. Probably the best highway on the Big Island for being straight, smooth and well traveled.

Traveled over this highway for first time on our most recent trip to Hawaii over Christmas and New Years. In past years, the guide books and car rental agencies steered us away from using this road due to poor conditions. However, the road now is excellent. Smooth and marked very well even when traveling at night in rain and fog. The incline sections even had two lanes in traveling direction. So glad this road has been improved and offers another option for traveling from one side of the island to the other. Shortens the trip too.

Used to get from Waikoloa to Hilo. In 2013 We used to go up to the top of Mauna Kea. This year we used to get to Hilo twice. Interestingly we ran into rain both times just before getting into Hilo and when leaving Hilo the second time.

Most of this Road is nicely and newly paved. If you’re lucky enough on the day you travel it, you’ll get to experience every weather occurrence with the exception of snow and ice. We had fog, light rain, pounding pouring rain, mist, clouds, and hellfire bright sun going towards Waikaloa around sunset. Be careful as this is a goat slalom course on many turns and with the rain they all run out to the road to try to drink fresh water. Some of them seemed very determined to sacrifice themselves to end their miserable existence….poor things… we brake checked that rental car good quite a few times…. Luckily none became hood ornaments and we’ll keep our insurance rates low….I’d recommend trying to stay within the speed limit, although it’s tempting to cannonball run this stuff only due to the constantly changing conditions and wildlife. I’d also suggest traveling it in lighted conditions, as it seemed as if the goats got bigger and bolder as the sunset… full Billy Goat Beards and Horns on a few…we traveled it 2 times during our stay. Middle afternoon was better than racing the dark to get back! Enjoy and best of luck to you all.

We finally were allowed to drive our rental car across Saddle Road to Hilo. Wonderful road. Wide, fast, not too curvy. Not scary at all. Cuts a good 45 minutes from trip to other side of the island. Biggest surprise was coming up on the protesters ' encampment. Hawaiians protesting the proposed big new telescope on Mauna Kea. Seems like a semi-permanent camp. They have been there since July.

The most amazing discovery of our 10 days in Hawaii was Saddle Road. We were using it to drive from Hilo to Kilauea after a day of touring. Before we knew it we were rising further up into the mountains. On our right we began to see Mauna Kea which is beautiful, awesome and magnificent. As we drove we saw more and more of the mountain. Mauna Loa was on our left in the clouds that day. At the top of the gap between the mountains we came upon an encampment of native Hawaiians and their supporters. They were there to prevent a telescope being placed on the top of Mauna Kea. I can certainly understand why. It is truly an awe inspiring mountain.

We had rented a house in North Kohala with our family to celebrate our 50th anniversary. On previous visits it was recommended not to take this road over to Hilo but that has all changed. This road is terrific. Great views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. So interesting to see all the small volcanic cones a little craters scattered along the way and the black goats were fun to watch. There is a nice visitor center with restrooms halfway across. We were driving a convertible and before we got to the highest elevation we wimped out and put up the top when the temps reached the lower 60’s. The top came back down before we reached Hilo. Great way to get across the island. Go for it!

We travelled on the Saddle Highway three times on our vacation going to and returning from Hilo to Waikoloa. This is a well-maintained road with fantastic views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. There are scenic stops on the way for photo opportunities.

The Big Island is fascinating with its lush gardens contrasting with its enormous lava fields. February might not be the ideal time to visit as we encountered a lot of rain even on the “dry” west side. The volcano calderas are amazing, Volcano National Park is worth at least a day visit; much to see and learn. The Hawaiian culture is respected and interesting in all aspects.
Saddle road, which connects the two sides of the island between the two largest volcanos, is a vastly improved road and worth the ride.

We drove from Kona to Hilo (and back again) in a day. The strip offers faster speeds, less twisty climbs up mountain sides and stunning vistas of various types of lava flows. On this drive you see both types of lava flows seen regularly on the Big Island.

There was a time when driving the Saddle Road was banned for rental cars. No more. The new, improved road , I swear is the best on the island. We traveled from Waikoloa to Hilo in 1 hour while observing the speed limits. Speeding of speed limits, cops are hiding all over the place on that road. And they are issuing tickets-- not just for speeding but for all sorts in infractions, like not using seat belts, driving with out proper insurance etc.
Finally, drive extra careful as you pass the Mauna Kea Access Road. There are many protesters/protectors camping and demonstrating.

Since we have seen lava covered land all over the islands, this was not an usual view. We tried to take this road years ago and it was always under repair. Now, it is completely finished and a very pleasant drive.

Shortest route between west, Kona district to East, Hilo district. Only you can see those signature mountains from your car, but some place have trails. Please enjoy 3,000 ft beautiful road trip. Bring your drink and snacks.

Oh, what a great road........drove from Kona to Volcano area and it was suggested to drive into Hilo and then come back via Saddle Road - I don't know exactly, but after what felt a 20 mile uphill journey in wet weather, then became a 40 -50 mile downhill run into Kona in sunshine and just the best road to drive - Sensational

This option saves you close to an hour on a Hilo-Kona trip. On a clear day you get access, and excellent views of Maunaloa and/or Maunakea and get to travel through an ohia forest. On a rainy or foggy day the driving can get dangerous, as is the case on Friday and Saturday nights (some chance of encountering drunk drivers). The alternative, the Hamakua coast road, is often plagued by debris, flooding or other problems. In that case, take the saddle road but exercise care.

Take the time to make a drive over the Saddle Road to view the changing terrain and local color. Stop in the many small hamlets and browse the shops or grab some grub. You won’t be disappointed.

They have completed this beautiful new highway. What a treat from he old road. Really enjoy the drive. Driving West to East and coming over to see this huge cloud band laying in front of us was a great site. Parts of the old road are still accessible.

