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How Much Does a Trip to Hawaii Cost?

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Hawaii is often on the short list of dream destinations for a relaxing beach holiday. But a potential trip to paradise doesn’t happen without first asking the critical question: How much is a trip to Hawaii?

The answer varies depending on where you stay and when you travel. We’ve crunched the numbers to give you an idea of how much you can expect to spend so you’re better prepared to budget for a vacation in Hawaii.

Estimated Hawaii trip cost

Beachfront view of the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. (Photo courtesy of Hilton)

We looked at the estimated costs of a 10-night trip for a family of four (two adults and two children) during the peak summer travel season, as well as a seven-night trip for that same family during the shoulder season.

Here are the hypotheticals:

Travel to Honolulu on the island of Oahu, the most popular island for visitors to Hawaii.

Round-trip flights for four from Los Angeles.

A peak-season trip assumes a June 25, 2024, departure, while a shoulder-season trip assumes a May 8, 2024, departure.

We used three property types to assess price estimates:

A beachfront four-star resort: Hilton Hawaiian Village. 

A three-star hotel: Holiday Inn Express Waikiki. 

A condo: Various Waikiki units on Vrbo.com.

Totals include resort fees :

$50 per night at the four-star resort.

$29.49 per night at the three-star hotel.

All management and cleaning fees at the condo units.

Totals include parking costs of:

$68.06 per day at the four-star resort.

$45 per day at the three-star hotel.

Parking isn't included in condo totals (varies by building/unit).

Meals include nightly dinners of about $225, including drinks, taxes and tips. 

At a four-star resort, meal estimates include breakfasts and lunches totaling about $100 per day. 

Costs at a three-star hotel, which includes free breakfast, include only lunches totaling about $50 per day. 

Tightly budgeted meals assume cutting food costs by 60% with cheap eats and/or preparing meals. 

Activities for the 10-night trip include a snorkeling excursion, surfing lessons, a Pearl Harbor visit and a day at a water park. For the seven-night trip: snorkeling, the Pearl Harbor visit and a day at a water park (no surfing lessons).

Economy rental car reserved through DiscountHawaiiCarRental.com or Turo .

$5-a-day tip for housekeepers .

Based on the information outlined above, here are our estimated budgets.

» Learn more: The best times to visit Hawaii by travel style

10-night trip, peak summer travel season

$15,090: Four-star beachfront resort, with a 10-day rental car.

$10,447: Three-star hotel, with a 10-minute walk to the beach and a five-day rental car.

$7,781 Low-cost condo within walking distance to the beach, tightly budgeted meals and a five-day rental car. 

Seven-night trip, shoulder season

$9,574: Four-star beachfront resort, with a seven-day rental car.

$6,488: Three-star hotel, with a 10-minute walk to the beach and a rental car for two days.

$4,936: Low-cost condo within walking distance to the beach, tightly budgeted meals and a two-day rental car. 

Can you beat these numbers? Definitely. Here are tips on how to save on your vacation to Hawaii.

» Learn more: The best island in Hawaii for first timers

How to cut your Hawaii vacation costs

Stay on the beach or rent a car every day, but don’t do both.

Does your idea of a great vacation involve hitting the open road to explore every corner of the island? Then, don’t pay premium prices for a hotel on the beach.

On the other hand, if your dream trip involves tons of time lounging on the sand and splashing in the pool, don’t pay $55 a day for a rental car plus $68 a day to park it when it’s just going to sit there.

Many Waikiki hotels are within walking distance of a car rental agency, so it’s easy to get a car for just part of your trip. Select “Waikiki” instead of “Honolulu airport” as your pick-up and drop-off location for your rental car. If you pick the car up in the morning, then drop it off at the end of the day, you can save a night’s worth of parking costs, cutting down your trip cost.

The downside to this strategy is you may have to wait in a long line to get your car. So send one adult to pick up the vehicle in the morning while the rest of the crew gets ready for the day. And don’t forget to include airport transfers in your budget. Budget about $37 each way, including tip, for a taxi or rideshare between Waikiki and Honolulu airport.

» Learn more: The cheapest rental car companies

Eat cheaper

If your family of four has a nice dinner at the world-famous Duke’s Waikiki, including cocktails for the adults, an appetizer and a Hula Pie dessert to share, you’ll spend about $225, including taxes and tip. Of course, the beachfront views, tiki torches and aloha spirit might be worth it. But you don’t have to spend that much every night.

Step away from the beach and meals get much cheaper. For example, the outstanding burgers at Cheeseburger in Paradise are about $20, as opposed to the $36 baked fish at Duke’s.

In addition, pizza joints, super-affordable ramen houses, authentic Hawaiian diners such as Rainbow Drive-In, chains such as Denny’s and IHOP and fast-food restaurants including McDonald’s, Burger King and Subway can bring your meal costs down.

Or swing into one of the many ABC Stores to pick up packaged salads, sandwiches, yogurt, snacks, drinks or some spam musubi (a slice of grilled Spam sandwiched between or on top of a block of rice, wrapped in nori) to fill up on the cheap.

More affordable yet, you can buy cereal, coffee, milk, sandwich meats and bread to prepare breakfasts and lunches at your hotel or condo.

» Learn more: Is island hopping in Hawaii worth it?

Consider a condo

You can often find a vacation rental just a few minutes from the beach for much cheaper than you’d pay for a hotel.

For example, we found the condo shown below on Vrbo for 10 nights for $1,942 plus tax, for a total of $2,260. And that’s during peak summer travel.

For a seven-day rental during the shoulder season, you can cut your total accommodations expenditure by around $500 by choosing a condo over a hotel.

Many condos have kitchens, too, so you could save money by making eggs or pancakes for breakfast, spaghetti for dinner and packing sandwiches for lunches while you’re out and about.

» Learn more: Travelers: Save on meals with these tidbits

Pay with points and miles

The question “How much is a vacation to Hawaii?” has a much more appealing answer if you pay using airline miles, hotel points or credit card points — which can erase hundreds or even thousands of dollars from your trip cost.

For more information on how to maximize your points, be sure to check out these articles:

The Cheapest Ways to Fly to Hawaii Using Travel Rewards .

How to Travel to Honolulu on Points and Miles .

Where to Stay in Waikiki With Hotel Points .

How to Visit Hawaii On a Budget .

The Best Oahu Hotels Without Resort Fees .

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

If you want to go to Hawaii

So how much does it cost to go to Hawaii? It can be expensive. Hidden costs like resort fees and exorbitant parking prices can easily break a budget. But there are ways to save on the cost of a vacation to Hawaii.

Traveling before or after the peak summer season can save a considerable amount. In addition, don’t pay a premium to stay on the beach if you won’t take full advantage of that location, and don’t pay up to $68 a night to park a car as you’re splashing around the pool for several days.

To save big, consider a condo where you can cook many of your meals to save on dining. With these simple strategies, your answer to the question “How much is a vacation to Hawaii?” is one that fits your budget.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

How much is a trip to Maui? What I actually spent on my recent Hawaii vacation (July 2023)

Budget planning for your Hawaii vacation but unsure about what you can expect to shell out in 2023? While estimates can prove helpful, there’s nothing like comparing real life dollar amounts. 

In July 2023, I tracked every penny I spent during my 10-day Hawaii vacation. Here’s how much cash I ended up spending — and how I spent it.

After logging my receipts, I broke down my Hawaii vacation expenses into five categories: transportation, lodging, food, tours and activities, and souvenirs.

In this post:

About my Hawaii trip

What i spent on transportation, what i would have spent on lodging.

• How much I spent on food
• Tour and activity costs

What I spent on souvenirs and gifts

• How much my Maui vacation cost (July 2023)
• Estimated cost for two people to Maui in 2023

As someone who travels to Maui regularly, I don’t usually spend like the average tourist. I don’t typically sign up for tours or other pricey activities such as luau shows (unless I’m writing a review).

However, I recently visited Maui with three family members who haven’t been to Maui for several years. I decided to document all of my expenses during this family trip to share what a typical trip to Maui could cost.

For this family vacation, we stayed a total of 10 nights in Hawaii. While we spent most of our time on Maui, we island hopped to Oahu for an overnight visit with a family member who lives there. 

Some expenses, such as the rental car and parking, were shared among the group. The airfare and rideshare from home to the airport were mine alone.

Transportation total: $1,121

We’re fortunate enough to own a vacation rental condo in Kihei, so I didn’t pay for lodging on this trip. However, I did pay a $175 cleaning fee after my stay.

What would I have expected to pay if I were to rent out the same type of vacation rental? Another unit in my building rented out for a total of $3,543.63 for the same 10 nights when we stayed. This total is inclusive of all fees. Here’s the cost breakdown:

The lodging fees are typical for vacation rentals in the area. At some resorts, you may also have to pay for parking during your stay. Parking was included in our community.

While hotel or resort stays tend to have fewer line item fees (you typically don’t pay a damage protection fee, a service fee, or a cleaning fee at a hotel, for example), I’ve found that the overall cost to stay at a hotel tends to be higher. 

Lodging value total: $3,544 value

How much I spent on food while in Hawaii

While lodging and airfare often dominates the vacation budget for Hawaii, how much you spend on food can easily overtake any careful financial plans for your trip.

During our 10-day stay on Maui (and overnight in Oahu), I spent just under $600 on food. That breaks down to $60.00 per day, or $20 per meal. 

I wasn’t trying to stick to a specific food budget, per se. But my family’s travel style is a slow, casual pace. That translated to more meals at grab-and-go eateries and fewer meals at upscale restaurants that require a reservation.

These are the circumstances behind my daily food expense on this trip:

• We didn’t eat at sit-down restaurants every day. Instead, we opted for food trucks, grocery store meals, and deli counters for hearty plate lunches.
• I don’t drink alcohol, so I ordered water with every meal.
• We had use of a kitchen at our condo, so we opted to reheat leftovers for some meals rather than buying breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day. 
• Sharing some of the larger meals helped lower the food cost — and kept food waste to a minimum.
• During our overnight stay on Oahu, we stayed at a family member’s home and ate out only once. 
• We splurged a few times. On one day, we had lunch at Mama’s Fish House. On another day, we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at DUO (at the Four Seasons in Wailea).

Related: Is Mama’s Fish House worth the cost? Read our honest review of the popular restaurant .

What I ate in a day on Maui

What did I eat during our trip, specifically? This is the actual breakdown of what I spent on food during a few of the days while on Maui.

 For the most part, I generally spent around $50 to $60 per day on food. But splurging on a fancy meal at Mama’s Fish House multiplies that day’s food total. 

Related: Check out our favorite food spots on Maui

While spending a few days on Oahu with family helped lower my food cost slightly, there were a few times during the trip when I paid for more than just my meal. For example, I bought a few large pies and quiches from Maui Pie to split among our group. Because of these infrequent instances when I picked up a meal for everyone, the overall food budget for the trip balanced out to what I would have spent if I didn’t travel to Oahu to be treated to family meals.

Food total: $600

Tour and activity costs on Maui

Tours are another category that can make a drastic impact on your Hawaii vacation budget. Luau show tickets run $150 to $300 per person on Maui. Snorkeling tours and whale watching tours start at around $150 per person. Even a basic farm tour can set you back $75 per person. 

On this trip, we opted for a private snorkeling and stand up paddle (SUP) tour with a local operator. I paid $175.16, which included tax. Our guide took photos during our snorkel and SUP tour, which we paid $50 for. We also decided to tip our guide $50 after the tour.

As an aside, we visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial while on Oahu. We didn’t book a tour, so I didn’t spend any money for this activity.

Related reading: Want to visit Pearl Harbor from Maui without a tour guide? Here’s how.

Tour/activity total: $275

While I typically don’t buy much in the way of souvenirs when I travel, I splurged a bit on this trip. Not only did I buy a few things for myself, but I also bought some small gifts to send back to family members who didn’t join us on this trip. 

Prices listed include sales tax of 4.166%.

Souvenir and gifts total: $327

How much my Hawaii vacation cost (July 2023)

My actual expenditure was less than what’s listed in the total cost, primarily because we stayed at our vacation rental. However, you could argue “loss of use” as a cost, so I’ve included the value of the stay in my totals below. 

Transportation $1,121

Lodging $3,544

Tours/activities $275

Souvenirs/gifts $327

Maui vacation total cost: $5,867 (my actual spend was $1,823 due to airline vouchers, use of my vacation rental, and shared car rental expense with others in my travel party)

Estimated cost for two people to vacation on Maui in 2023

Wondering what the cost estimate for two people would be based on my actual budget data? Using my receipt totals, here’s what the vacation would cost if there were two of us:

10-day Maui vacation budget breakdown for 2 people

Hi, I’m Gina — managing editor, Maui enthusiast, and human behind the keyboard here at Maui Trip Guide. When I’m not on the island at my Kihei condo, you can find me planning my next travel adventure from my home in the Pacific Northwest.

Further Reading...

12 Valuable Tips For A Budget-Friendly Maui Vacation

Don’t Miss Your Flight Home: This Is How Early You Need to Be at Maui’s Kahului Airport in 2022

When’s The Best Time to Visit Maui? Here’s When You Should Book Your Trip (According To The Data)

We're working on updating our site to reflect the changes resulting from the recent wildfire tragedy. This includes updates on Maui businesses and sites as we receive incoming reports. Please read our message about the wildfire, along with resources for how to help those on the island, here . Mahalo.

• Travel Planning Guide

Travel Budget for Hawaii Visit Hawaii on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Hawaii Costs

• Hawaii Hotel Prices
• Cities in Hawaii Hotel Prices
• Best Hotels for One Night in Hawaii
• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Hawaii
• Best Beach Hotels in Hawaii
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• Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Hawaii
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• Best Hotels for One Week in Hawaii
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• Is Hawaii Expensive?
• How much does a trip to Hawaii cost?
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• How much does it cost to travel to Hawaii? (Average Daily Cost)
• Hawaii trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

Is Hawaii expensive to visit?

• How much do I need for a trip to Hawaii?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to Hawaii?

You should plan to spend around $342 per day on your vacation in Hawaii. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $77 on meals
• $37 on local transportation
• $427 on hotels

A one week trip to Hawaii for two people costs, on average, $4,782 . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 342
• One Week Per person $ 2,391
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 4,782
• One Month Per person $ 10,248
• One Week For a couple $ 4,782
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 9,565
• One Month For a couple $ 20,495

Help other travelers! Answer some quick questions about your past travels. Click here: let's do it!

How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to Hawaii cost?

A one week trip to Hawaii usually costs around $2,391 for one person and $4,782 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to Hawaii on average costs around $4,782 for one person and $9,565 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Hawaii will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to Hawaii on average costs around $10,248 for one person and $20,495 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently to Hawaii has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

Hawaii is a somewhat more expensive place to visit. Located in the United States of America, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will need to plan for the extra expenses of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its overall travel expenses. When visiting, expect to pay somewhat higher prices for accommodation, food, and activities.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Hawaii is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, Hawaii is generally more expensive than most.

For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Hawaii Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to Hawaii?

The average Hawaii trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Hawaii travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in Hawaii

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Hawaii is $214. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Hawaii is $427. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 214
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 427

Hotel Prices in Hawaii

Looking for a hotel in Hawaii? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Transportation Budget in Hawaii

The cost of a taxi ride in Hawaii is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $37 per person, per day, on local transportation in Hawaii.

• Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 37

Recommended Services

• Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Luxury SUV(up to 5… Viator $ 130
• Honolulu Private transfer to Airport/Port/Hotel (1-12 Passengers) Viator $ 129

Flights to Hawaii

Rental cars in hawaii, food budget in hawaii.

While meal prices in Hawaii can vary, the average cost of food in Hawaii is $77 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Hawaii should cost around $31 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Hawaii is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 77

Recommended

• Farm to Taco: A Farm to Table Cooking Class Viator $ 149
• Hanalei, Kauaʻi Walking Food Tour Viator $ 129

Entertainment Budget in Hawaii

Entertainment and activities in Hawaii typically cost an average of $38 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 38

The Go City Oahu Pass offers great discounts on attractions in Oahu. With the Go City Explorer pass, you can choose to visit specific sights and attractions at a discount. Or, you can visit as many included attractions as you like with a multi-day All-Inclusive Pass. The average visitor saves 30% off of the regular admission prices.

Recommended Activities

• Private Stand Up Paddle Boarding Tour in Turtle Town, Maui Viator $ 149
• Voted #1 on Maui. VIP, Private Road to Hana backstage pass tour Viator $ 299

Tips and Handouts Budget in Hawaii

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in Hawaii is $12 per day. The usual amount for a tip in Hawaii is 10% - 20% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 12

Alcohol Budget in Hawaii

The average person spends about $19 on alcoholic beverages in Hawaii per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 19
• Whiskey Tour - Koʻolau Distillery - Kailua, Hawai'i 96734 Viator $ 25
• History Tour Pub Crawl in Waikiki Viator $ 45

Water Budget in Hawaii

On average, people spend $15 on bottled water in Hawaii per day. The public water in Hawaii is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 15

Hawaii On a Budget

Food and Dining

Transportation.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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2024 hawaii budget calculator & cheapest times to visit.

