Explore Oahu by car

Oahu, the most popular Hawaiian Island, is also one of the most manageable. We will show you how to enjoy your freedom as you explore Oahu by car. You can go anywhere on a day trip. The journey from Waikiki, on the southern tip, to Sunset Beach, on the North Shore is only 40 miles! You could drive it in an hour without stops, but that’s not going to happen. There are plenty of things to see all over Oahu.

Why explore Oahu by car?

• Never set foot in a crowded tour bus. You will save a money, especially as a group of people.
• Create your own itinerary at your own schedule. Spend extra time here and skip another place.
• Enjoy good roads, good signage, reasonable traffic. Minimal stress on your tropical getaway.
• Stay in Honolulu, and you can still go anywhere and get back that same day.

We can help with some suggested itineraries below.

Inland drive to the North Shore

Dole Plantation. Part freeway, part highway, you will be surprised to reach this site in about 45 minutes from Waikiki. In our opinion, this is an over-expensive tourist destination (with a tour, a maze, a little train, and big gift shop), but you could visit now or on the way back to check this off the list. It’s your schedule! Tip: wait to eat.

Haleiwa. The little town of Haleiwa is home to the Kamananni Orchard, better known as the North Shore macadamia nut farm. With 1700 trees on 24 acres, it is the only working mac-farm on Oahu. The gift show, open 11am to 4pm, is a must for sampling and buying all sorts of macadamia nuts. We buy coconut roasted and cinnamon, as well as unsalted nuts.

Eat lunch in Haleiwa or Pupukea. The choices are many on the North Shore, from local food trucks to cafes to restaurants. Check out inherentbummer.com for a pretty extensive dining list (as well as other things to do).

Surf beaches. World-famous waves batter the North Shore in the winter. We have fun watching a professional surfing contest in February. But the beaches lined by this 10-mile stretch of Kamehameha Highway (Route 83) are awesome year-round. Just pick one for the afternoon. You are on Hawaiian time.

Waimea Valley. As you begin your return trip, a stop in Waimea Falls and its botanical garden could be considered. It’s a short drive off the highway to check it out. You may even spot a peacock. This place closes at 4pm and the Dole Plantation closes at 5:30pm, as you plan your drive back to Honolulu in time for dinner. Tip: we find delicious and much cheaper pineapples literally across the street from the plantation.

Pearl Harbor, Honolulu overlook, and Iolani Palace

Pearl Harbor. Here is where having a rental car can really be beneficial. We find the average tour bus with pick-up and drop off in Waikiki to run about $70 per person or about $300 for a family of four. You wait for the bus at a hotel, sit on while it makes numerous other stops, and get to see some Honolulu sights out the window as they drive by. Several hours later the bus returns to all those Waikiki hotels. They say it includes admission to the visitor center and the USS Arizona Memorial, but guess what? Admission is free! Just be sure to make the required advanced reservations through the U.S. site, recreation.gov. With a rental car your only cost is $7 for parking. It’s just 30 minutes from Waikiki. Tip: Try to go in the morning. Everyone should visit this important part of American history at least once. Allow a couple of hours, more or less.

Tantalus Lookout. Now you’ve got enough free time to add a quick trip to Puu Ualakaa State Park and the Tantalus Lookout. Navigate the twists and turns of Round Top Drive and you will be treated to dramatic views like the one above. You are about 30 minutes from Pearl Harbor.

Iolani Palace.  Controlling your own schedule will enable you to experience an important part of Hawaiian history as well. King Kalakaua built this royal palace in 1882, and its history is fascinating. Check times for self or guided tours. You are about 20 minutes from Tantalus and just 10 minutes from Waikiki.

Coastal drive to the Polynesian Cultural Center

Despite numerous trips to Oahu over the years, I avoided this place. I am already in paradise, so why do I need to visit a theme-park version? I was wrong. There is a reason 30+ million people since 1963 have made this Hawaii’s number one tourist attraction. It is fun. It is educational. The six villages of Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Aoteara, Samoa, and Tonga, are each interesting in their own way. There is even a decent luau and an excellent evening show to complete the long day. Check out our video below.

This time we take the scenic route that hugs the eastern coast of the island. The 35-mile trip takes a little more than an hour for the 12:30pm arrival. Tip: It’s nice that they offer several different packages, depending on what you want to do. We decide to go upscale and opt for the Super Ambassador package. It is pricey, but worth it. We are in the capable hands of a private guide, who whisks us from village to village, with reserved seating for shows and demonstrations. All the guides are knowledgeable BYU students from the native lands – ours is from Tahiti. The luau and platinum-level seating for the nighttime show are also included. This package usually sells out, so reserve well in advance.

Byodo-in Temple and Kualoa Ranch

Another drive that follows the eastern coast starts with a beautiful Buddhist temple. Byodo-in Temple is a replica of a 900-year-old temple in Japan. Its setting, with a misty backdrop of green Oahu mountains, is as magnificent as the building itself. You are just 45 minutes from Waikiki.

Now drive 8 miles up the coast and you have migrated from ancient Japan to Jurassic Park. You will have to choose from more than a dozen adventures, with about that many modes of transportation. Horseback, eBike, Jeep, UTV, boat, open-air truck, and zipline are among the options. Visit kualoa.com for all the details, and keep an eye out for raptors.

So many beaches to drive to

Most of this article focuses on sights and attractions, but Oahu has impressive beaches everywhere – not just Waikiki and North Shore. They are as close as Diamond Head Beach Park, pictured above. Drive west on H1 and Highway 93 to reach Disney’s Aulani, worth a visit even if you aren’t staying there. Head east on H3 or meander up Highway 72, and you will reach the Kailua area, home to Lanikai Beach and Kalama Beach Park, among others.

All of our road trips end in Waikiki. I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend the perfect way to end one of your days there. Check out my article, See Waikiki from a private sailboat.

Have any questions or comments? Feel free to add them at the bottom of this post.