We stayed in Hilo for a few days. One of the days we drove over to Kona to hang out. We drove the saddle road. It is a paved, smooth and well marked road. We did the drive in a convertible and loved it. The view are amazing. Driving down into Kona was amazing to see lava fields. It was like being on another planet. A word of caution. We drove back in the dark. While the road is well marked there are next to no street lights. Fog also can move in very quickly. The speed limit on the road is 60 mph. We pulled over a few times to let people pass us because they were right on our rear bumper even thought it was dark out and we were in thick fog.

Scenic and changing terrain through this straight roadway that takes you easily across the island. This road has been improved drastically over the years which makes traveling to/from Hilo so much faster.

This is a well maintained road with a variety of scenery. It takes you from lush greenery to volcanic rock and back. A must do if you are on Kona. It can get foggy in places but the fog only lasts a few miles

It has been 6 years since we last used the Saddle Road. It has been improved - better marking - a little wider at places. But it is still the closest thing to a roller coaster ride in your sedan or van. I am willing to do it during the day, but at night it is pitch black and not worth the challenge.

Saddle Road is firster-- to and from Kona and Hilo-- than driving around Hawaiian Bell Road. Wind and fog might hinder driving!

The climate from one side of the island to the other is amazing. The west side of the island is dry and more desert like. The east side is wet and green rainforrest. You can see all this on the road. The surface condition of the road is great and it is wide and an easy drive.

We first came to the big island in 2005 (got married and honeymooned). Back then, our rental agreement restricted us from driving on Saddle Road, and this began my hubby’s obsession to some day drive on it! We returned in 2018 with our children and took the north route from Puako to Hilo and back again, we didn’t even think of trying saddle road (not sure why, we just assumed it was still off limits). Well, this year we returned and wanted a quicker way to get to volcano. i decided to research if it was safe to take saddle road, and it was! Our rental agreement didn’t even mention it! I told my hubby and his eyes twinkled 😏 we set out in the morning going from west to east. Not only was the road completely smooth, paved and non scary, but it was almost 3 lanes the whole way and such gorgeous views! Highly recommend taking this route to save at least 30+ minutes! We made our own scenic stop and we’re able to see 4 volcanoes at once! The lower road from volcano to kona was way more twisty and bumpy than saddle road!

Stayed in Kona on our vacation and traveled along the twisty southern coastal highway to Volcanos National Park. On our trip back, we first visited Hilo on the east, then took the Saddle Road back west to Kona. The road is very easy, quick traveling and takes you across expansive lava fields, then across the high elevation "saddle" between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. From the Saddle Road you can access the road that climbs 6 miles up Mauna Kea to multiple observatories for nightime star gazing.

This is a great route to get from Hilo to the Kona coast. It beats the long slow ride to the south if you’re in a hurry or not interested in sightseeing. The road is long and smooth.

Beautiful views on a newly paved stretch of road. We could not believe how litter-free the sides of the road were.

We spend two days driving the Big Island. They is so much diverse landscape. You go from lava fields to grasslands to jungle to some pretty arid areas. We did the north island one day and the south on another day which worked our great. Highly recommend.

One of the best things about modern day Hawaii is the improvement in the roads. They are so much more accessible than in the past This is a very pleasant ride and one of the best ways to get across the island. Its an easy ride and a joy in a car with some pep.

Saddle Road used to be forbidden to rental cars.
Now, it is an awesome highway that only takes 1 1/2 hours from Kailua Kona to Hilo.
Well paved and marked road with lots of lava rock in the area.
There is a park about half way. It has very nice and clean restrooms.
Saddle Road is a great option. Please note: the road is heavily patrolled, and tickets are handed out to speeders. I saw two vehicles pulled over on my way to Hilo.

This highway was under construction for a couple years. Part of it was moved. Now this is a wonderful highway to travel on. Traffic moves very good!

Drove from Hilo to mauna kea, then Kona the next day. Great drive showing vast difference in the country side along the way.

Took the route from Hilo to Kona area. Overall the route is two lanes headed up the mountain each way and then one lane coming down each way, hence three lanes. A relatively smooth route from one side of the island to the other. A faster route than traveling the alternative routes around the island.

This is a recently renovated road and the signage is excellent. Driving from Kona to Hilo, you will go through dry lands, lava fields and lush forests. As a result weather conditions can fluctuate a lot. One section of the road tends to be extremely foggy after dark for some reason (signage will alert you to that).
We didn't see any wild animals crossing the road but there was quite a bunch of roadkill so you should be on the lookout when visibility is limited.

30 years ago this road was gravel. It is now paved and it really the quickest way to Hilo from Kailua or visa versa. At the top you can stop at the observatory visitors center and can go all the way up to the Mauna Kea peak observatories but that is on a gravel road. The road crosses between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in the saddle between the two volcanos.

Did not match many of the reviews I had read- this is a newer, excellent highway. Interesting changes in climate, elevation and flora. Perfect for a trip back to Kona after a long day of exploring the East side of Hawai’i.

This road way allows the traveler a short cut between Hilo and Kona on the Big Island. There are few attractions and a good way to end the day.

Landscape reflects hilly ranch land or high desert on the west side and thicker plant life as you travel east. The road is well maintained and easy to drive even in the rain.

My experiences included rain each day and didn't offer much in the way of scenic views.

This is not exactly an activity or tourist site. It is a road that cuts across the island east and west between the volcanoes. If you are looking for places to stop, continue north and take the 19 through Waimea.

If the drive between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa Volcanos, with views of Hualalai and Kohala Volcanoes in your flank-view isn’t enough, then add on the bonus experience of going from Kona sea-level to Hilo sea-level over the Saddle at 6,632 ft. elevation where you’re high enough to feel the coolness of upper atmospheric conditions with Tropical moisture changing into rain on the eastern side; then you reach a whole new place to explore in either side! I usually drive the lower-end of the speed limit to not over-tax the car, and I love stopping at the rest stop at the apex of the Saddle where there’s clean restrooms and a fun climbing-style jungle-gym for kids and adults alike to stretch their legs. There’s double-lanes on the up-hill roads so don’t feel stressed to speed, and the Police rightfully so will ticket speeders since that action actually proves unsafe for everyone. Going down the hills the car will naturally want to exceed the speed limit so take your time and control your speed by breaking softly and frequently. Enjoy ... the Saddle Road is the most interesting road in the United States.