The first step toward planning a great vacation is to budget for it. That way, you can ensure that you have enough to spend to make the vacation worthwhile and possibly save some money in the process. There are many things to budget for any vacation, and Hawaii is no different.

You will have to budget everything from airfare to food costs for a Hawaii vacation. There are also some essential things that you will need to budget for, such as attractions and where you will stay.

The following article is a detailed description of everything you need to know when budgeting for a trip to Hawaii. It covers everything from when you leave for the airport the morning of the trip to returning home once it is over.

— article continued below —

Visiting Hawaii soon? Be sure to grab a copy of one of our updated Hawaii Visitor Guides .

~ Trusted by Millions of Hawaii Visitors Annually ~

Hawaii Trip Costs Summary

This article has the general expenses for planning a trip to the Hawaiian islands. It also has a calculator to help you with an estimated total cost amount.

Click any topic link below to drop to that section on this page.

How Much Airport Expenses Cost

How much accommodation expenses cost, how much vacation activities cost.

• Hawaii Budget Calculator - Trip Cost Estimator

Airport expenses can vary depending on multiple factors, such as what airline you choose and if you purchase any snacks or meals. There are also parking fees and baggage fees to consider.

Airport expenses are one of the most expensive things to budget for on a trip to Hawaii, aside from the hotel or vacation home you decide to stay at. Since there are multiple airlines to choose from, it’s difficult to pinpoint precisely how much airport expenses will cost.

The main things to consider when budgeting for the airport are:

• The plane tickets
• The baggage fees
• Any snacks or meals
• Parking fees

There are also ways to save money on each of these expenses.

Plane Tickets

The average forecasted prices for flights to Hawaii in 2023 are:

• $925 for the East Coast 
• $490 for the West Coast
• $810 for the Midwest
• $1,120 for international flights

However, ticket prices can still vary depending on multiple factors.

When planning a trip to Hawaii, the first thing you should purchase is airplane tickets. Purchasing them two or three months in advance will save you a significant amount of money and ensure you have a flight when you plan to go.

If you are traveling from anywhere on the East Coast of the United States, tickets usually cost about $925 per person for a round-trip flight. If you are traveling from the West Coast or the Midwest, they are slightly less expensive. Flying from the West Coast costs about $490 per person round trip, while Midwest flights cost about $810 per person round trip.

Landing an Inexpensive Flight

The highest flight prices are for those traveling internationally to Hawaii. If you are traveling to Hawaii from somewhere outside of the United States, then the average cost of round-trip airfare is about $1,120 per person. However, ticket prices can fluctuate depending on two main things, the airline you purchase from and when you purchase the tickets.

The majority of inexpensive flights to Hawaii land in Honolulu or Maui. As for which cities have the most affordable flights heading toward Hawaii, California, and other West Coast states, they are the ones to go for. If you want to save money, you could drive to California and fly to Honolulu or Maui. It’s also recommended to search multiple airline websites for ticket prices to find those that fit your budget.

The other main factor that can help you save money on plane tickets is the time you buy them. It is recommended to buy them at least two months before you plan to leave, but there are also certain times of the year that are better for a Hawaii vacation than others. The worst and most expensive times to go to Hawaii are during its peak seasons during the summer months and major United States holidays.

Everything is much more expensive during the peak seasons, not just airfare tickets. To save money and time, the best times to fly to Hawaii include the following:

• Late summer
• After the winter holidays
• Before Thanksgiving

Not only will you have a higher chance of booking a flight for a reasonable price, but you will also be able to save money and time on other vacation expenses.

Baggage Fees

The average cost of airport baggage fees is around $50 per bag. These fees must be paid if you have bags that exceed a specific weight limit or have more than two bags. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid paying this fee or save money on the cost if you need extra bags.

If you have a bag over a specific weight limit or more than two bags, you will need to pay an airport baggage fee. The average cost of airport baggage fees is about $50, but it can vary depending on how heavy your bag is or how many you have.

The best way to avoid paying this fee is to pack light. Having a personal item with you at your seat and a small carry-on bag that can fit in the overhead compartment is the best way to ensure you don’t have to pay for baggage fees. You can also include more items in your bag to avoid having to check a bag if it’s over a certain weight.

If you need to check a bag, there are a few ways to make it less expensive. One way is to check the bag at the airport gate rather than check in for your flight. The airline might offer a free bag check to ensure everyone’s luggage gets on if your flight is full. This method isn’t guaranteed, but it’s worth a shot as long as your bag fits the weight requirements instituted by the airline.

Another way to avoid paying the full baggage fee is to get a discount. Whether a military discount or a discount through elite flight status, any deal can make a considerable cost difference in the long run.

Meals and Drinks

The price of snacks and meals at the airport varies depending on how much you purchase. The average price of snacks and meals is around ten dollars, which can add up fast if you buy a significant amount.

Snacks, meals, and drinks from the airport usually cost about ten dollars. Some airlines offer free snacks on flights, but you still have to pay for meals, drinks, and snack packs. The cost of meals and snacks can rack up fast. Fortunately, there are ways to save money at the airport.

The primary way to avoid buying meals and drinks at the airport is to bring your food. Most small snacks can get past security, such as fruits and vegetables, and having small snacks available will make you less tempted to purchase snacks from the airport and save you money.

Another great way to stay full and save money on snacks is to eat lots of protein-filled snacks, such as protein bars. Protein will help you feel full for an extended time, lessening your chances of getting hungry and buying food at the airport. If you need to stop at a layover, it’s recommended to pack snacks that can keep over time. The most popular snacks include nutrition bars and trail mix since they are filling and can last for days in a backpack.

Parking Fees

Parking at an airport isn’t ideal if you’re on a budget, but it’s doable with a few money-saving tips. The average cost for parking at an airport is anywhere from $42 to $273 for one week, and the prices vary depending on the airport and how long you want to park your car there.

It’s recommended that someone drive you to the airport or take a taxi to avoid airport parking fees altogether. But if you do need to park your car at the airport, you can expect to pay around $42 to $273 for one week of parking. The prices might be a little more or less expensive depending on the airport and how long you park there, but there are ways to save money on parking for any circumstance.

The best ways to save money on airport parking are to book parking in advance and look for coupons. Reserving a long-term parking spot a month or so before your flight can save you significant money. You should contact the airport you plan to fly from to check advanced scheduling versus drive-up rates.

Another way to save money on airport parking is to look online for coupons. Even a Google search with the name of the airline you plan to park at and the word “coupons” after it can turn up some unexpected finds.

When you get to Hawaii after your flight, the next step is to find somewhere to stay. Hotels and vacation rentals are popular, but you also have to determine which one works best for your budget when including parking and food costs.

Getting to Hawaii is half the battle, but booking accommodations for when you get there is also essential for budgeting your stay. The primary things that need to be budgeted for accommodations include the following:

• Hotels or Resorts and/or Vacation rentals
• Parking and rental car expenses

There are multiple ways to configure accommodations that can work for your budget.

Hotels and Resorts

Hotel and resort prices vary depending on how many stars they are rated. The average cost of a three-star hotel is about $350 a night, while a four-star resort is about $455 a night. Lastly, most bed-and-breakfast inns are about $190 a night.

Hawaii is famous for having beautiful hotels and resorts that are steps away from beaches and other island attractions. However, their price varies depending on their star ratings and how much they offer their guests. For example, the average cost of a room at a four-star resort is about $455 a night, but you will also likely be right next to a beach and other attractions.

A three-star hotel in Hawaii may also be near a beach and is less expensive at $350 a night. However, you might not have access to other attractions or amenities. If you decide to stay at a standard bed and breakfast inn, this is the least expensive option at $190 a night. But a traditional inn likely won’t be near a beach, and you’ll only have access to a room and one meal.

For budgeting purposes - the average statewide cost of a hotel room in Hawaii is roughly $375/night  as of this writing. Each island has a price modifier to help further estimate costs by island. The price modifiers are as follows:

• Oahu - Price is approximately 68.55% of the statewide average 
• Maui - Price is approximately 163.22% of the statewide average
• Kauai - Price is approximately 98.63% of the statewide average
• Big Island - Price is approximately 105.90% of the statewide average

 These modifiers are based on average hotel rates in Hawaii, so they might differ if you park and stay at a rental home.

Hawaii Statewide Hotel & Vacation Rental prices in 2022

Vacation Rental Homes

Renting a vacation home has become trendy over the last few years. The average rent per night for a Hawaii vacation home is $170, and there is also an average tax rate of 18% on rental houses.

Renting a vacation home can be a great way to save money on accommodations. But the prices fluctuate depending on where the rental home is located and which type of home you select. If you choose an average rental home, the average rate is about $170 a night, much less expensive than a hotel or resort room. But if you rent a luxury home, the price can increase to over $1,000 per night.

It’s also important to note that the average tax rate is about 18% on rental homes in Hawaii, so it’s recommended to factor that in when choosing which one to stay at.

If you’re still undecided on where to stay during your vacation, you can expect a statewide average of about $335 in shelter costs. The island modifiers we discussed above are also applicable to vacation rentals.

Parking and Rental Car Fees

You will likely have to rent a car to get around the island, and parking and gas fees come with that additional accommodation cost. The average is about $30 per night for rental car parking.

The best way to get around the island is to purchase a rental car. In addition to how much you pay for the rental car, there are also parking and gas fees to worry about. The first step is to determine what kind of rental car you want. The average rental car prices in Hawaii include the following:

• $70 per day for a regular car
• $110 per day for an SUV
• $125 per day for a convertible
• $150 per day for a luxury car

Once you know which car you want, you must figure out parking and gas fees. The average cost of gas in Hawaii is about $4.95 - $5.15 per gallon, so you can expect to spend about $75-$100 on gas alone. Your rental vehicle's fuel efficiency and the total miles driven during your visit will determine the total amount.

Even if you're staying somewhere with restaurants close by or accessible continental breakfasts, you will likely have to purchase and cook most of your food. The average cost for ​​breakfast is $15 per person, lunch is $25 per person, and dinner is $45 per person.

Food in Hawaii is expensive, even if you don’t go to a restaurant for each meal. The average cost of food per person per day is about $61, but it can fluctuate depending on where you eat and how many people you go with. Fortunately, there are also some ways to save money on food costs during your vacation.

Planning your meals ahead of time and how much they will cost can give you a good idea of what to buy and cook and which restaurants you want to visit. It can help you plan out which ingredients to use in multiple meals and is the most cost-effective way to try everything the island offers. You can also bring any spices or pantry staples you already have to avoid buying them there.

For anything you need to buy fresh there, such as fruit or vegetables, it’s recommended to shop at local stands. They are usually much less expensive than supermarkets or chain stores, and you also get to experience Hawaiian culture while at it.

The last piece of budgeting for your Hawaii vacation is figuring out fun activities while you’re there. There are so many different activities for you, ranging from island tours to exploring local souvenir shops.

While the beach is part of an excellent Hawaiian vacation, you can do plenty of other activities while you’re there. Each island has beautiful tours and excursion experiences, not to mention all of the local shops and attractions you can explore. The average price for attraction fees is about $45 per person, but it fluctuates depending on what attractions you do.

Guided Tours and Excursions

The average cost for guided tours and excursions is about $50 to $100 per person, and the price fluctuates depending on what is included in the tour or excursion. If you want to explore state or national parks on your own, you can expect to pay about $35 per person.

Hawaii offers a wide variety of tours and excursions for you to choose from. Tours usually include a guided tour of the island's most beautiful and historical parts. You can ride on a bus or other mode of transportation and listen as a guide tells you about the stories behind different island sites.

On the other hand, you can do excursions while exploring the island. They usually include scuba diving, hiking, and other activities that explore the island, along with a guide. The islands also have state and national parks that you can explore independently. Each of these activities is optional, but it’s highly recommended to budget for a few so you can experience everything Hawaii offers.

Shopping and Souvenirs

Shopping and souvenirs are also optional, but it’s highly recommended to budget for them just in case. The price of shopping and souvenirs depends on how much you’re willing to spend, so deciding on a number that’s comfortable for you is the best practice.

There are multiple places to shop for souvenirs and other keepsakes on any Hawaiian island. Since their price highly depends on the shop and how much you’re willing to spend, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how much shopping and souvenirs will cost.

The best practice is to come up with a number you’re comfortable with plus a little extra. This will give you some breathing room when deciding how much to spend.

Attraction Parking Fees

The majority of Hawaiian attractions also have parking fees. They vary depending on the attraction, but the average cost of attraction parking is about $3. Fortunately, there are usually a few free parking areas near the attraction, but you’ll have to walk a bit and get there early.

Parking lots close to any attraction usually have a fee of about $3, allowing you to park there for a full day. However, a quick google search about any free parking lots near the attraction can save you from paying any fee. The only downside is that you’ll likely have to walk a bit from the parking lot to the attraction. On the plus side, you might get to see more of the island by walking than if you did while driving.

It’s recommended to look up any parking fees the attraction has before you book it to be sure that you’re prepared. Some excursion attractions even have an option where a shuttle or bus will pick you up from your hotel or rental home and then drive you back at the end of the day. This option can be beneficial if you’re trying to avoid car and parking costs altogether.

Final Thoughts

There is a lot to budget for when planning a Hawaiian vacation. But planning out everything you can in advance can make the entire experience much less stressful and help you make the most of an incredible trip.

2024 Hawaii Budget Calculator

Estimate the cost of your hawaii vacation.

Aloha, guest readers can calculate five (5) trip cost estimates for Hawaii each day. Rates included within this calculator are based on projected 2024 rates aggregated from current OTA pricing. Rates will be updated regularly.

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Calculator overview.

This calculator is designed to provide both a comprehensive and regularly updated budget estimate for planning a trip to Hawaii. Currently, rates are applicable for 2024. Generally, these rates should provide a good estimate for any time period between 2024 and early 2025.

This budget tool considers all of the following:

• Hawaii Flight Costs including airfare from various destinations, baggage fees, etc.
• Hawaii Accommodation Costs including different lodging types, Hawaii's now roughly 18% accommodation tax, parking fees (if applicable), which island you're staying on, etc.
• Hawaii Vehicle Rental Costs including various types of vehicles, fuel costs, and number of miles driven daily.
• Additional Costs including dining + gratuity, visitor fees to parks, etc., and Hawaii Tours and Activity costs.

Hawaii Flight Costs

First, consider your flight costs to Hawaii. Select your departure location, update the number of travelers (if applicable), and check whether you expect to pay baggage fees, below.

Hawaii Accommodation Costs

Next, let us know which island you'll be visiting (select the primary island if you're visiting more than one), select a lodging type/classification, update the number of nights (default is set to a week), update the number or rooms (if applicable), and check whether you expect to pay parking fees (common in more densely populated areas on Oahu and/or Maui).

Statewide Rate : 18%

Hawaii Car Rental Costs

Now, let's consider your vehicle rental costs (if applicable). If you're not renting a car, select 'No Car,' but for most visitors, we highly recommend a rental. Update the number of days (which will default to +1 day more than you selected in accommodation nights) and choose an estimate for your mileage each day. If you're not sure, we recommend you leave the default option selected.

If you select 'No Car' this will be zeroed out by default!

Other Hawaii Costs

Finally, consider a few last potential costs and fees for your trip. There's dining (we've included gratuity in the estimates), and we've selected all three meal options by default. Then, there are potential fees for parks and other attractions, which are a relatively new factor to now consider when estimating a Hawaii budget; select the applicable options below. Finally, select the amount, if any, you expect to spend on Hawaii Tours and/or commercial Activities. Be sure to update the number of people dining and people the fees/tours apply to if applicable; these numbers will default to the same number of people you selected previously for this trip estimate.

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If you're visiting another island, please let us know below. This will not affect the estimate or rate you're provided. This is for research and calculator improvement purposes only. Mahalo!

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Maui Resources

Insider tips for travellers to Maui

How Much Does a Trip to Maui Cost?

How much money will you need in  Maui ? If you stay in a luxury area like Wailea, you probably aren’t as cost-sensitive as someone looking to Airbnb their way across the Island in the off-season, so costs for a Maui vacation vary.

• Overall, $300 is the  average  daily price for traveling in Maui, assuming you are sharing a room with someone else and can split that cost. This includes the average price of meals in Maui for one person for one day (around $75-$100), and the average price of a hotel in Maui (at $150-$250).

This amount will cover the cost of accommodations, food, and some activities, but it does not include airfare or transportation to and from the airport. You can certainly spend more or less than this amount depending on your preferences and budget.

Key Maui Cost Takeaways

The average price of a 7-day trip to maui, according to aggregate data, is:.

• $2,515 for a solo traveler,
• $4,517 for a couple, and
• $8,468 for a family of 4 .

