Maui's Hana Highway Is Hawaii's Windiest Road With More Than 600 Curves

The Hawaiian Islands may be small in terms of land mass but are home to unsurpassed natural beauty, and while there are some wonders that can only be seen via strenuous hiking trails, or even helicopter tour, there are others that simply require a vehicle — as well as a camera and killer driving playlist.

The famous Hana Highway is perhaps the most popular scenic drive on the island of Maui — and easily among the best road trips in the USA. But it’s also nerve-wracking, to say the least. You see, this incredible highway is home to a whopping 620 curves, making it the windiest road in the Aloha State, and one road that is certainly not for the faint of heart. But if you happen to have a strong stomach, let the adventure begin.

This infamous 64.4-mile highway stretches from Kahului to Hana is popular not for the destination — Hana Town — but for the incredible journey it takes to get there.

The Hana Highway was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, and you should allot approximately two and a half hours to make the 60-some mile journey, and that’s if you don’t make any stops at the incredible parks, beaches, waterfalls, and snack stands you’ll find along the way.

And the road itself is certainly a doozy: the highway passes over 59 bridges and features a whopping 620 turns through lush, tropical jungle.

When you do the math, that's nearly 10 curves for every single mile driven.

Fun fact: Many of the bridges date back to the early 1900s, and approximately 46 out of the 59 bridges you'l find along the Hana Highway are only one lane wide.

If you look up from the road, you will find awe-inspiring views, with pristine beaches in a variety of colors towards the ocean, and lush tropical rainforest on the other.

With varied scenery, including rugged cliff faces and secluded stretches of sand, it doesn't get any prettier than this.

It's easy to see why this scenic drive is one of the most popular in all of Hawaii, and while every mile of the highway provides stunning views you won't find anywhere else, you might want to skip this drive if you experience car sickness.

If you aren't faint of heart from the drive, you might be once you look back and check out the road from which you came.

What are you waiting for? Pack up your car and let the adventure begin! Don't forget the Dramamine!

While Maui’s Hana Highway is certainly winding, to say the least, it’s also home to countless incredible landscapes and natural oases just waiting to be explored, like these cascading waterfalls. For more information, and to make the most out of this iconic drive, check out this epic resource.

For more terrifying Hawaii drives, click here.

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Hawaii’s Windiest Road Has Over 600 Curves And It’s Not For The Faint Of Heart

Megan Shute

Author

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