This road was not started 10 years ago when we were on the island. This road is fastest way to get to Hilo. 3 lanes of smooth Highway. steep but 60 mph road.

When we first began coming to the Big Island there were places where the road dropped down to a single-wide road. It's now a major highway and easy to travel across the island in a short time. It's wide and safe now. We have travelled this road in various seasons. Even though part of it is considered a high desert, various plants can be in bloom through the year.

If you want to go to Hilo or the Volcano area, You can shorten your travel time at least by 2 hours through this road than choosing Southern road. The risk is high probability of fog, so I recommend you to check the weather before you make your trip. If the weather is clear, you can enjoy nice view of Maunakea. This is really a spectacular!

The direct route between Hilo and Kona-Kailua. In good condition. Steep grades in several stretches. Of particular interest are the many microclimates you'll pass through.

Despite negative comments in all our guides the road is now fully paved and easy to drive. It is quite scenic as well.

It had been 29 years since I had been to the Big Island, and the Saddle Road has been much improved during that time. It is now a smooth surface road that is wide with good side lanes if you want or need to pull over. You drive through a basically barren landscape until you approach the Hamakua coast (windward side). You have good views of both Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa if the weather is clear.

We ended up purchasing the Shuka GPS self guided tour ($10) and followed that route - what an amazing tour! We found caves that you couldn't even see from the road! This road was awesome!

this road is the quick way to get from kona to hilo. there is a rest stop halfway, we always tried to stop to stretch. there are no lights on this road so it gets very dark at night.

If you ever drive on Saddle Road, which we are grateful that it has been rebuilt and shortens one's trip between Hilo & Kona. Prior to it being rebuilt it took several hours to get to one end to another.

There are many Island historic stories/fables that comes to mind while driving in the evening on this beautiful Road. There is a vast field of beautiful trees and animals like pheasants and goats that appear along the way.

Be careful when at times there appear Fog while driving on this Highway; It may be difficult to see and you may have to lower your speed. Within the mist of this heavy Fog you may, as the story tells it, see a Lady in white with flowing beautiful hair wanting to catch a ride.....................The rest of the story, that you will have to figure out yourself........... :-)

It had been a number of years since our return to this isalnd - in years past it was "not recomended" for rental cars - NO MORE! I loved seeing the island from this perspective including all the volcanic cones and vistas.

Beautiful road, for a quick route between Kona and Hilo. Only time we actually saw part of the volcanos due to the low lying clouds. Interesting landscape.

With a limited number of roads to travel from one side of the Big Island to the other we made numerous trips across Saddle Road. The view was never boring with changing weather conditions offering new sights on each trip.

It’s a very nice road, plus it’s a short cut to HILO. Nice rest stop. I have gone through there under construction & raining like heck.

Going over the highway, between two volcanoes will stay with you forever. One can stop take walks but just driving over is a sight to behold.small volcanic cones, huge mountains, clouds, and big sky. Just know it's special.

excellent road but deceptivly a constant steady climb- newish road hence increase speed limit- didnt go further than Manua Kea turn off

The Saddle Road has very much improved from the Kona side up passed the US Army Station due to the narrow highway full of potholes cause tank traffic. It now a lot faster going from Kona to Hilo. You still have to watch out for the sudden rain storms going down onto the Hilo side plus the dense fog banks. Make sure you stop at the top of the Saddle summit to take some wonderful photos.

We crossed tge Big Island a few times and Saddke Road was certainly interesting.
The whole climate and landscape changes, the temperature drops, the landscape becomes very volcanic and barren and the WEATHER, wow. You can go from clear to mist to drizzle to thick fog to pouring rainy in a matter of moments and back again, really cool.
But personally, I would not drive it at night as those conditions would make it quite dangerous with other drivers on the road.
The protests against Manu Kea telescope were happening as we drove through, very emotional and inspiring!
The road itself (new) Saddle road is fine. We did a tiny bit of the old one going down to Hilo, and it was OK for that little part, just small.

This was our first trip on the Saddle Road, but we were impressed. It seems like it was going up forever, and that it was built for the current / future level of traffic, one of the few roads that can make that claim. In short, driving across was a delight. We returned via the northern route, just to see the rest of the route.

This was a tough one to review as better than average due to landscape but not really very good, so more of a 3.5 for me and I chose to round up. This is a desolate stretch of road and the weather conditions can change rapidly due to changes in altitude from Hilo to Kona. At one point we were driving in fog/mist/clouds, who knows. Flocks of free ranging goats so stay aware. Also, make sure your car's fuel tank is topped off and everybody has made a pit stop as there are no amenities on this route.

Quick way to get from Hilo to Kona. Rd is pretty much through the 2 mtns. Good look at volcanic rock, don't take if you are looking for a scenic trip.

Driving this road in a combined rain storm and fog like low cloud cover is an adventure. But it is a shorter return from Hilo to Kona.

The recently reconstructed Saddle Road aka Inouye Highway travels across the center of the Big Island, serving as the quickest route between the west and east side, plus providing a way to view the changing natural environments as you ascend/descend the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa :). There’s the barren lava flow plains at the top, plus lush tropical vegetation on the eastern portion, and rolling grasslands as you head west. At times, dense fog shrouds this road (caution is advised under such travel conditions)... there’s also a nice rest stop about midway too. Enjoy!

Great road to see both Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea views, it was super cloudy at the start coming from Hilo across but the clouds dwindled toward the top and we got some amazing views of the mountains. Cloud formations were pretty cool. A few pull offs so you can take pictures and enjoy the views - though a chilly 54oF in May. There are two lanes, so stick to the right lane if you want to sightsee, you will get blown past by cars on the left. Steep grades and S-curves FYI. ~1.5 hours from Hilo to Kona via Saddle Road.

Despite what I had heard about Saddle road, it was very easy to drive. The whole road is paved evenly. I did not see any gas stations or stores so make sure to fuel and and use the restroom before going across. There are lots of emergency phone stops along Saddle Road. I also had good phone signal.