Average cost of Maui accommodations:

• hotels: $102 to $467 per night with an average of $181,
• vacation rentals will cost $240 to $440 per night for the entire home.

Average cost of flights to Maui:

• $930 and $1,500 per person for economy flights and
• $2,915 to $4,707 for first class.

Other budget considerations for a trip to Maui:

• Depending on activities, expect to spend between $69 to $161 per person per day for transportation and experiencing local restaurants.

[Above data is according to ChampionTraveler.com ]

The Cheapest Times to Visit Maui, Hawaii

There are many factors that can affect the cost of a trip to Maui, including the time of year, day of the week you fly in and out, how you choose to travel, where you stay, and what activities you do. It’s difficult to provide an accurate estimate without knowing more about your specific plans.

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to OGG and stay in a Maui hotel:

• January 8th to March 4th
• April 16th to April 29th
• August 20th to December 9th (except the week of November 19th)

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Maui is usually early September . But is September the best month in which to visit Maui ?

Cheapest Times to Buy a Flight to Maui

Considering flight price data globally, prices range from a high of $1,500 average in late December to a low of $929 in early September .

The best deals on flights are Tuesdays! On average, flights from Maui are always a little more expensive than flights to the island.

Example Cost of Trip to Maui for Budget Travelers

A savings tip: Stay in a condo or private accommodation instead of a hotel.

Aside from the fact that condo rental is cheaper (generalizing), there is a second significant savings for staying in a condo – you are saving time packing up and moving each day, and skipping the expensive hotel breakfasts every day. You can self-cater many meals and you will have a decent-sized fridge in which to store leftovers.

If you stayed in a condo you could easily get back $100 per day per couple, compared to staying in a hotel, simply based on room cost difference and breakfasts and lunches you prepared yourself rather than paid for at a hotel. And the savings and convenience could be substantially more than that depending upon where you were planning to stay.

What to Do in Maui On a Budget

• Choose accommodations that are close to things you like to do, to save time and on transportation costs. For example, by staying at a resort on the beach, you can maximize beach time every day.
• Eat and drink at budget-friendly food places.
• Visit Haleakala National Park for hiking and watching epic sunrises and sunsets.
• Take a free historic walking tour in Lahaina, or explore by yourself.
• Find a hike near you and go for a walk!

Here are a few more suggestions for things to do on Maui on a budget:

• Visit the beach : Maui has many beautiful beaches that are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing. Some of the most popular beaches include Ka’anapali Beach, Wailea Beach, and Makena Beach. Many of these beaches have public access and do not charge an admission fee.
• Take a hike : There are many scenic hiking trails on Maui that offer stunning views of the island’s natural beauty. Some of the best budget-friendly hikes include the Waihe’e Coastal Dunes and Wetlands Preserve, the ‘Iao Valley State Monument, and the Wai’anapanapa State Park .
• Go snorkeling : Snorkeling is a great way to see the colorful marine life that lives off the coast of Maui. You can rent snorkel gear from a local beach shop or tour operator, or you can bring your own.
• Explore the island by car : Renting a car is a great way to see the island on a budget. You can drive to different parts of the island and stop at landmarks and attractions along the way. Your biggest decision will be what should you do in one day – the Haleakala sunrise AND Road to Hana or to devote two days to appreciate all the sights.
• Visit a local farmers market : Maui has several farmers markets where you can find fresh produce, handmade crafts, and other local products. Visiting a farmers market is a fun and budget-friendly way to experience the local culture and try new foods.

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing; for example, on Maui a fine dining restaurant with drinks can easily cost $580 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be under $40 per person. Here are some ideas for eating for less on Maui .

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Maui Trip Planning For Happy Travelers (2023): Step-by-Step Guide

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Congratulations on picking which Hawaiian Island to visit . With whale watching, the Road to Hana, phenomenal beaches, and so much more, Maui trip planning can be stressful. Here are the essential details on how to plan a trip to Maui.

We called Maui home for numerous years and now our family returns every few months. Here are the steps we take, plus extra details, to plan your trip to Maui. Whether this is your first trip or your 50th, we have you covered.

Planning a Quick Trip? We have you covered. Jump into Maui trip planning with quick links to all of our best Maui information: Our full Maui Travel Guide Maui Done-for-You Itineraries A curated list of our favorite tours & activities Your guide to Maui Whale Watching

Maui Trip Planning: What You Need to Know Before You Book

With this step-by-step guide, we will have you confidently finish your Maui trip planning. With ways to save, videos, and insider tips, we have your back for the best trip ever to the Valley Isle.

If you’re a visual learner, see our Maui Travel Guide video below. At a minimum, the video will get you excited about planning your trip to Maui.

1. Best Month to Visit Maui

The best month to visit Maui is September for the best prices on hotels, rental cars, and flights. You will also find the fewest visitors on the island and excellent weather in September.

The best times to visit Maui are the shoulder seasons of September and October and May and April. With schools in session and decent weather on the mainland, demand goes down for a Maui vacation so hotels and rental car companies drop their rates. If you don’t have the ability to visit during the shoulder season, here are ways to have a Maui vacation for less .

We go back and forth on the worst time to visit Maui . You be the judge if a holiday vacation is worth it for your family: How to Plan a Hawaii Christmas Vacation . 

Many Maui trip planners want to visit Maui for whale season. Officially, whale season on Maui is from mid-December till the end of March. See our Maui Whale Guide for details.

For more details on the best month to visit Maui, see our Is There a Best Time to Visit Maui? Yes, and Here’s Why .

2. Cheapest Time of Year to Visit Maui

Maui is by no means a cheap vacation. But there are times when costs are high and other times when your dollar can stretch a bit further. 

The cheapest time to visit Maui is May, September, October, and November. Those months offer the lowest rates on accommodations. 

September has historically been the cheapest time of year to visit Maui due to low hotel rates.

Maui is the most expensive Hawaiian Island to visit ( here is the cheapest Hawaiian Island ). Maui is ranked third in the world as the most expensive sun and sea destination . 

You can save money when planning a trip to Maui by finding a good deal on a hotel. Here are ways to save on hotels in Hawaii !

When are the cheapest flights to Maui? Based on the data, this is the cheapest time to fly to Maui .

3. How Many Days Do You Need on Maui

We recommend staying for a minimum of 5 days on Maui. The average trip to Maui is 8.1 days per the Hawaii Tourism Authority .

Do you want to go-go-go each day and do every activity on Maui? Do you need some days to sit on the beach and do nothing? Or are you purely coming to relax with your feet in the sand and sip a tropical drink?

Once you know the pace you’re going for, you can start building your list of activities to decide how many days you’ll want to stay on Maui .

Our Maui Wayfinder Itinerary includes 8 excursion days that take you all over the island, from Lahaina Town in West Maui to Upcountry Maui . To be honest, it would be exhausting to do all eight days on your trip (pick your favorites!). Hence, figure out what you want to do in the Things to Do Section to better gauge how much time you need on Maui.

Maui Wayfinder Itinerary

Get the maui itinerary.

The step-by-step itinerary takes you to all the best beaches, snorkeling spots, restaurants, and sights. You’ll get six carefully planned excursion days to help you see the can’t miss stops no matter how limited your time is.

Get all the details on our itinerary and download it for a memorable and easily planned trip to Maui.

4. How Far in Advance to Book a Trip to Maui

We recommend booking six months in advance for a trip to Maui. When traveling during Maui’s busy seasons of Christmas and summer, book nine months in advance. 

A caveat, if you’re reading this two months before your trip then don’t sweat it. Our advice here will help you with your Maui trip planning.

We recommend booking six months in advance to secure the best prices for rental cars and hotels. Plus, you will be able to pick your preferred hotel room for the dates you want. 

Things do sell out on Maui so book ahead for peace of mind. As we share in our newsletter often, Book Early is our motto at The Hawaii Vacation Guide. As visitor demand increases to Maui, you will find prices will skyrocket. 

For a nice restaurant, like Mama’s Fish House , then book six months in advance for a table and your preferred date. 

Want something that doesn’t require a booking far in advance? Book a Hawaii lei greeting at the airport. A lei greeting is a fun way to start your vacation!

Our favorite Maui snorkel tours and guided tours don’t sell out until weeks in advance (depending on the time of the year), but you want to ensure your whole family can go on the date you prefer.

Final booking tip: By booking early in your Maui trip planning, you can check to see if prices have changed. Lock in a price and then check to see if the price of the discount rental car or hotel has dropped. Then you can cancel and rebook.

5. Where Should You Stay on Maui?

While there are five main areas on Maui, most visitors stay on either West Maui or South Maui to maximize their odds of sunshine, warm weather, and lack of rain. 

Whether you should stay in West Maui (Ka’anapali, Lahaina, Napili, Kapalua) or South Maui (Kihei, Wailea, Makena) is often a heated debate. We try to help you make the right decision for you with these two articles:

• Where to Stay on Maui: your accommodation guide
• Ka’anapali vs. Wailea: pick your perfect spot

Watch our Where to Stay on Maui video (or our 6 Best Maui Luxury Resorts video ) for an overview of the places to stay on Maui for your Maui trip planning.

6. Should you stay in a hotel or vacation rental on Maui?

Go for a hotel if you’re looking for the traditional resort experience with big pools, nearby beaches, and restaurants within walking distance. Opt for a vacation rental if you want access to a kitchen, are looking for space, or are looking to save money. 

We routinely stay in both. When doing our Maui trip planning, we’ll book a vacation rental for the majority of our stay so we have access to a kitchen and a little more space for the kids. Then we’ll treat ourselves to a great resort for a few days to enjoy the pool and other amenities. This has been a winning combo for us recently. 

If you’re still not sure what you want to do, we break down the difference between choosing a hotel and a vacation rental in Hawaii . We also share how to spot an illegal vacation rental .

7. Do You Need a Rental Car on Maui?

We get this question asked a lot. Oahu is the best Hawaiian Island for not having a rental car . We believe you need a rental car in Maui to do the best things to do , especially things to do with kids on Maui . 

A rental car will be more cost-efficient than using Uber, Lyft, or taxis to navigate Maui. We recommend using Discount Hawaii Car Rental as they have the lowest prices and no pre-payment (tip: book early and watch prices) or a local Maui rental car company .

You can get by without a rental car on Maui by staying in the resort areas of Wailea and Kaanapali. Enjoy a more casual beach vacation with Uber or taxi rides to restaurants or beaches in the area. Here are 11 Tips for Getting Around Maui Without a Rental Car .

8. What to Pack for Maui Vacation

We are all about packing light for a Maui vacation. Erica loves to bring packing cubes to keep us organized and I like to bring sandals (slippers in Hawaii) and t-shirts. 

We witness visitors packing sweatshirts and jeans for their tropical vacation to Maui. The temperature in the resort areas gets down to the low 70s during the night. Maui is a warm place. Unless you’re easily cold, save room in your suitcase with only the essentials.

Here is your essential list of what to pack for Maui:

• Shorts and T-shirts
• One Gorgeous Island Style Outfit
• Comfortable Footwear: sandals and hiking or walking shoes
• Swimsuit (of course)
• Sun-Protective Clothing
• Mineral-Based Sunscreen
• UV-Protective Sunglasses
• Water Bottle

See our What to Pack for Your Hawaii Vacation for our full list. Browse our Travel Gear for recommendations on sunscreen, sun protective clothing, and snorkel gear.

Trip Planning When You’re on Maui

The main elements of your Maui trip planning are now complete (airlines, flights, and rental car), here is what to consider once you’re on Maui. 

9. Understand the Geography

Geography on Maui is important because it will affect the weather you experience and what you do while on vacation. One big thing to understand about geography is that each island has a windward (wet side) and a leeward side (dry side)

On Maui, the leeward side of the island includes some great beaches, like Wailea Beach and Ka’anapali Beach. Hence, the resorts are located here to soak up the sunny days as rain is less frequent. 

The windward side of the island is home to the Road to Hana and a lot of beautiful waterfalls. The Road to Hana is a jungle drive thanks to all the rain on the windward side of the island. While mentioning the Road to Hana, decide here if it is worth driving during your Maui trip.

10. Eat Local on Maui

No Maui trip planning is complete without where to eat. Maui has some of the best food in the Hawaiian Islands. Here are some tips on where to eat on Maui. Eating local is one way to have an authentic Hawaiian experience .

• Fresh, locally caught fish : If you’re a seafood fan, don’t miss out on the fresh fish. You can enjoy it at either a restaurant or at a fish market. You’ll see options like Mahi Mahi, Ono, Opah, Ahi, and more.
• Maui food trucks are the best in the Hawaiian Islands. Enjoy fresh ingredients, experimental chefs, and food truck parks for the whole family. See our Ultimate Maui Food Truck Guide on where to eat.
• Locally grown produce : Enjoy dragon fruit, coconut, lilikoi, pineapples, locally produced honey, and more. We love doing Maui farm tours , but if that’s not part of your vacation itinerary, try a farm-to-table restaurant like Pacific’O in Lahaina or Ula’Ula Cafe . You’ll get to sample some island flavors while supporting the agriculture industry here. There is a large farmers market in Kula on Saturdays and another in Napili.
• Traditional Hawaiian food : You don’t need to go to one of Maui’s best luaus to sample some traditional Hawaiian dishes. Look for dishes like poi (taro that has been pounded into a paste), laulau (meat wrapped and cooked in taro leaves), kalua pig (slow-roasted pork cooked in an underground oven), and poke (diced, raw fish that is wonderfully flavored).
• Shave ice : Not shaved ice. You may think that this is like a snowcone, but it couldn’t be further from it. Soft fluffy ice shavings that are flavored with different syrups and creative flavor combinations. You might also have the add-on of fruit and ice cream. It’s so, so good. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice is our favorite on Maui and is located all over the island.

Want to know the best Maui restaurants? Here are our Kihei and Wailea restaurants and Lahaina restaurants to eat at.

For a local experience, watch our 5 Favorite Maui Food Experiences for ideas to wow your partner.

11. Things to Do on Maui

Perhaps you jumped straight to this one for your Maui trip planning. Understanding what you want to do on your Maui vacation helps decide where you want to spend your time and money, and even where you want to stay. 

Here are the most popular things to do in Maui.

• Humpback whale season is from mid-December till the end of March. We found Maui to be the best Hawaiian island for whale watching. Our Maui Whale Guide will tell you how to do it right or enjoy one of our seven favorite Maui whale tours .
• Haleakala National Park is a stunning destination. See the endangered Nene bird and Silversword (‘ahinahina in Hawaiian) that only grows at the summit. Go hiking for the day and decide if the Haleakala sunrise or sunset is right for you.
• Napili Bay is a beautiful bay on Maui’s northwest shore. Come for the day to swim and snorkel with Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles (stay 10 feet away in the water). As a bonus, The Gazebo is great for breakfast and the Sea House is excellent for happy hour and dinner to end your day. Both are located on Napili Bay.

See the articles below for so many more things to do on Maui!

• 33 Things to Do on Maui: Leave the Crowds Behind
• 68 Things to Do on Maui with Kids
• 14 Things to Do on Maui on a Budget
• 16 Things to Do in Lahaina, West Maui

12. Can’t-Miss Activities and Tours

A tour is not required for your Maui vacation. Maui is full of things to do that are free or low cost. But, Maui has some amazing tours and excellent tour companies to take you out on the water or explore the island. 

See all our researched and vetted Maui tour companies here . We also have Hawaii Vacation Guide Coupons for many Maui tour operators. 

Here are the most popular Maui tours:

• Road to Hana is best done with a local guide. The dangerous road is now more challenging with traffic and no parking tickets (see our Road to Hana Etiquette ), so let an expert take you to all the best stops. Save 10% with promo code HVG10 at checkout.
• Molokini Crater is a unique Hawaii snorkel destination. The crystal clear water and vibrant reef are worth a morning snorkel trip. Let our favorite catamaran crew take you out from South Maui for a sunrise or mid-morning tour .
• Whale Watching is a must when you visit Maui from December through March. See our seven favorite whale-watching tours to pick the tour right for you.

13. Use the Right Sunscreen on Maui

Starting in 2021, Hawaii required only reef-safe sunscreens to be sold in the state. We share Hawaii reef-safe sunscreen brands here .

Maui has taken further action to protect the reefs around the island. Maui requires only mineral-based sunscreens (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) to be sold on the island. We share our two favorite mineral-based sunscreens in our Travel Gear , one is a local Maui brand.

14. Learn About Maui Culture

The people of Maui are what makes the island such a special place to visit. From the Hawaiians to the plantation migrants who came in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the culture is uniquely Hawaii. 

Check out the museums and cultural activities below during your vacation as the icing on the cake for your Maui trip planning.

• Hale Ho’ike’ike at the Bailey House in Wailuku to learn Hawaiian history, local history, and see original artifacts.
• Hawaii Wildlife Discovery Center to learn about the ocean and Maui’s reefs at this interactive exhibit in Kaanapali’s Whalers Village.
• Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Ride – learn how the Polynesians travel the Pacific and between the island while you paddle as a team on an outrigger canoe. See Ali’i Outrigger Canoe in West Maui.

