Panorama showing the point where lava flowed over the end of Chain of Craters Road on Hawaii Island. You can drive no further, from here it is a 30min trek in blazing sun to the point where lava now enters the sea.

Lava at end of Chain of Craters Road - Hawaii Island visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Lava at end of Chain of Craters Road' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Hawaii.

Chain of Craters Road winds 23 miles through the East Rift and coastal area of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island, descending 3,700 feet between Crater Rim Drive and the terminus at the coast where it is covered by lava. When built, the road continued along the coast to Kapaahu, joining roads leading to Pahoa and Opihikao. However, parts of the road were buried by lava from Kīlauea volcano, and the road now terminates at a lava field.

The eruptions from Kīlauea volcano still continue today, many people come and park at the end of Chain of Craters Road and then walk out over the lava to see the point where fresh lava enters the sea after passing through about 11km of lava tubes from the eruption vent.

The drive down Chain of Craters Road is very dramatic, both the landscape and climate changing dramatically from temperate (often misty and rainy) at the top to tropical at the base. On the way the road passes several old eruption craters and over different lava flows, several of which have lookout points. The drive is one of the top attractions in the park. This virtual tour has images from the following lookouts and lava flows: Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu lookout, Muliwai a Pele, Kealakomo lookout, Halona Kahakai and Alanui Kahiko, shown in this panorama.

Alanui Kahiko was covered in 1972 by lava flows from Alae lava shield, but the road was subsequently re-built. Today, there are dramatic views looking back up the lava and then out to sea.

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
P.O. Box 52
Hawai'i National Park,
Hawaii Island
HI 96718-0052

Car: Alanui Kahiko is 13miles down Chain of Craters Road. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is 50 miles from Hilo and about 90 miles from Kailua Kona on highway 11.