If you stay in the North West area this road is excellent to get you across the island to visit attractions on the Hilo side.

Compared to the "old" saddle road this is heaven. If you are a birder take time to check out Kipuka 21 (at mile post 21) - beautiful trail and lots of endemics. Or try the Pu'u Oo trail - the trail itself is very interesting and the birding in the area is very good.
For a quick break the Mauna Kea State Park has wonderful facilities -- great for a picnic - tho it seems to always be very windy there. There is also a great birding area called Pu'u La'au just off the road, but you'll want a 4X4! If you are willing to hire a guide you can go into the Hakalau National Forest -- well worth the time and money!

Easy drive to get across the island as well as great views. For the outdoor type walks and cycling. Our trip as curtailed as unable to visit the observatory’s due to the ongoing demonstrations.

I’m reviewing a road, really? Anyway, easy but long drive across the middle of the island. Take the drive on a clear night and stop once you hit 3000 feet altitude for a great star show!

And if you have time, drive thge road to the Mauna Kea Visitors Center. And perhaps ever to the summit if you have a 4 wheel drive.

Our concierge recommended that we take the Northern Coast through Hilo to the Volcanoes National Park and then return on the Saddle Road. Taking Saddle Road shaved a half hour off our trip back to Mauna Kea. The road is well paved. The views are mostly lava rock and mountains on both sides of the road. There is absolutely no place to stop on the way or to get fuel so be prepared for that.

A great ride across the Volcano top. It was somewhat cloudy the day we went but it was well worth the trip. We started in Hilo and went west and we missed our turn but quickly found our way.

This is a beautiful new road with higher than average speed limits for the island. Not a lot of curves and feels very safe, even in the rain. Like most roads in Hawaii, there is very little lighting. You can stop at the state park near the top to stretch your legs or have a bathroom break.

Great way to get to Hilo from Kona. Perfect condition and passing lanes on each end. Made the trip on a motorcycle. It was a bit cooler than the lower road but a lot less traffic and a nice wide Hiway .

My wife and I had to drive back to Kona after visiting friends in Hilo.
The weather was great and the road was empty so we enjoyed it a lot.

We drove from Kona Airport to Volcano National Park, which took nearly 2.5 hours. Our same trip via Saddle Road was just 2 hours. A lot of the rental maps still say this road may invalidate your rental car agreement; however, it is now wonderfully paved and easy to drive with many areas being three lanes. You catch beautiful sights as there are many places to pull out.

The views of the fissures and the red flowers along the route are nice. You will probably be taking the road anyways if you are going between Kona and Hilo.

There are no gas stations along the road, so you may want to gas up before venturing out here

The road is wide, well paved and safe. Traffic is light.

The Saddle Road between Manu Kea and Manu Loa has been in existence for a long time. It was a treacherous route but it has now been rebuilt and is very easy and safe to traverse. If it is raining, which the East side gets often, there is little to see but consider that you are in Hawaii afterall. The road improvement is mainly from Hilo (east side) to an area east of Kona (west side). The road from Kona to the junction with the Saddle Road is narrow but very drivable. It hasn't been upgraded for some time and is about 45 miles long. The Saddle Road provides you with a much shorter, safer route from east to west.

Construction done and makes getting to Hilo and Volcano so much easier! Get to drive 60+ MPH and there is already something to look at!

This road is fine. Most of it is well maintained and easy to drive. The views are lovely and midway across (at the Mauna Kea summit base) is a little park and rest stop. There are also a few places to stop off and explore trails.

We flew into KOA airport but we’re spending the first few days of our trip in Hilo, so we took Saddle Road to travel to Hilo. It was the most direct route and was a beautiful drive. It was interesting seeing the changes in the surroundings going from one side of the island to the other. It was really beautiful. On the way back to Kona, we took the Northern route (Hawaii 19).

We drove he Saddle Road twice, in all kinds of weather. It’s a very nice road, a very easy drive. Put on your cruise control and enjoy the sights.

We took this road twice. Once to go to Mauna Kea Summit. Another to visit the Hawaii Volcanoe National Park. I would probably to both in one day. We were staying at Waikoloa. I would do a morning drive to the national park and stop at Mauna Kea on the way back.

Well maintained road, pay attention in the winter months though. Mother nature likes to drop snow and high winds at upper elevations occasionally.

This road used to be pretty much a narrow dirt road that was interesting to drive on to say the least. It is now paved and a nice road all the way to Hilo. You can go through several different temperature and climate changes on the way over so if going from Kona to Hilo you might want to bring a rain jacket. A trip well worth taking.

I stayed in Hilo for a week and made several trip to Kona. Because of this I drove the Saddle Road numerous times. I still can't get over the how much the landscape changes here. Seeing the lava flow in parts was spectacular. There are several areas to pull off. Watch out for animals as we saw a ton of goats close to the road. The road was in good condition and easy to drive at night.

Drove the saddle road from Hilo to the west coast - what an amazing drive on a great road. Incredible views of both of tallest volcanoes as you drive between them, watching the cloud build and roll down their sides. The only time we were slowed up at all was for the protest camp at Mauna Kea but it was all good natured and no issues on the road. Definitely recommend this drive.

No way you want to speed on this road the views are amazing. Driving in between three huge volcanos. Snow in the mountains in Hawaii

Nice paved road. No more restricted road. Saved 25 minutes than having to go through Waimea, but less scenic. No town or restaurants or shops along the way though.

We drove this road on our last day in Hawaii as part of an all day roadtrip from Kona around the island where we stopped at a few waterfalls, and saw many beautiful flowers, trees & goats!

Easy drive across the island, and a great way to see the landscape. Look for the cinder cones and old lava flows.

A very well maintained highway that connects east and west side of the island. You definitely don't need a 4WD, it's a regular highway.