15. The Ultimate Maui Trip Planner

Maui trip planning is not easy. We hope this step-by-step guide has helped you feel confident in planning the best honeymoon, anniversary, or family vacation to Maui. 

If you’re looking for an easier way to plan your days on Maui, our Maui itineraries will do 80% of the work for you. We don’t book your rental car, flights, or hotel for you but our guides will tell you how to have the best Maui vacation ever with what to do and how to do it!

Even experienced Maui trip planners get our itinerary!

I just wanted you to know that my family and I purchased the Maui itinerary and we are wrapping up 12 days on the island. We did so much of what you recommended and it was awesome for everyone. We have three college-age kids and everybody enjoyed the things you suggested, including the restaurants. Thanks for all of the work that you put into this. Mahalo. Gunnar A.

Thanks for reading The Hawaii Vacation Guide! I'm the co-founder, with my wife Erica, of the best Hawaii travel guide on the internet in our biased opinions. We enjoy traveling throughout Hawaii after living on Maui and Oahu. We share our adventures, travel tips and resources, and honest reviews so you can easily plan your dream vacation to Hawaii. Editing our videos, teaching the kids how to snorkel, and learning about the 'aina (land) and Hawaii culture are my favorite things to do. Have a wonderful trip to the Aloha State.

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Lists by Lukiih 🍀

Practical travel guides with less fluff

• 💰 My 2024 Hawaii Trip Cost: A Budget Breakdown

Hawaii, an island known for beautiful beaches and friendly locals, can be visited with a budget of  $95 to $250 a day.

My almost two-week trip to Hawaii, which included visits to Maui and the Big Island , cost a total of $2,761 . In this post, I share:

• 💰 Expected travel costs
• 💡 Budgeting tips
• 💵 How much cash to bring
• ✈️ My trip’s costs by category
• 📍 My trip’s costs by islands
• Is Hawaii Expensive?
• How Much Is a Trip?
• About My Trip
• Cost Breakdown
• Daily Budget: $209
• Flight: $225
• Accommodation: $1,667
• Transportation: $508
• Entertainment: $46
• Maui: $1,890
• Big Island: $862
• How Much Cash to Bring
• Cash-Only Places
• Tipping Etiquette

Hawaii Trip Planner

Lists By Lukiih is readers-supported. When you buy with my affiliate link, I may earn a small commission. Thanks!

Is Hawaii Expensive To Travel To?

Hawaii is the  most expensive state  in the United States to travel to. The island relies on imported goods, has a high cost of living, and offers expensive tourist hot spots and accommodations due to high demand.

Oahu, Hawaii’s most budget-friendly island , is more expensive than many other Caribbean island destinations.

However, Maui, Hawaii’s most expensive island, is cheaper than some of the US’s most expensive cities (e.g., New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Key West).

🏝️ Is Hawaii Cheaper Than Puerto Rico for Vacation?

If you’re looking for an island escape within the US territory, Puerto Rico is cheaper than Hawaii for a vacation. It isn’t easy to visit Hawaii for  less than $200 per day , but that’s doable in Puerto Rico.

On average, Puerto Rico is about $50 per day cheaper than even O’ahu, Hawaii’s most budget-friendly island.

I took a trip to Puerto Rico and Hawaii within a few months of each other. I visited the former during its high season and the latter during its low season.  Puerto Rico was still cheaper than Hawaii per day.  Here’s how my daily budget compared between the two:

See all my daily budget for each destination I’ve visited .

How Much Is a Trip to Hawaii?

This section covers estimated trip costs depending on your travel style. I share my actual travel expenses further below.

🎒 Budget Traveler – Hawaii Trip Cost

A budget traveler can expect to spend approximately $95 per day or $475 for five days of travel in Hawaii, excluding flights.

Here’s what a budget traveler’s cost breakdown can look like:

Traveling Hawaii on a Budget

To travel to Hawaii on a budget, here are some things you’ll need to do:

• 🏝️ Island Choice – Travel to Oahu, Hawaii’s cheapest island. Here are 10 great things to do on Oahu that my friend Matt recommends.
• 🏠 Accommodation – Housing in Hawaii is expensive. A dorm-style hostel or budget hotel typically costs $50 a night in Oahu and jumps to about $60 a night in Maui . A private room increases to $100 per night in some areas during the peak season.
• 🚙 Transportation – Getting around Hawaii without a car is hard, and car rentals can be expensive. You can take advantage of the limited public transportation to minimize gas and rental costs, but keep in mind that the full Hawaiian experience requires a car.
• 🍗 Food – To keep food costs under $15 a meal, eat at budget-friendly options like local establishments, food trucks (there are many in Hawaii), and fast food chains like L&L. You can also consider shopping at grocery stores like Foodland to make your own meals.

• 🌋 Entertainment – Tours and activities are usually $50 or more in Hawaii, so enjoy the many free natural attractions where you’ll only need to pay for parking occasionally. Most of Hawaii’s national parks have an entrance fee, but not all do.
• ☀️ Travel Season – The best time to travel to Hawaii for the best deals is during the off-season, which runs from April to mid-June and September through mid-October.

The summer months in Hawaii are a popular time to visit, but the travel peak season runs from December to March when visitors are escaping their home country’s winters.

💰 Mid-Range Budget Traveler – Hawaii Trip Cost

A mid-range budget traveler like myself can expect to spend approximately $250 per day or $1,250 for five days of travel in Hawaii, excluding flights. I break down my trip expenses by travel category below.

About My Hawaii Trip

To give context to the expenses below, here’s what you need to know about my trip:

• Maui : 8 days
• Big Island : 4 days

Maui is Hawaii’s second most popular and  most expensive destination . Oahu is Hawaii’s most visited island and the most affordable one.

• ☀️ Low season – I went to Hawaii in September, which is considered the low season.

Hawaii’s high season runs from December to March when visitors are escaping their winter months.

• ✌️ Group travel . I traveled with at least one other person at all times, so we were able to split some costs, such as housing.
• 💰 Mid-range budget – I consider myself a mid-range budget traveler, and these expenses reflect that. I don’t aim to travel on a budget, but I’m thoughtful about how and where I spend.
• 🍀 Self-funded – My trips are self-funded, so I paid for everything listed below. None of my excursions or experiences are sponsored.

All costs listed in this post are per person and in US dollars.

Hawaii Trip’s Total Cost: $2,761

My almost two-week trip to Hawaii cost a total of $2,761 , including flights.

See the highlights of my trip in these  Maui and Big Island itineraries.

💰 Cost Breakdown for Hawaii

Here’s a quick overview of my expenses by travel category:

🗓️ Daily Budget in Hawaii: $209

My Hawaii trip cost $209 per day , excluding my round-trip flights from and to the United States.

A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend about $250 per day in Hawaii. This generally entails splitting a mid-range hotel that costs $180 per night, eating at $ to $$ restaurants, renting a standard car every day, and doing a mix of free activities and paid tours.

✈️ Flight Cost to Hawaii: $225

Here’s how much my round-trip flight from the West Coast of the United States to Hawaii cost:

A round-trip flight between the continental US and Hawaii that costs under $150 is considered cheap; those flights typically cost over $200.

🏠 Accommodation Cost in Hawaii: $1,667

My average cost of accommodation in Hawaii was $139 per night. I was able to split accommodations with others at all times.

Here are the accommodations I stayed at and how much I paid for each:

On Maui, the most expensive island, the average price of a mid-range hotel room is $200 per night . A budget hotel is usually at least $120 per night. Luxury hotels easily surpass $900 per night. On Oahu, the cheapest island, a mid-range hotel can be about $150 per night .

🍛 Food Cost in Hawaii: $315

My average cost of food in Hawaii was $26 per day.

A mid-range budget traveler can expect to spend about $60 per day on food in Hawaii.

Cheapest Meals in Hawaii

Here are the most affordable meals I ate during my trip:

You can keep your meal cost low by eating at local establishments, fast food chains like L&L, and food trucks. I recommend getting the affordable fresh poke at Foodland, a local Hawaiian grocery store.

Most Expensive Meals in Hawaii

Here are the most expensive meals I ate during my trip:

🚙 Transportation Cost in Hawaii: $508

My average cost of transportation in Hawaii was $42 per day. I split rental cars with other travelers and had to use Uber once since I had a different departure time than others.

Here are the transportation methods I took and how much I paid for each:

Expected Costs of Transportation in Hawaii

There are several ways to get around Hawaii, and the prices can drastically vary, depending on the level of inconvenience you’re willing to accept.

• Rental car – The best way to get around Hawaii is by renting a car; not having a rental car will limit your options. The average cost for a standard car is $30 per day, not including gas. Keep in mind that you’ll also typically have to pay $2 to $10 for parking in some areas.
• Public transportation – All Hawaiian islands have at least some bus public transportation system. Oahu has a decent bike-sharing system where you can pay $12 for unlimited rides for 24 hours. Maui has a limited bus system, and it costs $2 for a one-way bus ride.
• Island hop – Flight tickets between Hawaiian islands are in the $50 to $100 range for one-way trips. $39, which is how much I paid to fly from Maui to the Big Island, is a great deal (I traveled during the low season).

🤿 Entertainment Cost in Hawaii: $46

My average cost of entertainment in Hawaii was $4 per day. Unlike many of my other trips, I didn’t spend much on attractions. I primarily did free activities and enjoyed the island’s natural beauty.

Costs of Activities and Attractions in Hawaii

Here are all the activities and attractions I paid for and how much each cost:

The Haleakalā sunrise, Maui’s most popular activity, has a $30 entrance fee , but I brought my Nationals Park Pass, which waived the cost. Instead, I only had to pay the $1 reservation fee.

Learn how to catch the epic Haleakalā sunrise (or sunset) .

Free Things To Do in Hawaii

If you’re on a tight budget, a great way to save money is to enjoy Hawaii’s many free natural attractions , where you’ll only need to pay parking fees if necessary.

In Hawaii, tours and activities are usually $50 or more per person (for example, the popular manta ray snorkeling tour on the Big Island is generally $100 or more per person).

🏝️ Free Things To Do on Maui

Here are all the activities I did in Maui that were free:

• Road to Hana – Maui’s second most popular activity, the Road to Hana is a two-day road trip featuring waterfalls, hikes, and more. There’s no entrance fee, but you have to pay for parking and a rental car.
• Kihei Beach – Kihei Beach is a decent snorkeling area with tide pools to explore.
• Papalaua Beach – This is a local spot with strong waves.
• Honokeana Cove – This is a popular and beautiful snorkeling spot.
• Honolau Bay – Another popular and beautiful snorkeling spot, Honolau Bay gets crowded if you don’t get there early.

🐢 Free Things To Do on the Big Island

Here are all the activities I did on the Big Island that were free:

• Kapalua Coastal Trail – This is a scenic, easy trail with beautiful ocean views.
• Captain Cook Monument Trail – Captain Cook is a medium-difficult trail that leads to clear and stunning snorkeling.
• Kilauea Iki – This is a hike in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. At the crater, you can walk over a solidified lava lake.
• Punalu’u Black Sand Beach – This beach is known to have sea turtles resting.
• Kukio Bay – Kukio Bay is a non-crowded snorkeling spot where I saw a sea turtle swimming in the ocean.

Cost Breakdown by Island in Hawaii

Below are my trip expense breakdowns for Maui and the Big Island. These two major islands are often featured in first-timers’ travel itineraries.

🏖️ Maui Trip’s Total Cost: $1,890

During my eight-day trip to Maui, I averaged  $237 in daily travel expenses.

I stayed at Hyatt Regency Resort for a wedding and split a mid-range hotel, Castle Kamaole Sands , with several others before staying at the resort. I had a rental car every day and mainly did free activities except for a dragon fruit farm tour.

See great things to do on Maui .

Maui is Hawaii’s most expensive island, and an average day there can easily be $300 for a mid-range budget traveler.

🤿 Big Island Trip’s Total Cost: $862

During my four-day trip to the Big Island, I averaged  $215 in daily travel expenses.

I spent $0 on entertainment and primarily enjoyed hiking and snorkeling the beautiful beaches on the Big Island.

Check out great things to do on the Big Island .

The Big Island is neither the most expensive nor cheapest in Hawaii. On a mid-range budget trip, you can expect to spend  $200 per day .

Do You Need Cash in Hawaii?

Like other places in the United States, Hawaii has an  excellent credit card infrastructure , so you’ll only need to carry a bit of cash.

Below are tips on bringing and using cash in Hawaii.

🏧 1. Carry about $50 worth of cash per day in Hawaii.

On a typical day, a mid-range budget traveler in Hawaii will need  about $50 in cash  to cover food and attractions. At a minimum, $50 will cover a meal for two people from vendors on the side of the road.

I keep my cash in my crossbody bag , but if you want extra protection against pickpocketing , carry it in a hidden money belt instead.

💵 2. Certain places in Hawaii are cash-only.

While credit cards are commonly used in Hawaii, I still had to use cash a few times during my trip. Here are some of the places that were cash-only in Hawaii:

• Local food stalls – Huli Huli Chicken on the Road to Hana was cash-only and cost about $20 per person.
• Food trucks – Hawaii has popular food truck areas, and I went to several that were all cash-only.
• Markets – For example, Maui Swap Meet has a $0.50 admissions fee that’s cash-only, and some vendors at Maui Gift and Craft prefer cash.
• Tipping – Tipping service workers is typically done with cash.

💰 3. Tipping is customary in Hawaii.

Like the rest of the United States, a  10% to 20% tip is customary  and expected in Hawaii. Good service should receive a 15% to 18% tip, and exceptional service should receive a 20% tip.

• Dining out – A 15% to 20% tip is standard for tourists and locals.
• Valets – A $2 tip is standard when they bring your car to you.
• Tours – A 10% tip is standard for a group tour, and 15% to 20% is standard for private tours.
• Massages and spas – A 10% to 20% tip is standard for these places.

To make your travel planning easier , download the trip planner below and use it as a starting point. The planner has country-specific travel information, an itinerary, a packing list, and a map with key places pinned.

The trip planner is built on Notion, which I use for all my travel planning (I genuinely love this tool). If you don’t have Notion, creating an account is free .

Thoughts? Questions? Leave a comment below .

Hawaii Travel Guides

• 🏝️ Maui Amazing 5-Day Itinerary + Great Things To Do
• 🌋 Big Island: 3-4 Day Itinerary + 10 Great Things To Do
• ☀️ Haleakalā Sunrise On Your Own: How To & Firsthand Tips
• 🚗 Road to Hana Guide: Map, Great Stops + Is it Dangerous?
• 🤿 Hiking Captain Cook to Snorkel in Kealakekua Bay Guide
• 🎒 Complete Maui Packing List: Tips + What To Bring

Lists by Lukiih is Readers-Supported

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Maui on the Cheap: How to Visit Maui on a Budget (14 Tips)

Alert for Visitors: Maui has experienced significant wildfires in August 2023, causing major disruption for both locals and tourists. For your safety and up-to-date information, please visit the Maui County website before planning any activities or travels. Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated. Stay safe!

Planning a trip to Maui  on a budget and want to know some cheap things to do on Maui HI? Keep scrolling to find out how to have a cheap vacation on Maui that rocks!

This post about how to visit maui on a budget was written by hawaii travel expert marcie cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, i may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog..

Are you looking for a way to visit Maui without breaking the bank?

For a lot of people, a vacation to Maui is a dream come true. But for others, it’s just not in the  budget . If you’re one of those people who can’t afford the expense of traveling to this beautiful island, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered!

In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to visit Maui on the cheap and still enjoy your time there as much as possible.

If you want to see all of the beautiful sites that Maui has to offer but don’t have thousands of dollars lying around, this how-to-do Maui on a budget article is for you.

Here are some budget Maui tips and tricks we’ve gathered from our own experiences traveling with kids so that your next trip doesn’t have to break the bank. Let’s get started!

Keep scrolling for my guide to visiting Maui on a budget!

Don’t have time to read a bunch of Hawaii blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Maui on a budget.

Best Budget-Friendly Maui Activities

• Glass Bottom Boat (this is cheaper than the submarine ride and still really cool)
• 90-Minute Whale Watching Tour (this is a short and affordable boat tour during winter months)
• Molokini Snorkel Tour (this is one of the cheapest snorkeling tours on Maui)
• Shaka Driving App (it’s like going on an island tour (including Road to Hana) at a fraction of the price)

Best Budget-Friendly Maui Hotels

• Aina Nalu Resort (this is in the heart of Lahaina town and totally walkable to shops and restaurants)
• Maui Beach Hotel (this is in Kahului and it’s easy to get to all areas of the island)
• Paia Condo (amazing North Shore location right at the start of the Road to Hana)

Want to Rent a Car in Hawaii? One of the best places to rent a car in Hawaii is Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they get the best rates from top national companies like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Payless.

Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Maui Itinerary complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.