Great road to Mauna Kea visitors center...and kona side of the island...obey speed limits otherwise you’ll get a ticket...which is pretty easy to do with mainland drivers...enjoy 🤙🏽🤙🏽🤙🏽

The saddle road is not the most direct way to get from Kona side to Hilo side but it is the fastest. And you don’t get car sick with all the twists and turns of some of the older roads. Thanks for the good road!

Lovely road with very little traffic. Our GPS as we went through the army base. Have seen this before at other military places but no issues as only one road. Protesters have blocked entrance to Mauna Kea as likely few hundred tents in a tent city.

Drive down from Waimea to Daniel K highway for the best scenes. Pity the road to Mauna Kea still closed due to current protests on new telescope.

we took this road from Kona to the national volcano park and it is not an inattentive driver! you best be on your A game as if I had rented a sports car to drive instead of the eco-box I had it would have been a more enjoyable drive but a 96 mile drive took 3.5 hours so slow and twisty wins

Fastest way to get from Kona coast to Hilo by a long shot. Great views. On this particular trip was a bit tough as it rained pretty heavy most of the way. This is a great road in good condition. Wish there was more rest rooms I only saw one.

One of the most interesting things about Saddle Road are the changes in vegetation as you travel from one side of the island to the other. There’s a nice rest area and park for kids roughly half way across the island. Be aware of soaking downpours on the eastern half (wet side) - particularly in the afternoon. It’s a faster route than the (also scenic) northern or southern roads around the island.

Easy safe drive from Hilo to Kona. Not much to stop off for but definitely worth the experience. Just make sure you go during the daytime since we did run into some fog patches.

Beautifully surfaced road. Very dark and a bit eerie at night. Mysteriously changes speed limits up and down.

A fabulous route to go quickly from east to west or vice versa.
Road is in great condition and easy to navigate.

Respect the protestors near the summit road. Go slowly and steady. Beware of. Police speed traps on road when speed goes 60-45.

Fast way to cross the island. Beautiful scenery between the mountains and into the clouds. Watch out for the goats!

The Saddle Road has been recently paved and is a nice 2 lane highway connecting Hilo and Kona. Rental cars are now allowed on the road. There are still camps of protestors, protesting the expansion of the Mauna Kea observatory.

I enjoyed my round trip travel to Hilo via Saddle Road for the first time. Well maintained & marked. Scenes were spectacular & shorter route than using 11 from Kona I have used in the before going round volcano rd although scenic also, but foggy. I highly recommend Saddle Rd now that it has been repaired.

We travelled to Hilo via this road. Wow! The day was clear and we could see both Mauna Kea and Maura Loa.

I had been worried about a frightening drive between two volcanoes, but my worries were totally unfounded. There is a substantial climb in elevation starting at sea level near Hilo then climbing up to about 6500 feet. You see an amazing change in vegetation from lush rainforest to temperate to desert and finally almost a lunar landscape with endless lava fields surrounding you. We stopped at the pedestrian crossing and hiked on the old saddle road for a bit. At night, the markers in the road clearly identify lanes. But be aware that fog can roll in very quickly. I felt as if I was in a horror film as the fog seemed to accelerate as it approached our car. I fully expected some slasher or monster to pop out around the next curve. Very eerie. And just as suddenly it disappeared. On a clear evening, we stopped in the parking lot on the road up to Mauna Loa observatory and gazed at stars. Incredible. We did not go up to the Mauna Kea visitor's center or observatory at night. I'm terrified of heights and worried about the steep, curving roads. But stargazing was still excellent at 6500 feet -- seeing an amazing field of stars that you can never see on the mainland. Bring a jacket because it is cold and windy at night. Traffic mostly respected the speed limit. Very easy way to go from Kona to Hilo.

The saddle road made it easy to transverse the island when we went from Kailua-Kona to Hilo. No big sites to see, but interesting landscape and a very smooth road.

Beautiful drive past volcanoes and side vent with many wild goats on the sides. Highly recommend for those who want to escape the beach scenery.

I prefer driving Saddle Road from Kona to Hilo. The downgrades into Hilo aren’t as significant as they are driving into Kona. Make sure your brakes are in good working order and downshift! We had a bit of rain and light fog as we left Hilo. Temperature difference was 20° cooler up there!

Beautiful Traverse!! We stayed in Hilo and were on this road about 6 times back and forth up to the North and back. Limited places to eat, so bring snacks. Great views and beaches if you research before you go.

This highway not only was a very smooth way to get over to Hilo quick and easy but it was also a nice way to see the sights we had not seen before. There was volcanic rock there that still looks like it did right after it flowed from the mountain and then cooled in its place. It was interesting to see how things started growing out of it in the middle of it with nothing else around. We saw an assortment of wildlife also. I really enjoyed the drive.

Perfectly fine drivable road. Do not listen to the people that say this is a 4x4 only road. It is fully paved and free of potholes. Just be careful speeding, it is fairly heavily patrolled by unmarked police cares.

Easy route from Hilo to Kona but currently delays due to protestors at Mauna Kea Rd. Check status before going.

You need to take the road to arrive to the Mauna Kea summit.
It is a mostly all the time 2 lines per direction good road.

The Saddle road is an excellent highway and if you want the quickest way to get from one side of the island to the other it is the best bet. You just need to be very careful of a couple of things. Coming from Kona side it may be sunny and clear and once over the pass heading down to Hilo it can turn into a driving rainstorm or dense fog at times. Great road however but be cautious and don't speed. Also at this time until who knows when, the protestors at the Mauna Kea access road have made it a dangerous, traffic wise, area.

Drove the road several times from Kona to Hilo and to the Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa access road. Sometimes with an amazing clear sight to Hilo far down and up to high Mauna Kea, sometimes through high ans thick clouds. Each time I enjoyed the different weather, sooo interesting. Coming from Hilo you soon will find yourself in a large landscape of black lava as far as you can see, you feel like being on the moon. When you've passed the access road to Mauna Kea the landscapes is changing, many rounded cones on the right and left side, very impressing and the road is going down and down to the Kona coast. Be sure to have enough time, it will take you 1 1/2 h or more.

Loved the trip from Hilo to Kona on Saddle Road. I went from partly sunny to cloudy, foggy, rain then back to not a cloud in the sky. Temperature range was 16 C to 27 C. I was warned about speeding by a local so kept check of speed and as a result many vehicles zoomed around me but that’s OK. Saw many cattle and sheep crossing signs but no animals. I did see several roadkill pigs. So much diversity of landscape on the big Island left me in amazement.

Who would have thought that I would be rating a road as a thing to see and do. And not only that, but giving it 5 stars.

First of all, the road is in great shape. It is smooth and wide. It has passing lanes going up hill and you will be going uphill, from sea level to 5,000 feet or so in the "saddle" between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. If you have time, take the road up to Mauna Kea. It had some great views.

Took this route on the way back from Volcano National Park. After long drive scenic through small towns going to park, we dice des to return via Saddle. Great choice. Direct, less traffic, no small town slow downs. Highly recommend since road is well maintained and smooth

The view was ok, lava fields for the most part. Certainly more interesting at sunrise/sunset. Pretty much just a quick way to get from Kona to Hilo or vice versa. It gets pretty cold at night, well for Hawaii!

Newer road, over deserted landscape, easily driveable and shaved about 30 minutes from our alternate route. We returned home this way after a long day visiting volcano. Beautiful as we headed down to Wakiliea. Like driving through clouds though visibility was decent. Only negative, check to see if there are still protests or construction surrounding giant telescope they want to add mid-way in sacred land.

Beautiful highway that connects the two sides of the island, smooth and well kept road, good view of some of the lava fields, could not go to the observatory because the Hawaiians were protesting a new telescope to be built on the mountain. The Hawaiians believe it to be sacred land and do not want another telescope.

Road is in good repair, enjoyed scenery and wild goats on drive over. A local had recommended we take the northern route, but that. Is way longer. This road gets you cross island efficiently. Where else can you drive between two volcanoes?

Interesting way to cross island. The contrast from one side to the other is surreal. Make sure you have time to try to go to the summit.

Love the drive when not overcast, if your lucky you may even see sheeps/goats, looking up at the telescopes is just beautiful,

Road is so much better than it used to be!
I took than it I used to be, drive peaceful and scenic overlooks. I nice way to pass a rainy afternoon.

Easy drive, perfect to get across the island. We stayed in Captian Cook and took a trip to Hilo. We used this route. It was very clean and had beautiful scenery.

Scenic pass reaching 7000 feet above sea level with pretty views. Mostly the speed limit was 60mph. At night without a moon the stars are super bright.

Great road to get from the dry side of Hawaii to the wet side as well to travel to Mauna Kea observatory

I don’t know why people are saying new Saddle Road is scary (except at night— I didn’t see any lights.) This is nothing compared to any of the Sierra Mountain Passes which are white knucklers. The road is wide, each curve is easy to anticipate and pavement is smooth. Driving the road for the first time was a joy. Super efficient. If you can drive Highway 5 Grapevine (the longest, steepest section of I-5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco, with a 6% grade (about a 1,500-foot drop) over 5 miles on the north end) — you can easily do this.

Traveled from Kona to Hilo to spend time with friends. First time on the Saddle Road. Amazing views. They had forewarned us, as well as those at our resort in Kona to keep our speed and be aware that the weather can change quickly. About three quarters of the way across, the rain and fog set in for about 30 minutes turning it into a bit of a challenge. That being said its still a worth while adventure!

There are no services on this road. There is a really nice park about midway that has restrooms, picnic tables, and a great kids play area.

In the early 80’s this is one of four places that rental cars were prohibited. The road was rough and full of potholes. Not so now. Smooth and well maintained. The summit is about 7000 feet, so you will go through extreme weather conditions from Hilo to Kona. The view is impressive. Add this one to your must see for the Big Island.

Hardly any traffic. Different scenery throughout. Stunning views on both sides. Rainforest, volcano and ocean. Well kept. Easy drive from Hilo to kona.

This is a newish, well-paved road linking Kona and Hilo. The scenery is gorgeous and worth the drive for that reason alone.

During our stay on the big Island, we were in Waikola Village, but it seemed like everything we wanted to see was on the Hilo side of the island. As a result, we kept making the drive across the Daniel Inouye Highway, (Saddle Road) from one side to the other. The road is great and is a very fast way across the island. Of course, that is the reason that you drive it, but it is also a wonderful way to explore different habitats on the island.

There are so many interesting areas to explore along the highway.

1) The Mauna Kea Access road takes you up the the visitor center for Mauna Kea Observatories. (You need a high clearance 4 wheel drive to driveup for the visitor center the the actual observatories.)

2) There are a number of walks that depart from the highway. Our favorite was the Kalana Manu Nature Walk where we heard and saw a number of the native bird species. The walk is easy except a short steep section leading down from the road. Along the walk there are signs identifying a number of the plant species. If you are a birder, you can easily spend an hour on this walk alone.

3) The highway passes through a number of different climate zones with the top area dramatically cooler than the lower stretches. In each zone, you see different plants.

4) There are many wild goats along the lower end on the Waikoloa side. Caution! Most of the goats are black and they can be a hazard in the dark.

5) Near the military base at the top, there is a huge herd of wild sheep.... several hundred...which congregate all up the hill .

6) The weather is quite changeable as you cross the highway. On the west side, it may be 85 and sunny, but as you go over the high point, it can get very foggy and cold.

7) There are no services along the road, but fortunately, there are facilities at the top in the recreational park at the top.

I highly recommend this highway, not only for the rapid transit across the island, but also for all the things you can explore along the way!

Much to our surprise, there is now a paved 3 and 2 lane highway from Kona to Hilo and is no longer considered kapu by the insurance companies. We found it to be a pretty drive with a nice rest stop at the top. It is a lot faster than driving around the Island!!

From Hilo to “the Kona side” of the Big Island over Saddle Road is a unique experience. Up and up then down and down as the vista changes from floral jungle to open plains with pu’u everywhere showing how many old volcanic eruptions there have been over the life of the Island. Then the beautiful Pacific appears, usually sparkling tn the sun, and a wonderful day of swimming and exploring begins.