Is Maui Expensive? How Much Does the Average Trip Cost?

While Maui may not be the cheapest vacation to take, it is also possible to  plan your trip  on a budget.

A Maui Hawaii vacation cost will all depend on how many days you plan on spending in Maui, along with how many people you take on your dream vacation. If you plan on island-hopping to the other Hawaiian islands during your trip, that will add to your cost as well.

The average Maui vacation cost for a week-long trip to Maui is  around 3,000 dollars for two people , and costs will increase if you’re planning on taking the whole family. 

Many of the affordable places to stay in Maui will give discounts if you stay five or more days, which can help you cut costs as well. You might be able to find some cheap Maui packages with some cheap hotels too!

A trip to Maui cost can be quite low if you stay in the Maui budget hotels, go during the cheapest time of year to visit Maui, and enjoy all the free and cheap things to do in Maui!

You can cut costs in many different ways throughout your trip-planning process, and some are very simple, so you can visit Maui on a dime!

If you’re trying to plan a budget for a cheaper trip to Maui, then keep reading to see the ways you can cut costs and still have the best Maui budget vacation you deserve!  

What is the cheapest month to go to Maui?

The cheapest month to go to Maui is usually in the spring or fall, which is considered  the Maui off seasons  for most travelers. The best months are going to be  April ,  May ,  September , or  November .

You want to visit the island when the weather is enjoyable, but the crowds aren’t too congested. This is why spring and fall are the perfect times to go for a cheap stay in Maui. 

The weather remains temperate in the mid-70s to 80s during the day, with the only issue being that the nights will be chilly, reaching into the 60s. So, there will still be plenty of good weather to experience the island to the fullest without paying the premium prices and braving the summer crowds.

If you are wondering how to go to Maui on a budget, this is one of the best Maui travel tips to follow!

When should you not go to Maui?

You should avoid going to Maui in the height of the summer, in  June  and  July . This is because the crowds and hotels are packed with the summer rush of vacationers.

Since Hawaii is a popular travel destination for many individuals, the summer is the perfect opportunity for travelers, and the tourist state’s prices rise accordingly. So, in order to avoid the higher costs of flights, hotels, and activities, it is best to avoid traveling during the high-traffic seasons.

If this is the only time you can travel, you might still be able to cut the cost of Maui vacation down a bit with the other tips.

How can I save money on Maui vacation?

The best way to save money on a vacation to Maui is to travel in the off-season. This is one of the best ways to budget for your trip, as you can avoid costs that have risen up due to “supply and demand.”

You can also save by flying out during off times, like in the week, instead of on the weekend.

Hotel and rental properties can also be found for cheaper when you book package deals or are willing to book away from city hubs and direct beachfront properties. This is one of the best ways to find Maui accommodations on a budget.

Finding Cheap Flights to Maui

If you are traveling to Maui on a budget, here are ways to get great deals on flights!

Plan to Fly in the Off Season

A great way to find cheaper flights to Maui is to fly in the off-season. By avoiding planning your flight during the high-traffic summer months, you can avoid the costs that come from the price hikes.

The increase in travelers creates a higher demand for flights to popular vacation destinations such as Hawaii, so by booking during months in the spring and fall, like April, May, September, or November, you will be buying at lower prices because the demand is not as high.

It is one of the best ways to get cheap trips to Maui!

Book your Flight during the week

To further increase your savings when booking flights to Maui, you can plan on flying out during the week.

If you are taking a week or longer vacation, then a good way to save is to fly out on a weekday rather than a weekend. While this may not always be true, it is a great plan to search for flights during the week and compare them to the weekend flight prices.

Saving on plane tickets by flying out during the week will help to decrease the costs of one of your trip necessities.

Use Flight Service Sites  

Sites like Priceline, Expedia, and Orbitz tend to have standby tickets that are cheaper than tickets sold directly from airlines. These sites allow you to check the prices of all airlines and services and compare them to get the lowest possible rate for the tickets.

Be aware that if you wait days after, the deals may change, so you should search when you are ready to commit and have planned out the dates.

The sites usually offer the cheapest way to travel to Maui, Hawaii, on a budget.

Getting around Maui for Less 

Here is how to travel in Maui on a budget so you can explore Maui and all it offers with the best deals on rental cars and other ways to lower your Maui trip cost.

Use Public Transportation

Maui has its own   public transportation system  that has 14 routes, and they run seven days a week, including holidays. This system could be a cheap option for travelers who would prefer not to use a rental car.

These systems and routes do not cover every possible destination, but they do run from the airport to several destinations and shopping centers that are helpful to travelers. The bus fare is also fairly cheap, and you can purchase daily passes for only 4 dollars.

It is an easy way to have a Maui vacation on a budget.

Find Cheap Rental Car Options 

To cover more ground and reach any possible destination in Maui, travelers will likely need to use a rental car. While this prospect may seem expensive to many travelers, there are several ways to cut costs on rental cars.

For example, you can use several travel sites like Priceline, and Expedia, or you can even use memberships from your own car insurance. This way, you can shop around and find the cheapest price.

Another great way to save is to book an economy rental car which is the cheapest option among rental cars.

The cheapest place I’ve found is  Discount Hawaii Car Rental . They get the best rates from top national companies like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Payless.  Check out the latest prices and more details.

Rent Bikes 

If you book accommodations close to the beach or other activities that you want to frequent on your trip, then you can save money on transportation by renting bikes or mopeds to travel short distances in the area.

You can save money by not renting a car, but if you are close to the beach and shopping centers, then you can travel to many different activities with just a bike in the area.

Best Places To Stay in Maui on a Budget

If you are looking for where to stay in Maui on a budget, here are some of the best budget accommodations Maui has to offer.

Maui is full of natural beauty and wonders, with a lot of public parks that offer campsites for a low reservation price. If you wish to save money on accommodations and want to connect with the nature of Maui, then this is a unique option.

You can also find cheap camp gear rentals in the area and through other rental sites.

North Shore Hostel

Hostels are frequently used by young travelers and those wishing to travel on a budget, as they offer cheap prices and genuinely nice accommodations.

The only downside with hostels is that they are shared spaces. For example, the North Shore Hostel offers a shared kitchen and shared rooms with bunk beds.

This is a great option for single travelers, couples, and small groups as they can save a lot of money on accommodations because rooms here are generally around 100 dollars a night. It’s perfect for visiting Maui on a tight budget.

Vacation Rentals

Cheap options for Airbnb may seem impossible to find, but it just takes a search to find out if there are more affordable options than the brand-name hotels that abound on the island.

Even some of the cheapest hotels in Maui might still be over your budget, but not vacation rentals.

A vacation rental on sites like these can sometimes be cheaper because the price is determined by the owners of the properties and not a chain, such as in hotel circumstances.

This is usually the cheapest way to stay in Maui and what most people do, even if you are planning a Maui honeymoon on a budget!

Best Cheap Hotels in Maui Hawaii

Staying in Maui on a budget can mean different things to everyone since everyone has a different opinion on what “cheap” means when determining their budget Maui vacation.

For some, there are plenty of the best affordable hotels Maui offers that work right in their budget!

If you want a honeymoon in Maui on a budget, you will probably like a hotel or resort for their romantic packages. You can find plenty of affordable resorts, Maui is full of them if you know where to look!

Check out some of the best affordable hotels in Maui

Cheap and Free Things to do in Maui on a Budget

Here are some of the best things to do in Maui on a budget everyone will love!

Visit the Beach

Beaches in Maui are completely free to the public and are one of the biggest draws for travelers visiting the island. It will cost you nothing to set foot on any of the beaches, except the possibility of paying for parking if you have to drive.

This means you can have fun with a multitude of different beach activities, swimming, or just taking in the beachside views.

If you pack snorkeling gear or have any other sports equipment, you can use them freely on the beach without spending money on hefty rental fees.

During whale season, you might even see some humpback whales right from the beach without going on a whale-watching tour. Many of the beaches in Maui also have a sea turtle or two lying around.

A beach day is one of the cheapest things to do in Maui since it doesn’t cost you a thing!

Go See the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm

A budget travel option in Maui that you won’t soon forget is the beautiful and aromatic  Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm . This farm offers self-guided tours of the facility and gorgeous flowers for only 3 dollars!

You can also book craft classes or a picnic lunch with food included for only 26 dollars per lunch.

There is much to do on this picturesque lavender farm, and you can even browse some of the teas, jellies, lotions, and oils that are made on the farm itself.

It is another one of the Maui Hawaii things to do on a budget your entire family will love!

Visit the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm

The  Surfing Goat Dairy Farm  is free to enter for visitors, and you can even sample cheeses made at the farm for free as well! This is a fun experience, and you can see the local farm life of the goats that make a large variety of different cheeses.

If you want a full tour, casual tour, or to get a chance to interact with the goats or cows on the farm, then it will just be an extra cost of 12 dollars for the shorter tour and 39 for the full tour.

Though there are many things to do for free at this farm, it is still fairly cheap to enjoy all they have to offer.

It is one of the inexpensive places to see during your Hawaii vacation on a budget.

Hiking in Maui

Many hikes in Maui are free to enjoy, while others charge a small entrance fee. Hiking is another one of the top cheap activities in Maui.

Discover a bamboo forest or explore all the national parks on the island. Whether you are in South Maui, West Maui, or East Maui, you will find plenty of great hikes for all levels.

Check out the best Maui hiking trails to explore

Cheap Maui Vacations FAQs

For inexpensive things to do in Maui, check out the Nakalele Blowhole for a spectacular sight. The Surfing Goat Dairy is also a fun place to play with goats and taste goat cheese truffles. You can also drive the Road to Hana if you have a rental car. And the best thing to do in Maui is to see the sunrise or sunset from Haleakala National Park.

A Maui family vacation doesn’t have to cost a lot if you mix in free activities. Some of the coolest free things to do on Maui include watching free hula shows, seeing surfers, listening to live music, lounging on the beach, going for a beach walk, hiking trails, and stargazing on Maui.

There’s a really cool walking path in Wailea that’s perfect for sunrise or  sunset strolls . You can also  window shop  at The Shops at Wailea and get free samples at Honolulu Cookie Company. There’s also a really cool hiking trail called the Hoapili Trail, close to Wailea.

Usually, the cheapest time to go to Maui is either April or September. These are the Maui low-season, so you can find the top cheap places to stay in Maui, Hawaii, along with cheap flights to help you travel to Maui on a budget.

You will want to bring plenty of money for food, souvenirs , resort or hotel fees, and fun activities for each person. The best places to eat in Maui for cheap are usually the local stops or food trucks. Many of the cheap places to stay on Maui also don’t require daily fees which helps you save money too!

With the proper planning, you can plan an affordable vacation to Maui

Now you know how to plan a trip to Maui on a budget!

If you are worried that you can’t afford a trip to Maui, then hopefully, this article on how to do Maui cheaply changed your mind! By using these tips and tricks, you can save some money and budget enough to enjoy the vacation you deserve.

Beginning with the price of plane tickets, you can begin cutting costs throughout your entire trip, including prices for transportation and other accommodations.

There are even many free or low-priced activities you can participate in on Maui to fully enjoy the wonders of the island. And there are plenty of  cheap places for eating in Maui on a budget .

Now you know the cheapest way to visit Maui, get started planning your dream vacation!

Want more Maui on a Budget resources? Check out the  cheapest places to stay on Maui ,  how many days to spend in Maui , things to do in Maui at night ,  Maui packing list , and  cheap things to do on Maui .

Why Does It Cost So Much On Maui (and How To Save)

Maui is a dream vacation for many, known for its stunning beaches and lush green valleys.

However, if you’ve never been to Maui, or Hawaii for that matter you might be curious to know: Why does it cost so much on Maui? 

Although Maui is beautiful, it’s important to be aware and prepare yourself for the cost implications of planning a trip there. 

What Contributes To Maui Being So Expensive?

Table of Contents

Maui is renowned for its natural beauty. From its volcanic landscapes to its black sand beaches , every view is simply breathtaking. However, at what cost can you visit paradise on earth? 

Maui is notoriously expensive, and there are a few factors that contribute to Maui being an expensive vacation destination. 

Biggest Expenses of Planning a Trip to Maui

One of the biggest expenses of a trip to Maui is the flights. How much money you’ll have to budget for flights will depend on when you intend to travel to Maui . For instance, you can expect to pay a lot more money for flights during the peak season than you would during an off-peak month.

Maui’s off-peak months usually come after the holiday season, from mid-April through to the late summer and before Thanksgiving. 

Depending on where you are flying from, flights are usually around $350 to $900 for an economy class round trip to Hawaii from the East Coast or Midwest during an off-peak month. On the other hand, from major West Coast cities, round-trips in the off-peak season can cost between $160 and $500.

When it comes to planning a trip to Maui, another large expense is your lodging. That being said, it is worth noting that how expensive your lodging is will depend on where you stay on the island and the kind of lodging that you choose. 

Hotels and other types of lodging vary in terms of price, depending on the type of lodging you opt for. For instance, staying in a hotel in Maui is going to be more expensive than a condo. For a mid-range hotel, rooms can cost anywhere between $200 and $300 per night. On the other hand, for an apartment, condo, or small house, you could expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $200 per night, especially if you’re not bothered about staying away from the beach.

Another expense that you’ll have to take into consideration when visiting Maui is the price of food. Keep in mind that everything has to be shipped to Maui, adding a lot of cost to most food items. This applies to food that you get at the grocery store to ingredients that restaurants need to prepare food, if it is not locally grown. 

Although how much you spend will depend on where you eat and whether you cook for yourself and your family, the food on Maui is notably expensive.

On Maui, you can expect to spend a lot if you intend to eat out for every meal. For breakfast, you could spend anywhere between $10 and $15, anywhere from $15 to $30 for lunch, and considerably more for dinner, depending on the restaurants that you choose.

That being said, the meal prices can vary, as there are a wide variety of expensive and cheaper restaurants available in Maui.

Tips For Saving Money When Staying On Maui 

When you’re planning a trip on a budget, it is always important to have a few ideas on how you can cut costs so that you’re not anxious about money and can simply enjoy your vacation.

Check out the tips below on how you can save money:

Book Flights In Advance And Go During An Off-Peak Month

An important tip to remember when you’re planning a trip to Maui is to book the flights in advance. If you’ve done the budgeting, and already know when you can take the time off work to go to Maui, then book your flights as soon as you can afford to! The sooner you book, the better, as the flights become more expensive the longer you leave them.

Alongside this, making sure that you strategically plan your trip during the off-season is bound to save you hundreds of dollars on your flights, lodging, and food. Although you might have dreamed of spending the holidays with your family in a tropical paradise, your budget might not allow for it. That being said, a great money-saving tip is to book your trip in accordance with the off-peak season.

Stay In A Condo And Cook For Yourself 

Another great way to save money when traveling to Maui is to book a condo over a hotel, as you will have the opportunity and kitchen facilities to cook for yourself.

Eating every meal out when you’re on Maui can become expensive very quickly, especially if you have a large family and you’re on a long vacation. In fact, food can take up the majority of your budget if you’re not mindful about where and what you’re eating. That being said, being able to cook breakfast and lunch in the comfort of your own rental can provide your bank account with some relief, and you won’t have to spend an extravagant amount of money on every meal out. 

Alongside this, the more money you save cooking for yourself can be spent on special meals out with your family without worrying about how much each meal will cost. Instead of feeling limited and searching for the cheaper restaurants out of necessity, you’ll have more breathing room to eat where you want without feeling stressed if a particular restaurant is more expensive than you had hoped. This will allow you to relax and truly make the most out of your vacation!

Buy Food And Drinks At Costco

Buying your own food at Costco is a great tip to save money and goes hand in hand with staying in a condo with your own kitchen facilities. Although groceries can be expensive on Maui, they are significantly cheaper than eating every meal in a restaurant.

Having the freedom to make and pack your own breakfast and lunch is a cheaper way to enjoy Maui . Whether you’re out hiking or snorkeling for the day, you’ll feel much more prepared for the adventure knowing that you have your own food packed and don’t need to rely on restaurants and bars when you’re out and hungry.

Alongside this, everyone likes to let loose on their vacation, but buying cocktails and beers at bars on Maui is expensive. That being said, making sure that you buy a few alcoholic beverages in Costco and have them chilled in the refrigerator for when you’re home can help you resist the temptation in a restaurant and significantly cut the cost of your trip.

Rent A Car 

If you know that you’re going to be doing a lot of sightseeing and have planned lots of excursions when you’re on Maui, renting a car is a great way to cut back on transportation costs. 

The cost to rent a car will vary and can depend on where you are staying. However, you will likely save a lot of money by renting a car if your lodging is far away from the beach and requires transportation to and from excursions. 

However, if you’re staying in a hotel that provides its own transportation to such activities, you might find that renting a car is an unnecessary expense, so make sure that you consider the location of your lodging.

Eat Where The Locals Eat 

A great tip to save money when you’re eating out every night is to ask locals for their recommendations and eat where they eat. 