My friend and I drove over from Hilo to Kona today. The road is wonderful, wide and smooth, a very easy drive, not the road I drove 10 yers ago. The landscape is very interesting and different, yet in many ways reminds me of some of the desert in Idaho.we had things to do in Kona, but... take the time to take time to get on side roads. Take a couple hours, drive up as hogs as they will allow you.

Saddle road is a very curvy road form Kona to Hilo. The changes in vegetation are really lovey. Great scenic drive as well. Just be Carefull, don’t speed, curvy road ahead.

This is an easy drive as of April 2024 (I drove it west to east). The road is well-paved with a shoulder almost along the entire stretch. It also has the only stretch of roadway with speed limit above 55 mph that I came across during my Big Island trip (the limit goes up to 60 mph on some segments). There are scenic views throughout, though I would not call them spectacular. Well worth the drive and definitely the fast way to traverse the island west to east or vice versa.

Designed right, built right, safe, fast, efficient with great scenery passing between MaunaKea and Maunaloa. Great way to move between the west to east sides of the island. Lands you right in Hilo when you are heading East.

If you are into geology or ecology, this is an interesting drive across the Big Island. West to east, you travel from the arid near-desert of the west side of the island across the elevated central saddle (ca. 6500 ft elevation) between Mauna Loa to the south and Mauna Kea to the north, ending in the rain forest on the east side at Hilo. The drive is about 75-80 miles, and takes roughly 2 hours. Along the way you see geologic formations spanning roughly 200,000 years, with some for the more recent flows being from the early to mid-1800s. YOu get to see all four of the main volcanoes: Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Kea, and Mauna Loa, as well as dozens of cinder cone volcanoes. There are NO facilities for the middle 40-50 miles of this trip, so make sure you have gas before you start. There are however, free-range cattle, sheep, donkeys, and goats...lots of goats.

This is a great road to take from one side of the Big Island to the other side. If you are travelling from West to East, be prepared to encounter rain showers about halfway across the island.

We took the saddle road 3 times while touring the big island. All 3 times the road was foggy. I think it’s caused some kind of natural inversion. The road itself is very smooth. It’s s nice drive. Look for wild brown sheep and be careful we saw several crossing the road . I liked driving this road. I’m not sure if I’d want to drive it at night though.

easy drive with great views driving down the middle of the island between Mauna Kia and Mauna Loa. The volcanos are on both sides as you drive.

Unusual, breathtaking beautiful. So interesting to see the hardened lava and plant life struggling to reestablish itself.

Doesn't matter which side of Hawaii big island you start from. Taking Saddleback road over the volcano to the other side is like entering another world. One side rain forest jungle, the other a desolate barren lava landscape. The drive is easy, there are lookout points along the way. The only other way to get from one side to the other is take route 11 around the top or bottom of the island. It's about an hour and a half trip one way.

Very good road connecting east and west on Big Island.
Good views of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa in the morning (before the cloud builds up) but no stopping places.

Now the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, this is a modern quick way to get from one side of Hawaii to the other. Not the narrow, poorly paved road shown here.

Its a waste of time going this way to Hilo. I feel like we wasted a good chunk of the day and skipped some awesome beaches before turning onto the road. Yeah you see lava but that gets old after the first few miles. Its brown and rain heavy sporaticaly.

We drove the Saddle Road a couple of times during our visit and enjoyed the constantly changing vistas on each trip. As you drive from the dry Savannah at sea level in the west side, up through lush grasslands around 1500-2000 ft elevation (watch out for feral goats and hogs in the roadway), and then on to the broad, flat and arid saddle that sits at about 5800 ft. elevation between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. In the afternoon, the play of light and clouds can be amazing. Then you drop through the cinder fields and patches of ohi’a and koa forests and eventually reach the lush, tropical growth of the rainy east side of the island. The northern route between Hilo and Kona through Waimea has its own charms, but the Saddle Road is not to be missed. Take a stop and get out of the car a time or two ( not on the military reservation) to appreciate the full range of environments you can visit during a 90 minute drive.

We used Saddle Road to transition from the Kona area to the Hilo area. The views were spectacular and really showcased the diversity of the island. We lucked out and had a really clear drive for half the way and then it clouded up. To be able to see Mauna Kea on one side and Mauna Loa on the other was awesome.

We wanted to go to the volcano and were up early because of the time difference so we headed out about 6:00am to head to the volcano from the Waikoloa area. Heard they redid the infamous Saddle Road and took it. We were at the apex when the sun rose and it was incredible. Road is well-paved and smooth now and makes the trip much faster than before.

Nice to enjoy a ride over the saddle watching for herds of sheep. Watching both Mauna Kea Mountain and Mauna Loa. Stopping at Mauna Kea State park for a picnic or stretch your legs.

This is a relatively new road cutting through the Big Island to get from Kona to Hilo and back. It is well maintained and definitely cuts the travel time. Much better than following slow trucks on the old route.

Went to see the stars, but had almost a full moon that was lighting up the sky. Still, you could see some pretty deep space up there.

We read some things about this being a dangerous road… These must have been older reviews. There are no problems at all with the road, and it provides good views of Mauna Kea. We saw some remnants of protests across the street from the road to the Mauna Kea Observatory. You do want to take care of gas, bathroom, and food needs before making the trip, because, as others have noted, it’s pretty deserted. Otherwise, it’s a road :-)

Don't listen to anything you may have heard that it is unsafe to drive on the Saddle Road (State Route 200) on the Big Island of Hawai'i. It is the fastest and most direct way to get to and/or from Kona and the Kahala Coast to Hilo and nearby points of interest such as Kilauea Volcano. You also have a lot less of a chance getting stuck behind trucks or local drivers, most of whom drive below the posted speed limit on the Hawai'i Belt highway.
The highway itself is in excellent condition, with smooth well maintained asphalt, nice roomy well marked lanes, and plenty of passing lanes. Cell service is also strong along its entire length. I have AT&T and my wife has T-Mobile. I can't say for sure about Verizon.
The landscape you will encounter is nothing short of breathtaking, including panoramic views of 4 out the Big Island's 5 main volcanoes, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Hualãlai, and Kohala. Along the way, you will pass through several different terrains, including lush forest, low scrublands, grassy rollling hills, and desolate lava fields that resemble the surface of the moon for as far as the eye can see.