Not only will eating in tourist restaurants consume your vacation budget very quickly, but quite often the food isn’t as spectacular, either.

By eating where the locals eat, you are more likely to discover authentic, hidden gems and you will probably save a lot of money if you’re not falling into the tourist trap of visiting restaurants in tourist districts. However, local doesn’t always equal cheap, so make sure that you ask to see the menu before you eat in a restaurant to check if it is within your budget. 

Bring Your Own Snorkeling Gear 

Another money-saving tip when you’re traveling to Maui is to bring your own snorkeling gear.

In a beautiful location with a ton of tropical fish, it is likely that you’ll want to try some water activities in Maui. 

That being said, renting snorkeling gear can cost about $15 a day depending on the location, and for a large family, this cost can accumulate significantly that you will have wished you brought your own gear.

Planning a trip to Maui can be expensive. However, with the right planning and budgeting tips at your disposal, you can make the most out of your trip without worry!

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Budget Breakdown: Real Cost of a Trip to Maui

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you buy or book through one of these links, I may earn a small commission .

Is the idea of volcanoes, catching a wave, eating fresh pineapple, and attending a luau luring you to Maui? I don’t blame you one bit, but perhaps you are wondering if you can afford it. Although it can be expensive to fly all the way to the middle of the Pacific, it is still possible to visit Maui on a budget.

I used to believe that travel was expensive and out of reach. However, I realized over time that this is LIES. If you are crafty, patient, and willing to keep an open mind, it’s amazing what kind of cost savings you can find!

One year, my husband and I decided to branch out from our usual December trip to St. John to explore Hawaii. We knew people who had been to Maui and loved it, and I wanted to challenge myself to travel further than I ever had . I hadn’t even been to the West Coast, let alone the middle of the Pacific, so this felt like a true adventure.

Our Maui trip was after a few years of travels, and by this time we had learned a few money saving hacks. However, while planning this Maui trip, I learned even more new ways to save. Below, I am spilling everything so that you too can book the perfect Maui trip on a budget.

Here is an example of a Maui budget for two people:

This is what I would consider to be a low to moderate budget for a two person trip to Maui. No, it’s not on a shoestring, but it’s also not luxurious. You will be cutting in some areas in order to leave room for worthwhile splurges. After all, if you’re traveling all the way to the middle of the Pacific, you should be allowed to treat yo’self a little.

Travel Savvy Tip

Don’t look at this budget as a lump sum! That’s the quickest way to get intimidated and think you could never afford it. The truth is, you won’t pay the full amount at once. You’ll buy your flight and lodging right away, and then likely pay nothing for a few months.

Once it gets closer to your trip, you’ll start looking at tours you may want to do, as well as make restaurant reservations. When you get back home from your trip, you’ll pay off any remaining vacay expenses you’ve incurred.

Breaking it into chunks like this is a much more approachable way to budget and afford a dream trip like Maui!

Maui Budget Breakdown

Transportation.

You’ll need to get to and from the airport somehow. If you don’t have a friend or family member to drive you, just grab a taxi/Uber/Lyft. $35 is about what we paid to Uber to and from our local airport.

$900 (price for two people)

Flights to Maui can be pricey, depending on where you’re flying from. For example, from Cleveland to Maui, there is no direct flight option. The cheapest I could find was around $900 for late November/early December. And this actually isn’t that bad of a price from Cleveland to Maui.

Actually, this flight often costs over $1,000, especially if traveling during the high season (Jan to Apr and Jun to Aug). I recommend not paying this much, though, and think you should try to keep your Maui flights as much on a budget as possible. So how do you do this? Here are a couple ways to  find cheap flights  to Maui:

• Be flexible with your travel days. For example, weekend flights are typically the most expensive. Play around with searching different departure and arrival days, and you’ll be surprised what a difference that can make. We traveled from Wednesday to Wednesday for this very reason.
• Travel during the low season, when there is an overall drop in prices. In Maui, low season is the first couple weeks right after New Years, late April to early June, and late August to mid-December
• Last but not least, the tip that has helped me the most: Sign up for a credit card with travel rewards points. Even being total newbies at travel hacking before our Maui trip, we bought one $900 flight for free using points earned on every day purchases. At the time we were mainly using the  Capital One Venture , but we have now added the  Chase Sapphire Reserve  to our repertoire.

$320 – Car, $75 – Gas

Renting a car in Maui is actually rather inexpensive. We paid $320 for a whole week, and were able to rent a small SUV. This was perfect for driving all over the island, including the Road to Hana .

The roads in Maui are generally flat and well-paved, and a four wheel drive car will not be necessary. However, do know that most rental companies will not want you to drive the full loop of the Road to Hana.

This is because, a little ways after you pass Hana Town, the roads narrow and are poorly paved. Any damage to your rental car will be coming out of your bank account, which is something nobody wants to deal with!

Lodging was the pricing that shocked me the most when planning this Maui trip. If you are trying to do Maui on a budget, I highly recommend choosing a vacation rental rather than a hotel or resort.

There are tons of options on VRBO and Airbnb, with many of them being under $200 and even $150/night. In fact, if you are new to Airbnb, you can use this link to save $20 off your first trip !

I’m not gonna lie: sometimes you get what you pay for. For example, we paid around $150/night for a beautifully renovated condo, which ended up being in a retirement community and desperately needed a new mattress.

That said, I’d rather be the youngest person on site than overpay for lodging. That way I can spend more money on what I travel for – amazing food and fun experiences. It’s all about making trade-offs to spend your money on what is most important to you.

Food & Drink

If you are going to splurge anywhere in your Maui budget, spend it on food! If you’re tight on cash, simply keep drink orders to a minimum. You’d be surprised how much this’ll save you!

Maui has a nice range of restaurants, and you can definitely find good food that won’t drain your bank account. My food budget above is for two people, and does account for a couple splurge days (which you can definitely skip if you want!). Here are our favorite places where we ate in Maui, rated by how affordable they are:

• Miso Phat Sushi (moderate and also our favorite place!)
• Maui Fish’n Chips (budget)
• Maui Brewing Co. (moderate)
• Morimoto Maui (expensive)
• Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop (budget and yummy takeout pie)

An easy way to save on eating out when traveling to Maui on a budget is to buy your own groceries. My husband and I almost always eat at least one of our meals in each day while on vacation; typically both breakfast and lunch.

I also highly recommend buying cocktail ingredients at the store to make your own. This will make you feel less tempted to buy drinks at bars and restaurants, and will save you so much money! We honestly loved chilling on the balcony at our place, while enjoying an afternoon cocktail.

Truthfully, my husband and I spent twice this amount shopping in Maui. We bought awesome tiki glasses from a local restaurant, as well as some gifty items on the Road to Hana. These are things we still love to this day.

However, shopping is a very easy area to cut if you are trying to save money. Your memories and photos are the ultimate souvenirs anyhow!

You’ll definitely need to squeeze in some fun activities while you’re in Maui. Three things in particular come to mind:

• Go to the beach
• Attend a luau
• Drive the Road to Hana

Those items should be the top priorities on any trip to Maui, and only the Luau will cost you money (we did the Old Lahaina Luau and it was a great show!). The other two only require a mode of transportation, which should already be covered by your rental car.

Any extras you’d like to do while in Maui will depend on what your budget is. If you can’t stretch your spending any further, you’ll be completely satisfied only doing what I mentioned above.

Take advantage of anything “free” you can to keep your Maui trip on a budget. For example, we found enjoyment walking the grounds of our rental, as we were able to get near the water to see some sea turtles. Walking trails and parks can be quite scenic, are something to do besides eating and drinking, and are normally free. Finally, you never have to pay anything to watch the sunrise or sunset over the water.

Pet Boarding

Do you have a fur baby like us? If so, then you probably know all too well about the cost of pet boarding, unless you’re lucky enough to have a pet that travels well. Even better if you know someone who can watch Fluffy while you’re gone.

Unfortunately, neither of those things apply to us, so we have to board our puppy. Prices for this where I live in Northeast Ohio tend to run about $40 a night, but vary wildly in quality and services included.

We choose to drive our puppy about 45 minutes away from our house to Wellington, OH because our doggy likes it there, and he gets his own little “suite” with an outdoor space he can run around in. It is such a hassle to drive that far, but whenever we stray, we always regret it and end up back at Wellington again. It’s a good thing we love our fluff…

That about covers all the ways you can do Maui on a budget. Obviously, if you split any of these costs with other people, it will get even cheaper. However, for purposes of this post I wanted to keep it simple and focus on expenses for one couple. I truly hope this helps you to see how paradise is accessible to you.

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Mahalo for the info! Your article put things in perspective for me and reminded me to be sensible with money. have a nice day. Aloha! ~~~~~~~~~~

Of course! Same to you!

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Faqs - booking maui flights, which airport in san francisco do i choose to travel to maui.

There are three airports in the Bay Area where you can board a nonstop flight to Maui. If you’re flying on Alaska Airlines, you’ll be flying out of the Oakland airport. But, if you’re traveling on Hawaiian Airlines, you can choose between San Francisco International Airport or San Jose International Airport. If you prefer a quiet airport and don’t mind which airline you fly on, the least busy one is Oakland International Airport.

How long is the flight to Maui from the US mainland?

If you’re flying nonstop to Maui from San Francisco, the average flight duration is 5h 30m. If you have a layover in Honolulu, account for an extra 30 min for the flight from there to Maui. For passengers traveling from other destinations in the continental US, it depends on how many layovers you choose and where you're flying from. For example, a flight to Maui from New York with one layoverin San Francisco could take about 10h.

Should I fly nonstop to Maui from New York?

If you have limited days to travel and want to reach Maui as fast as possible, then choose a flight to Maui from New York with a short layover in San Francisco. Alternatively, you can break your trip in two and have a longer layover at San Francisco International Airport. The airport has nap rooms (about $40 for 1h) if you need to rest before the next leg of your flight.

I’m staying in Lahaina. Which airport in Maui should I fly into?

Kapalua Airport is closest to Lahaina (10 min). However, when it comes to airlines and commercial flight options, you're limited to Hawaiian Airlines, which operates inter-island flights from Honolulu. Kahului is more convenient, because you’ll have more flight options and airlines to choose from. The airport is about 40 min from Lahaina by car, and most hotels offer shuttle service to and from the airport.

How long is the flight to Maui?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to Maui takes 9h 52m, covering a distance of 3608 miles. The most popular route is Los Angeles - Kahului with an average flight time of 5h 29m.

What is the cheapest flight to Maui?

The cheapest ticket to Maui from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $100. The most popular route is from Los Angeles to Kahului and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $213.

Which airlines fly to Maui?

Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines & Southwest fly the most frequently from the United States to Maui.

What are the most popular destinations in Maui?

Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Kahului (94% of total searches to Maui). The next most popular destinations are Kapalua (4%) and Hana (2%).

How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Maui

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Maui flight deals.
• Although the island has three airports—the airport de Kahului (OGG), the airport de Kapalua (JHM), and the airport de Hana (HNM)—commercial flights to Maui from other destinations on the US mainland will land at the Kahului airport.
• Most flights to Maui from the United States require at least one layover at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) or in a city on the West Coast, particularly if you’re traveling from the East Coast.
• Passengers who want to island hop or prefer to land at the Kapalua airport (JHM) instead of the Kahului airport should select a flight to Maui with a layover in Honolulu.
• If you’re traveling from a city on the West Coast and have your mind set on nonstop flights to Maui, Alaska Airlines flies to Kahului directly from Oakland International Airport (OAK), Hawaiian Airlines from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and San Jose International Airport (SJC), and American Airlines from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
• If you’re traveling with small children and renting a car in Maui, keep in mind that car seats are mandatory for children under four years old. If you don’t want to pay the extra fee for renting a car seat at your destination, then you should pack your own. Some airlines will even let you install the car seat on the plane seat, so make sure you confirm with them first before booking your flight to Maui.

Top 5 airlines flying to Maui

It was a full flight without any issues or stress. Really surprised with how so many flights seem to have issues nowadays.

My flight went off without any hitch or issue. I anticipate issues every time I fly, luckily, I was wrong on this trip.

I was seated at the back of the plane and the flight attendants were fantastic. I did not get food so can’t say. Thought the movie selection was lean.

Flight was good. Glad it was delayed or I may have missed the connection since I got to Seattle at about the same time my connection was to leave. The snack was a small bag of pretzels and a small soda. Can’t really call that food. There was no entertainment available on the flight.

It was much better than expected. Short flight and smaller plane so no entertainment or food.

It was so easy to board using my boarding pass on my iPhone, and I liked what I was given on the plane for food and drink, and everyone was very friendly.

It took around two hours to depart. Just sitting in the tamarack waiting. It impacted my traveling plans in a very dramatic way. When we returned, it took around two hours for us to be able to get our luggage. Ridiculous!!

The messaging about the change in flight destination and options for getting to SFO was poor. There should have been frequent updates. When I spoke to the boarding agent moment before we were supposed to board, he was flippant and offered no help before the announcement was made that transportation would be arranged. It was as poor of an experience that I've ever had.

I thought every thing was good with the acceptation of the long layover between Seattle and the Tampa trip.

My plane ride down landed 20 min late. Boarding at SFO was strange too. The people at the terminal were nice—but, boarding lacked direction, and was confusing . Coming back was worse—the plane was hours behind—and I barely caught the last Bart train back to San Francisco (3 min more and I would have been in trouble). It was a very stressful trip, and it didn’t need to be.

Delta is one of the best airlines I have flown

Made the Atlanta to Pittsburgh trip many times, with Delta no issues

I always fly with Delta. My friends tell me their horror stories of flying with other airlines. I just smile and say, “You should fly Delta”

I'm a larger, athletic guy (6'2", 260lbs powerlifter) and I found the seats incredibly uncomfortable with minimal leg room, especially in a window seat. Now, I full understand that being smaller may change my view but even if I was 80lbs less, my legs would be the same size and I was sandwiched between my seat and the seat in front of me.

Horrible. This was not first class. This was a connecting flight whi h was late. My original flight never came. I hated the fact that delta gave me a connecting flight from New York to Orlando Florida. No meals and the television screens were not working. There wasn't even any power to charge your phones. This is NOT FIRST CLASS DELTA!!! Do better next time!

This flight was ridiculous. I had to have a connecting flight from New York to orlando Florida??? The flight left late and because it was a short flight there was no first class amenities. I had one alcohol drink. The flight crew was fine, but it sure did not feel like first class. Delta to me dropped the ball by giving me a connecting flight. By the time we got to Raleigh we would have missed the next flight. Lucky for me the flight never came so now I was stuck waiting for a later flight that came in late also.

Our flight was delayed in Atlanta. The staff could have gave us an explanation for the delay and how long it would be.

I liked the ease of checking in, luggage check in, wheel chair assistance, boarding and flight.

On my way home I had a layover. The flight from ATL to CLT was amended 5x while I was waiting. I could have driven home sooner. Overall from Dallas, Tx to Charlotte, NC I started my trip at 4:30pm, I didn’t get home until past midnight. I know things happen, but 5x to make me run back and forth in an airport from different terminals is excessive. I also upgraded to comfort + , I didn’t feel it was worth it. There was no benefit

On my way home I had a layover. The flight from ATL to CLT was amended 5x while I was waiting. I could have driven home sooner. Overall from Dallas, Tx to Charlotte, NC I started my trip at 4:30pm, I didn’t get home until past midnight. I know things happen, but 5x to make me run back and forth in an airport from different terminals is excessive.

This flight was delayed approximately 4 hours due to bad weather in HNL.

Flight delayed then cancelled then gate changed two times then baggage lost.

The plane is extremely loud and there’s no place to charge devices.

Not great to be very honest. Our flight was delayed after we sat at the airport until 15 minutes after we were supposed to leave . We were then notified the plane was being worked on “and the parts were out in the ground and still not finished .” Even though the work started the evening before and they knew it wasn’t fixed. . Then we were told it would be a 1:15 pm boarding time so we waited then at 1:45pm we were told it would be an 11:15pm boarding . It was changed to and 3:55am boarding the next morning . We lost out on a day in Hawaii and a night of our VRBO rental.

Safety record impeccable and important since flying many hours and thousands of miles over ocean.

Love the food service and attentiveness of the crew. Could have wi-if on flight

Seats on second leg from Hawaii to Tokyo would not recline. 9 hrs is long in total upright position.

Apparently the computer systems were down, so I wasn’t able to check in 24 hours in advance, despite multiple times on the app, the website, and by calling. Then I arrived at the airport and wasn’t assigned a seat right away. I had to wait until I was at the gate and waited about another hour for an agent. She was nice to give me a “free upgrade.“.

The crew worked to help us find standby seats and we were able to arrive at our destination early which was great. Only drawback is airport at Kona which is in need of update - waiting at gate passengers exposed to jet fumes, there’s only one restaurant with minimal choices, etc

Increased effort to keep family members (purchasing multiple tickets in the same transaction) sitting together. Additionally, when faced with choosing seats at the automated check-in kiosk, only exit row seats charging an additional $9 were available, but if you decline to choose seats, it picks seats that are NOT exit row. How does that work, Hawaiian?

So so. Terrible aircraft choice for that leg of the flight.

Due to one crew member not showing up to work, our flight was significantly delayed causing us to miss our connecting flight in Houston to Mississippi causing us to be delayed by more than 6 hours and missing our event all together. Very disappointing. All because ONE crew member called in sick. United did grant us a $15 meal voucher, which was a small but appreciated concession that I wasn’t able to use because I ordered my lunch and paid for it before applying the concession, and the staff said it was too late to use it. Ugh! We also had a TWO delay coming back from Mississippi, but that was on American Airlines and it was due to weather, so not their fault. Anyway, not at all impressed with United’s handling of our flight and the HUGE disappointment of missing our important family event for our 90 year old mother. All that money and all that stress and emotions for nothing. Having to wait the hour to bring an employee from LAX seemed like something that should not have happened. Why don’t you have a local back-up? Santa Ana is not a little airport in a rural area.

Flight delayed from Cape Town to Washington then got diverted to miami and in miami we had to fend for ourselves , im still trying to get to Shreveport now

delay several times and wait extra long to board. no entertainment service because there are problem for some rows. always encounter some delays for the last flight of the day.

I just wrote a text which was supposed to be for the flight from Denver to spokane not Frankfurt to Denver.

On time every leg of the journey and exceptional staff at counter, gate, and on board. I haven’t travelled in US for a long time and was genuinely surprised how pleasant this was.

The delays (5 hrs) were a comedy of errors, and the multiple safety issues encountered were very concerning.

flight delays, staff only communicating when pushed, food service lasting a grand total of 7 minutes, stuck in seat from 45mins into flight until landing

Crew was great and did their best to make us comfortable and captain came out at the beginning to announce why the flight was delayed, weather situation up ahead, and kept us updated throughout the flight.

they made me check my carryon. There was space in the overhead bins.

This flight is frequently delayed. The connections seemingly are more frequently delayed. I’ve missed connections as a result twice on the same route to charlotte then Charleston. Final destination arrival has been the next day, twice in a row. No pilots, no crew. Too many excuses. Unfortunately, my days with American are over.

Entertainment was okay not because anything was wrong but it is a short flight so having no wifi is annoying but understandable. Crew was outstanding as usual

Those seats were way too narrow. I had the middle seat, one person was a very skinny person and we still couldn’t avoid touching each other anytime one of us moved. The other person was larger and we were basically sitting in each others lap the entire flight. There was zero entertainment. The flight was long enough to justify tvs, but no. Gotta sit there in your infant seat and twiddle your thumbs.

The Flight attendant had an attitude and didn't allow anyone any time to prepare for landing despite being absent throughout the entire trip

Flight boarded without pilots. Sat on plane for 3 hrs. after over an hour late boarding. Plane never took off. Had to deplane near midnight. Line for rebooking was 3 hours + long. I had to leave.

The flight was great but board was a nightmare. The gate was changed 4 times during the layover period

The experience was great and much better than the flight going out. of course I was in first class but the service was excellent

Cold air blew constantly on my legs almost making me numb.

Missed the flight because of them and up geting a rental car

Delayd flight out of atl as always miss my conection in dfw no flight untill next day

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36 Hours on Maui

By Shannon Wianecki April 25, 2024

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By Shannon Wianecki Photographs by Michelle Mishina Kunz

Shannon Wianecki grew up in Hawaii and writes about the islands regularly.

Maui is the Goldilocks island: It is neither too big nor too small, and for its three million annual visitors, its perfect year-round temperature, rainbow-splashed volcanic summits and sugary beaches are just right. But last August, Maui’s equilibrium met disaster. Catastrophic wildfires reduced the historic town of Lahaina to ash, claiming more than 100 lives . Conflicting messages urged visitors to stay away and let the island heal, but also to come and help sustain the economy. Eight months later, the message is more unified that Maui is ready to greet tourists again. Housing remains a critical need for displaced residents. Lahaina will take years to rebuild. But Maui’s inherent beauty and hospitality remain as vibrant as ever. It’s a great time to explore Central and South Maui, where new cocktail bars, outrigger canoe tours and Indigenous art exhibits reveal the community’s creativity and resilience.

Recommendations

• The 10,000-foot summit of Haleakalā National Park (pronounced with an emphasis on “la”) has a view of the rising sun, volcanic vistas and some of the planet’s rarest plants and birds.
• The Hale Hō‘ike‘ike museum showcases Hawaiian artwork, carved deities and a redwood plank surfboard owned by the legendary swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku.
• Balai Pata is a new restaurant that celebrates Filipino flavors with savory soups, desserts big enough for two and monthly karaoke nights.
• The Wailea Beach Path meanders along South Maui’s photogenic coast between posh resorts and the deep blue Pacific.
• The hiking trails at ‘Īao Valley State Monument (pronounced EE-ow) penetrate the lush West Maui Mountains, winding past waterfalls and taro patches.
• Enormous murals by Small Town Big Art , a public art project, in colorful and historic Wailuku town, are worth taking a stroll to see, and they’re navigable by an online map.
• Blue Water Rafting ’s exhilarating tours of the Kanaio Coast explore hidden coves, sea caves and charismatic marine life.
• Ho‘okipa Beach Park , one of the world’s top surf spots, is also a great place to spy on napping sea turtles.
• Oao Sushi Bar & Grill offers beautifully prepared Japanese fare, such as inventive sushi rolls and purple-yam pot de crème, in a Wailea shopping center.
• Tikehau Lounge serves seasonal craft cocktails made with local spirits and garnished with tiny katana swords and surfboards.
• Kaohu Store is a mom-and-pop grocery that produces the island’s best poke, raw fish mixed with traditional seasonings such as ground kukui nuts and seaweed.
• Tails Up Maui , a partnership between a local chef and a fisherman, serves excellent fish sandwiches and chicken plates.
• Wailuku Coffee Co. is the place to stop for Maui-grown coffee or espresso while exploring Wailuku.
• Esters Fair Prospect , a charming tropical bar on Wailuku’s Main Street, serves daiquiris made with a choice of three dozen rums and appetizers featuring fresh marlin.
• Mama’s Fish House , a celebrated restaurant on a secluded lagoon, lists the names of the fishermen who caught the snapper and octopus on its menu.
• On Saturday mornings, the Upcountry Farmers Market is a miniature street fair with live music and vendors offering a bounty of Maui-grown produce and prepared foods.
• ‘Oko‘a Farm Store sells a cornucopia of organic tropical fruits and vegetables in fresh, dried and powdered form.
• T. Komoda Store and Bakery , which has served the Maui community for more than a century, sells out of its cream puffs and butter rolls daily.
• Sabado Art Gallery is where the local artist Philip Sabado paints, teaches workshops and sells his color-saturated impressions of Maui landscapes and hula dancers.
• Native Intelligence offers a wealth of Hawaiian art and fashion: Locals come here for Aloha shirts and sarongs, fine jewelry and fresh flower leis.
• Four Seasons Resort Maui sets the standard for service with poolside spritzes, immaculate housekeeping and a terrific complimentary kids’ camp. Guests can book spa treatments in oceanfront huts and outrigger canoe excursions that launch from the resort’s adjoining beach. Rooms start at $1,095 a night.
• Hotel Wailea is an adults-only boutique hotel on a hill overlooking South Maui. While not directly on the beach, it’s only a short shuttle ride away. Elegant suites are spacious (750 square feet with kitchenettes) and the Birdcage lounge is a prime spot for toasting the sunset. Rooms start at $799.
• Maui Kamaole is a condo complex across the street from Kama‘ole Beach Park III, between Wailea and Kihei on Maui’s south shore. One- and two-bedroom units feature full kitchens, laundry facilities and lush landscaping. Rooms start at $500.
• Since the recent fire intensified the housing shortage, visitors should avoid short-term rentals in residential areas. Instead, book hotels that offer in-room kitchens, such as Fairmont Kea Lani or Mana Kai Maui .
• The best way to explore the island is by car . The major rental companies each have kiosks at Kahului Airport. Taxis and ride-hailing services are available, but long distances between destinations make this an expensive option. Maui’s public transit is limited. The Maui Bus operates 12 routes, including two that stop at the airport. One-way fares cost $2; day passes are $4.

Wailea Beach Path

The Wailea Beach Path , which meanders along the island’s southern coast, reflects Maui’s almost contradictory personas: On one side, opulent resorts flaunt swim-up bars and nightly torch-lighting ceremonies. A subtler drama unfolds on the opposite side, where native flora like honey-scented naio bushes, spiky hala trees and hibiscus blossoms flourish along the rocky shoreline. Sit and listen to the sea rush through the lava rocks as the sun drops between three islands: Lanai, Kahoolawe and tiny Molokini. In the 1970s, nine Native Hawaiians occupied Kahoolawe in defiance of the U.S. military, which had been using the island as a bombing range for decades. Their daring protest sparked what is now known as the Hawaiian Renaissance — a revival of Indigenous culture that continues today.

Head to Oao Sushi Bar & Grill in the Wailea area for beautifully prepared Japanese fare. The owner and head chef, J.R. Oao, sharpened his knife at Maui’s best sushi bars (including a stint at Nobu Lana‘i) before opening his first brick-and-mortar restaurant last year (he also has a food truck in Kihei, a few miles north). His signature rolls are balanced and inventive: Try the baked California roll ($22), served hot and loaded with shrimp and scallops. Juicy seared lamb chops rest on a smear of umami-rich red miso ($42). Even the salads impress — bright cilantro vinaigrette with a hint of horseradish enlivens a simple mix of Maui-grown greens, roasted corn and goat cheese ($16). For dessert, the ube pot de crème ($14), made from purple yam, is luscious, light and almost cartoonishly bright.

The name of Tikehau , a new lounge in Wailea, means “peaceful landing.” The bar, which opened in November and is quietly raising the standard for craft cocktails statewide, was true to its name for Mari Howe, its manager, and other staff who came to work here after losing jobs or homes to the Lahaina fire. Everything is thoughtfully selected, from the gold-leaf wallpaper to the crystal stemware. Garnishes are coveted souvenirs; a tiny surfboard floats atop the Thousand Peaks ($19) — a lagoon-blue Paloma topped with jasmine-tea “sea foam.” The Hawaiian Samurai ($50), a top-shelf-whiskey libation, comes with a miniature katana sword. Ms. Howe’s seasonal menu incorporates local spirits and mixers: fresh pineapple juice, Kō Hana rum and okolehao, a moonshine made from Hawaiian ti plants. Upscale snacks include poisson cru, a raw-fish dish ($25), and smoked taro hummus ($15).

Explore the rugged Kanaio Coast’s hidden coves and sea caves with a rafting tour.

This morning mission requires preparation. First, book a sunrise reservation at Haleakalā National Park well in advance ($1 permit, $30 park entrance). Then pack really warm clothes. In the darkness, drive slowly up the 10,000-foot volcano; fog often obscures cattle and native geese loitering in hairpin turns. Your efforts will be rewarded at the peak — first by the velvet sky awash with stars, then by the sun’s rays spilling across the fire-forged mountain. Notice how the silverswords (hedgehog-like plants that grow only here) sparkle in the golden light. As you descend, stop at Hosmer Grove , where a short hike leads to a forest full of Hawaiian honeycreepers , birds that are among some of the planet’s rarest.

Midway down Haleakalā, stop at the Upcountry Farmers Market . Every Saturday morning, the Kulamalu Town Center parking lot turns into a miniature street fair with live music and vendors offering a dizzying array of Maui-grown produce and prepared foods. You’ll find things to eat immediately — fresh coconut, vegan sweet-potato cheesecake and Venezuelan arepas — as well as things to stash in your suitcase, like passion-fruit butter and macadamia nuts. Don’t miss the ‘Oko‘a Farm Store , which migrated from the market into an adjacent storefront. The store’s 46-acre farm supplies a cornucopia of tropical fruits and vegetables; its shelves teem with jars of pickled, powdered, and freeze-dried treats and tonics.

Baldwin Avenue

Take the scenic drive back to sea level through historic Makawao and Paia towns. Bordered by a rodeo arena and a polo field , Makawao is the charming headquarters of the paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys who continue to rope and ride across the island’s lush ranchlands. On the corner of Makawao and Baldwin Avenues you’ll see T. Komoda Store and Bakery ; this beloved family-run business, which has served the community since 1916, sells out of its cream puffs and butter rolls daily. Follow Baldwin past the defunct sugar mill to Paia. Once a busy sugar plantation hub surrounded by green cane fields, it’s now home to surfers and artists. As you pass Baldwin Beach, admire the view of the rain-carved West Maui Mountains. The morning light often reveals the hidden interior of ‘Īao Valley, your next destination.

Wailuku River

Head to Kaohu Store in Wailuku for lunch to go. This mom-and-pop grocery offers the island’s best poke — raw fish mixed with traditional seasonings such as ground kukui nuts and seaweed (from $18 a pound). Add two scoops of rice and crunchy fern salad for a truly local meal. If you prefer a cooked lunch, visit Tails Up Maui for a classy fish sandwich ($19) or mochiko (rice flour) fried chicken ($17). Take your picnic to Kepaniwai Park , where model houses commemorate the diverse cultures of Hawaii’s sugar plantation era, and dip your feet into the Wailuku River. Continue to ‘ Īao Valley State Monument (out-of-state visitors need reservations; $5 entrance fee, $10 parking). Paved walkways wind through a traditional lo‘i kalo (taro patch), past multiple waterfalls and up to a stunning lookout.

Peruse the art and artifacts at Hale Hō‘ike‘ike , a captivating repository of Hawaiian culture in the former home of the missionary-artist Edward Bailey. Exhibits showcase Hawaiian feather work and quilts, carved deities, and paintings depicting 19th-century Maui. Imagine trying to paddle the legendary swimmer and surfer Duke Kahanamoku’s redwood plank surfboard into the waves (entry, $10). From there, stroll through Wailuku, Maui’s somewhat sleepy seat of local government. Narrow side streets yield many treasures: See enormous street murals (use the online map by Small Town Big Art , a public art project), admire the color-saturated paintings at Sabado Art Gallery and find refreshment at Wailuku Coffee Co. or Esters Fair Prospect , a cocktail bar. After shopping for Hawaiian books and clothing at Native Intelligence , buy yourself a fragrant flower lei to wear for the duration of your trip.

At Balai Pata , a new Filipino restaurant in Kahului, a celebration of the flavors that the chef and owner Joey Macadangdang grew up with is a welcome addition to Maui’s restaurant scene. Plump Kauai prawns sauteed in garlicky fish sauce ($17) set the stage for savory sinigang ($30) — tamarind broth loaded with long beans, okra and fish. For dessert, two can share the halo-halo ($18) — crushed ice topped with avocado, ube ice cream, coconut cream and fruit jellies, served in a coconut shell. The décor reflects a bright, homespun aesthetic, and once a month, local families fill the restaurant for late-night happy hour and karaoke battles — check Instagram for dates.

Jumping into a pool in Kepaniwai Park.

Blue Water Rafting

A trip to Maui isn’t complete without ducking underwater to spy on clouds of striped manini fish, eagle rays and turtles. While most snorkel tours start at Mā‘alaea Harbor, Blue Water Rafting boards at the Kihei boat ramp — offering easier access and one of the only tours of Kanaio Coast’s hidden coves and sea caves ($179, four hours). Climb into the rigid-hulled raft beside two dozen other passengers (fewer than the big tour boats) and watch for dolphins. In winter, close encounters with whales are common. As you peer into the pristine bay formed by Maui’s youngest lava flow, imagine the Polynesian wayfinders sailing here centuries ago, followed by the French explorer La Pérouse in 1786. The ride is exhilarating but bumpy.

Don’t be shy: Wear your flower lei to lunch at Mama’s Fish House . Old-style hospitality reigns at this celebrated restaurant on a sheltered lagoon. Servers greet you in vintage Aloha wear and offer complimentary bowls of poi (pounded taro — a staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet). The menu is pricey but worthy; long before it was fashionable, Mama’s listed who caught each fish and where. A recent menu featured sea bass hooked by Ivan Ventura in Hana ($68). If you ordered only dessert, you’d still leave happy; the Polynesian Black Pearl ($24) is an edible version of “The Birth of Venus”: chocolate mousse and passion fruit ensconced in a cookie seashell. Tables can book up a year out. After lunch, drive two minutes east to Ho‘okipa Beach Park , where surfers carve waves and sea turtles bask on the sand.

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Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $106 for one-way flights and $207 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

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Cheap flights to Maui ( OGG)

Get started finding a cheap flight to Maui on Expedia by either choosing a deal on this page or entering into the search bar your travel dates, origin airport, and whether you want roundtrip or one-way airfare. You can filter for flexibility, number of stops, airline, and departure/arrival times to find the best flight for you.