Safety wise, the weather can be unpredictable, so avoid excessive speed, and since there are no services along the way, be sure your vehicle is in good operating condition and just to be safe, no less than one third tank of gas.

I would put the Saddle Road, State Route 200 on my must see list when visiting the Big Island of Hawai'i

It's a road. It is in great condition and even has one section with a 60mph limit. Oooh third gear perhaps.

We drove this road several times over a couple of days to get from one side of the island to the other. Each time we drove it, we experienced different things due to the weather. The slow moving clouds that looked like a heard of animals creepy along the base of the mountain was really cool. You get a glimpse of this camp site practically in the middle of nowhere as you turn off to the summit of Mauna Kea that we later learned was because of all the protestors that shut down the road to the summit over the building of a new observatory on the mountain. I believe it lasted for 6 months but the resistance was due to the claims it will desecrate the mountain's sacred grounds. It's quite fascinating what transpired on this windy and cold site.

Gone are the days when you couldn't take a rental car on the Saddle Road!!
It is now beautifully paved, with 2 lanes in many places. The scenery is spectacular, if it's not cloudy. Definitely the best way now to cross the island.
And do go at least to the Mauna Kea visitor center.

People have said not to used the road because it’s not very scenic since it goes thought the island and you don’t see the ocean but we thought it had beautiful mountains. It was the quickest way to get from Hilo to Kona. There are no Services on the road that we saw. Make sure not to get stuck at night since it Pitch black. But got some Beautiful pictures. It also gets very cold because you are on the highest point on the island.

Best road in Hawaii. Smooth and wide, with a great rest stop at the highest point. Rest stop has a great playground area.

Our GPS actually guided us this way, on the way from Kawaihae to Volcano National Park. It was beautiful, and peaceful (the road less traveled).

After years of limitations on travel on the saddle road including limiting rental car travel and dangerous travel conditions, saddle road is now the best option for travel East to West on the big island. While not as scenic as the Northern route along the Northern coast it offers a much faster and less stressful trip. If time is a factor you might want to consider the saddle road. It does offer alternative agendas including access to Mauna Kea and the visitor center and different scenery. If you have the time, do yourself a favor and take both routes.

Its a road that saves time going from one side of the Island to the other, I saw more police on this road than anywhere on the Island, it is a nice drive

wants an enjoyable, faster route to and from Hilo. We
drove it only once, after our many off road site seeing. Such a pleasure ride. Watch speed limits, some up and downs but that is most roads in Hawaii.

What a smooth drive!! Easier on the tires than the lava trails. Lots to view throughout. We enjoyed the mini Pele monument we visited along the way.

Highway is a super fast drive from Waimea to Hilo. Fastastic landscape along the way, lava flows from multiple directions can be seen from either side of the road. Nice little rest stop by the military station is great to stop and have a picnic and take in the area around you. Fern Valley Forest as you drop down the other side is truly unique. Hiking trails available to experience the landscape up close. Currently protesters are camped near the entrance to Mauna Kea, as they try and hold onto the Hawaiian culture pertaining to their lands and the placement of the telescope on top of the mountain.

Not sure when this road opened but it is great. Easy drive and wonderful views. No facilities along the route though so stock up before you leave.

Go the speed limit
Have all your documents in order
They don’t wear body cams they do whatever they like .
Go the speed limit
You can be stopped ( like we were for no apparent reason and asked for Identification.
If your car has anything weird or broken don’t use this road
DO NOT TALK BACK OR TRY TO BE FUNNY
don’t ask questions . Do as they ask
REMEMBER : they all drive their own vehicles not police cars.

Go the speed limit. This road has become a revenue goldmine.

Be careful
.

Drove this twice, from different directions. Nice drive to see another type of landscape in the Big Island.

We were staying on the Kona side of the island and decided to visit Volcanoes national Park, coming back across via saddle Road. The scenery was beautifully stark And peaceful until we came upon thousands of protesters parked and camping on each side of the road for miles, blocking the entrance to the road going up to the Mauna Kea Observatory. The protest Of the building of a new Observatory had been going on for over two weeks with no end in sight. It was on a weekend day, so it is assumed that there are fewer protesters during the weekdays,But it did slow down our progress as all the police were directing cars to move along on the road.

This new Saddle Road did not exist for all our previous trips to the Big Island starting 36 years ago. With bright reflectors marking all the lanes the entire way, this is a driver's delight, especially at night. And, it makes visiting the Onizuka visitors center and the summit of Mauna Kea a cakewalk. Mark from Cincinnati

We stayed in Pahoa and needed to travel the saddle road to get to the sunshine on the other side of the Island in Kona :) . We started to get to know it pretty well. It was a 2 hour trip there and back almost every day. The highway is prestine, I think someone said that it had just been redone. My husband and I loved how the little lights on the road lit up from your headlights at night....we can't have them where we live for the snowplows would wreck them! I don't know which volcano we travelled by every time but it was really magnificent. There are alot of wild pigs, goats and chickens on the road. And some road kill unfortunately :( The clouds can look really crazy scary up there but so cool. I don't remember seeing any toilets along the route so pee before you go! And I'm not sure why at a point there are people living on the lava in self made huts? Would have to look into that more.

Drove from Kona to Hilo. Very scenic - between two largest mountains. Stunning, actually. Coming from Houston, where this length drive is all freeway - this drive was wonderful!!

Well paved highway allowing easy transition from East/West. No amenities but great sights along the way.

This road is likely as cool as others say - but we experienced through a very dense fog one afternoon on the way back to Kailua-Kona from Volcano National Park. Visibility was very poor. I would love to come back on a clear day and drive the saddle.