We recommend using the ‘Flexible Dates’ calendar at the top of the page to see the price of plane tickets on the surrounding dates. This allows you to pick the cheapest days to fly if your trip allows flexibility and score cheap flight deals to Maui.

Roundtrip prices range from $207 - $459, and one-ways to Maui start as low as $106.

Be aware that choosing a non-stop flight can sometimes be more expensive while saving you time. And routes with connections may be available at a cheaper rate.

Airlines that fly to Maui ( OGG)

You have several options for which airline you choose to travel with to Maui. There are 6 airlines flying into OGG: United, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines. 

Cheap plane tickets may be available from different airlines at different times and with unique terms. It’s best to understand the details of each airline’s offer before judging its value.

For example, if you plan to check a bag or bring a carry-on, check whether the cheap airfare deal includes a baggage allowance. If not, verify whether the baggage fee is higher than the difference of other airline plane ticket deals offering free checked/carry-on baggage in exchange for a slightly higher airfare. 

Additionally, your preferred frequent flyer membership programs may influence your choice of cheap airline. Expedia allows you to enter your membership numbers during checkout to earn points from your airline and Expedia Rewards—all while getting a great deal and planning all your travel in one online platform.

Find the best deals

At Expedia, we source many flight deals from multiple providers, so you can easily find the best deals that are right for you. A great strategy for getting the best deals can be to make sure you book and travel at the optimal times. Airfare to Maui (OGG) varies throughout the year based on seasonal demand. You’ll see the lowest rates for roundtrips to OGG in May and in May for one-ways.

Cancellation & flexibility

To change or cancel eligible flights, go to ‘My Trips’ and navigate to your itinerary. If you booked within the last 24-hours, you might be able to cancel your flight for free. Learn more about flight changes or cancellations from our customer service portal . Some plane tickets are available with no change fees, which you can filter for during your search.

Frequently asked questions

• Hawaiian Airlines - 1,319 flights to or near Maui each month, including 1,319 flights to Kahului Airport (OGG) per month.
• Southern Airways Express - 860 flights to or near Maui each month, including 708 flights to Kahului Airport (OGG) per month.
• Southwest Airlines - 515 flights to or near Maui each month, including 515 flights to Kahului Airport (OGG) per month.
• Kahului Airport (OGG) - 3,190 flights per month.
• West Maui Airport (JHM) - 91 flights per month.
• Hana Airport (HNM) - 60 flights per month.
• Honolulu, HI (HNL-Daniel K. Inouye Intl.) to Kahului Airport (OGG) - 47 minutes
• Kailua-Kona, HI (KOA-Kona Intl.) to Kahului Airport (OGG) - 44 minutes
• Hoolehua, HI (MKK-Molokai) to Kahului Airport (OGG) - 35 minutes

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10 memorable Maui must-dos

Posted: November 30, 2023 | Last updated: November 30, 2023

Best Times to Go to Maui

There’s really not a bad time to go to Maui. The weather stays warm, with highs in the 75- to 85-degree range year-round during the day. Summer, especially July and early August, can be very popular, with singles, couples, and families embarking on  summer travel . If you prefer to have a less crowded and more lowkey trip, you might prefer to plan your trip for April, May, or mid-August through September.

But if it’s whale-watching you’re after, January is the month to visit, because it’s their migration season.

Here are some annual events you might want to include in your travel plans.

• February: Great Maui Whale Festival
• March: Lahaina Whale and Ocean Arts Festival
• May: Lei Day
• June: Maui Film Festival
• July: Lana’i Pineapple Festival
• October: Hawai’ian Food & Wine Festival
• December: Lighting of the Banyan Tree

Bad Times to Go to Maui

While there really isn’t a bad time to go to Maui, if you want to lessen the chance of getting rained on while enjoying the top things to do in Maui, avoid the rainy season, which is November to March. That said, Wailea, an area on the southwestern side of the island, has its own microclimate and tends to be drier year-round.

Average Cost of a Maui Vacation

Hawaii isn’t known for being a budget traveler’s paradise. Because it’s an island, food has to be shipped in, which can cause it to cost more. And  renting a car  can get expensive, depending on the time of year and demand. But how much will your Maui vacation cost?

For a couple, expect to pay about $4,517 for a week in Maui. The actual cost will depend on your accommodations, largely. A hotel room can range from $102 to $467 a night, while a vacation rental could be about $240 to $440 per night. Keep in mind that these price estimates don’t include airfare getting to the island. When you are purchasing your tickets, you might want to use an  airline credit card  to rack up some bonus miles or other rewards.

You might also take advantage of  book now, pay later travel  to book flights when you see affordable options instead of waiting until the last minute when prices may spike.

One other expense to consider is travel insurance. Check if your  credit card travel insurance  will cover you; some card issuers offer this. Otherwise, you might rest easier if you buy a separate policy to protect yourself if something were to go awry.

10 Fun Must-Dos in Maui

Every Hawaiian island has its own unique features and things to do. Maui is an in-demand destination because of all of its incredible attractions. Here, based on travelers’ advice, locals’ picks, and the best-rated sights on the web, are 10 fun things to to when in Maui, Hawaii.

1. Watch the Cliff Divers at Black Rock

This event feels like an insider’s secret, but in reality, lele kawa, or cliff-diving off of Black Rock has been attracting thousands of tourists for 60 years. Hawaiians have been cliff-diving for centuries, and this twice-weekly ceremony, lasting about 10 minutes, continues the tradition.

Stake out a place to view the spectacular event at the Sheraton Maui before sunset. You don’t have to be a guest of the property to attend, though you may choose to enjoy a cocktail at the outdoor bar for prime seating. Otherwise, find a spot along the shore and wait for the torch lighting that signifies the start of this nightly ceremony. 

2. Go Ziplining

Another top thing to do in Maui: Ziplining, a great way to fulfill your need for speed and see the gorgeous landscape. There are several ziplining companies in Maui, allowing you to glide down lines above the treetops and take in breathtaking views of the island and the sea. One business, North Shore Zipline Company, operates on a historic World War II landmark site, and the guides provide interesting tidbits about Maui’s role in the war. Kapalua Ziplines’ Dual Zipline Mountain Adventure is another option, allowing a pair of zipliners to glide down parallel paths together.

Prices can range from $100 to $200 or more, depending on how many ziplines you do. This attraction could be a good time to use plastic and reap some credit card rewards.

3. Savor a Luau

Some may find it a tad hokey, but a luau experience can be one of the most fun things to do in Maui for couples. These typically involve local delicacies (perhaps including roast pig cooked in the earth) and action-packed, flame-throwing dance performances. If you can go at sunset, you’ll likely have the backdrop of stunning pink and purple skies.  (Learn more at How Many Credit Cards Should I Have? )

4. Snorkel with Turtles in Honokeana Bay

One of the top 10 things to do in Maui is snorkeling with sea turtles. While there are many places you can see them, sometimes the number of tourists scares them away at the more popular beaches. However, at sleepy Honokeana Bay, you’re more likely to bump into one.

This bay doesn’t have a sandy beach, so wear water shoes; you’ll likely have to climb over some possibly sharp lava rock to get into and out of the water. Bring an underwater camera to get a shot of these graceful creatures, but remember: Don’t touch them!

5. Follow the Road to Hana

If you love gorgeous road trips and don’t mind a few curves on your path, take a day to drive the Road to Hana. This winding road will have you cruising through rainforests, black beaches, sacred burial sites, and past gushing waterfalls. There are apps you can download to guide you to the best places to stop (and note: Cell service may be spotty, so download your map beforehand).

Another way to see this memorable sight: Let one of the local guides do the driving, and be a passenger. Plenty of options are available to tour this way.

6. Take to the Trails

Maui is truly a nature lover’s paradise, and there are hikes for every level of skill. For an easy, ambling hike along the coast, try Kapalua Coastal Trail, especially if you don’t have time to drive to one of the parks for a hike.

If you do have more time, try Waihe’e Ridge Trail, which rises 2,500 feet above sea level and puts you right in the heart of the mountains. You’ll also get to see some of the island’s most beautiful waterfalls.

7. Get Up Close to the Haleakalā Crater

At the heart of Maui is the Haleakalā volcano, which makes up 75% of the island. Visitors love watching the sunrise from the crater, though know that you need a reservation. You can also book a van or bike tour, camp, or explore the park on your own. The park is open 24 hours a day, while the visitor’s center is open 8 am to 3:45 pm There is a $1.50 fee per vehicle for sunrise; this low fee can be one of the  ways families can afford to travel . (Learn more at Tips for Traveling with a Baby ). 

8. Cool Off With Shave Ice

No trip to Maui is complete until you’ve had shave ice from Ululani’s (that’s right; shave not shaved ice). Shave ice is a local treat and is just what it sounds like: bits of ice shaved from a block and doused with sweet syrup. It’s similar to a snow cone, though that’s made with crushed ice.

As for Ululani’s, this institution has been creating smiles with its sweet treats since 2008. Try a fun flavor like passionfruit, coconut, guava, mango, or macadamia nut on a hot day. 

9. Bask on a Black Sand Beach

Of course you need beach time, so why not head to the black sand beach of Waiʻānapanapa State Park? It’s a great selfie spot. The black color comes from eroded rock mixed with sand.

You can also picnic, swim, and snorkel there. If you’re  traveling with a pet , know that the park allows leashed dogs, so it can be a good place to explore together.

To combat the throngs of visitors, the park now requires reservations, and entry is $5 per person plus a $10 parking fee. 

10. Sip Mai Tais at Sunset

Another of the best things to do on a Maui vacation is enjoy Happy Hour. There’s nothing more romantic in Maui than enjoying a Mai Tai as the sun dips below the sea. There are several places you can get a delicious cocktail, including Ka’anapali Beach Hotel and Duke’s Beach House. Some places get crowded at sunset, so it’s often best to make a reservation.

The Takeaway

A trip to Maui can provide the opportunity to see some true natural wonders, relax, hike, and eat amazingly well. With attractions like the Road to Hana and cliff-diving ceremonies, Maui offers diverse attractions that make a stay there amazingly memorable.

This article originally appeared on  SoFi.com  and was syndicated by  MediaFeed.org .

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.Communication of SoFi Wealth LLC an SEC Registered Investment AdvisorSoFi isn’t recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

Communication of SoFi Wealth LLC an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at  here . Liz Young is a Registered Representative of SoFi Securities and Investment Advisor Representative of SoFi Wealth. Her ADV 2B is available at  here .

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Cost of a Trip to Moscow, RU & the Cheapest Time to Visit Moscow

The average price of a 7-day trip to Moscow is $1,416 for a solo traveler, $2,543 for a couple, and $4,768 for a family of 4 . Moscow hotels range from $30 to $152 per night with an average of $52, while most vacation rentals will cost $170 to $570 per night for the entire home. Average worldwide flight costs to Vnukovo Airport ( VKO ) are between $517 and $1,380 per person for economy flights and $1,622 to $4,330 for first class. Depending on activities, we recommend budgeting $20 to $45 per person per day for transportation and enjoying local restaurants.

See below for average , budget , and luxury trip costs. You can also look up flight costs from your airport for more tailored flight pricing.

The Cheapest Times to Visit Moscow, RU

On average, these will be the cheapest dates to fly to VKO and stay in a Moscow hotel:

• January 15th to February 11th
• July 23rd to December 23rd

The absolute cheapest time to take a vacation in Moscow is usually early October .

Average Moscow Trip Costs

Average solo traveler.

The average cost for one person to visit Moscow for a week is $640-$2,331 ($91-$333 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $20 to $45 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $290 to $1,242 for economy

Lodging : $35 to $48 per night for one 2 or 3-star hotel room

or $106 to $129 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Average Couple’s Trip

The average cost for a couple to visit Moscow for a week is $1,524-$4,164 ($218-$595 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $40 to $90 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $580 to $2,484 for economy

Average Family Vacation

The average cost for 4 people to visit Moscow for a week is $2,140-$7,464 ($306-$1,066 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $80 to $180 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,160 to $4,968 for economy

Lodging : $70 to $96 per night for two 2 or 3-star hotel rooms

or $159 to $206 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Traveling Cheap to Moscow

How cheap can you make a vacation to Moscow? The cheapest trip to Moscow is about $71 per person per day for travelers willing to take standby flights, deal with inconvenience, and otherwise limit travel expenses. About 1% of rentals are available in the $0 to $100 range for an entire place, and vacation rentals can be booked for as low as $21 per night. These inexpensive rentals must be booked as early as possible and may not be in the most desirable areas. 1-star hotels are more likely to be available, with rooms starting at around $26.

Even cheaper trips are possible depending on where you live and whether you can drive. Check the cheapest times to fly for more saving ideas.

Budget Solo Traveler

The lowest cost for one person to visit Moscow for a week is $500-$1,783 ($71-$255 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $12 to $25 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Lodging : $26 to $30 per night for one 1-star hotel room

or $21 to $61 per night for a 1-bed vacation rental

Budget Couple’s Trip

The lowest cost for a couple to visit Moscow for a week is $874-$3,200 ($125-$457 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $24 to $50 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Budget Family Vacation

The lowest cost for 4 people to visit Moscow for a week is $1,688-$6,256 ($241-$894 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $48 to $100 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Lodging : $52 to $60 per night for two 1-star hotel rooms

or $32 to $98 per night for a 2-bed vacation rental

Overall it is easy to travel to Moscow cheaply.

The Cost of a Luxury Moscow Trip

There is no true ceiling on the cost of a luxury trip, so our estimates are based on what most people do in Moscow.

Luxury Solo Traveler

The high-end price for one person to visit Moscow for a week is $1,269-$11,397 ($181-$1,628 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $38 to $99 per day for one person’s daily expenses

Flights : $589 to $3,180 for first class

Lodging : $69 to $152 per night for one 4 or 5-star hotel room

or $570 to $1,254 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Luxury Couple’s Trip

The high-end price for a couple to visit Moscow for a week is $2,124-$15,270 ($303-$2,181 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $76 to $198 per day for two people’s daily expenses

Flights : $1,178 to $6,360 for first class

Luxury Family Vacation

The high-end price for 4 people to visit Moscow for a week is $4,248-$27,528 ($607-$3,933 per day)

Food, Travel, and Sightseeing : $152 to $396 per day for four people’s daily expenses

Flights : $2,356 to $12,720 for first class

Lodging : $138 to $304 per night for two 4 or 5-star hotel rooms

or $912 to $2,006 per night for a preferred vacation rental

Moscow Hotel Prices

The cost of staying in Moscow is lower than the average city. On average hotels are less expensive than vacation rentals. Luxury vacation rentals are more expensive in Moscow due to very high property costs. The graphs below show how much cost can vary depending on the type of experience you’re looking for.

Moscow Lodging Cost by Star Status

The average price for the class of hotel is on the (y) axis. The hotel class (out of 5 stars) is on the (x) axis.

Prices are based on Moscow hotel averages and may not reflect current prices. In some cases, we extrapolate prices to estimate costs, and hotels with your desired star rating may not be available.

Vacation Rental Prices

The percent of vacation rentals in the price range is on the left (y) axis. Price range is on the bottom (x) axis.

There are a healthy amount of vacation rentals serving all budgets in Moscow.

Flight Costs to Moscow

Averaging flights around the world, prices go from a high of $1,380 average in early to mid July to a low of $517 in early October. Median flight price is $444. These prices are based on millions of flights. For Moscow our data includes 205 originating airports, and 116 airlines. The area has much more variance in price compared with other locations. Flying to Moscow from an airport like Salta ( SLA ) in Salta (Argentina) for an average $8,651 trip fare will obviously cost a lot more than from an airport like Begishevo ( NBC ) in Naberevnye Chelny (Russia) at an average of just $63.

Average Flight Cost by Season

Average flight cost by day of week.

The cheapest day to fly in is typically Monday, and the cheapest day to fly back is usually Saturday. Click here to see data for the cost of flights from your airport. In Moscow, the difference between the cheapest and the most expensive week is about $864, so you can easily save about 167% simply by using our free flight guides and booking in advance.

Daily Expenses Budget

Daily vacation expenses vary more based on what you’re interested in doing. A fine dining restaurant with drinks around Moscow can easily cost $190 per person or more, while a standard nice meal might be about $12 per person. Private tours can cost $373 per day, but self-guided tours to see the outdoor sights can be free. Costs vary wildly, so recommendations are made based on the cost of living and averages we see for this type of vacation.

Other Moscow Guides

Travel costs nearby.

• Yakimanka, Russia
• Arbat, Russia
• Khamovniki, Russia
• Tverskoy, Russia
• Presnensky, Russia
• Begovoy, Russia
• Dorogomilovo, Russia
• Krasnoselsky, Russia
• Tagansky, Russia
• Basmanny, Russia

Travel Costs in Popular Places

• Accra, Ghana
• Kekaha Kai State Park, the United States
• Gulf State Park, the United States