Koke'e State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Koke'e State Park offers the opportunity to go hiking in a rainforest. You can get amazing views of the Kalalau Valley from this 4,345-acre state park, and tent camping and lodging are available. Bring your binoculars to see a variety of wildlife and birds. Stop at the museum to learn more about the area’s fauna, wildlife, and history. Seasonal hunting is permitted in this park, which is in the Nā Pali-Kona Forest Reserve. The state park is located 24 miles north of Hanapepe, 17 miles north of Waimea, and 28 miles northeast of Kalaheo.
Spring 51-63 F
Summer 55-67 F
Fall 56-67 F
Winter 50-63 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Koke'e State Park
Pack up your RV and head to a campground near Koke’e State Park. If you do not own an RV, then rent an RV on RVshare.com.
Polihale State Park
Tent camping in front of sand dunes is allowed at Polihale State Park. Enjoy shore fishing from the beach while camping at this beach campground, where rates start at $12 per person per night.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: No
Other amenities: Beach, shore fishing
Waimanu Campsites
Follow the 9-mile trail to reach the Waimanu Campsites from the Waipiʻo Valley Lookout. This remote campground, where rates start at $12 per night, is located within the Nā Pali-Kona Forest Reserve.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: No
Other amenities: Hiking, fishing, hunting
What to Do at
Koke'e State Park
Inside Koke'e State Park
Start your visit at Koke’e State Park with a visit to the museum to learn more about the plants and wildlife living in this mountainous area. Then, head out on several of the seven hiking trails to see the area for yourself. There are areas to go shore fishing for trout. Pick plums to have a tasty snack while hiking or fishing.
Outside Koke'e State Park
Head south to Waimea or Hanapepe to find great places to shop and dine on local dishes. You can also find other activities to do in the area. There are plenty of attractions nearby that you may enjoy seeing.
Restaurants
Porky’s Kauai
You may have trouble figuring out how to wrap your mouth around one of the pulled pork sandwiches at Porky’s Kauai, but it is worth the effort. The grilled cheese and beef franks also are outstanding choices. This location is part of a small chain that tries to use local ingredients whenever possible.
Type: Barbecue
Location: 9899 Waimea Road, Waimea, Kauai, HI 96796
Ishihara Market
Start your day with a hearty breakfast at Ishihara Market. Then, grab some poke and other delicious entrees for a picnic. This restaurant is located within a grocery store, so it is easy to stock up on other needed food supplies.
Type: Deli
Location: 9894 Kaumualii Highway, Waimea, Kauai, HI 96796
Island Taco
Handcrafted tortillas are stuffed with wasabi-seared tuna, Kalua pork, blackened Mahi Mahi, cilantro lime tofu, and other choices at Island Taco. This restaurant has a fun, casual décor that you will enjoy seeing, and the service is top-notch.
Type: Mexican, Hawaiian
Location: 9894 Kaumualii Highway, Waimea, Kauai, HI 96796
Wrangler's Steakhouse
You can get outstanding burgers and seafood at Wrangler’s Steakhouse, where customers have been delighted with the food and service for over 30 years. Make sure when dining here to leave room for their royal Hawaiian sweet bread pudding or their mud pie.
Type: Steak, Seafood
Location: 9852 Kaumualii Highway, Waimea, Kauai, HI 96796
Shrimp Station
Enjoy a quick shrimp and rice lunch at the outside tables at Shrimp Station. The coconut shrimp is particularly tasty.
Type: Seafood
Location: 9652 Kaumualii Highway, Waimea, Kauai, HI 96796
Shopping
Hana Hou Gift Shop
Hana Hou Gift Shop is dedicated to promoting products made in Hawaii and the Oceania area, including beauty products, clothing, jewelry, footwear, and art.
Location: 9643 Kaumualii Highway, Waimea, Kauai, HI 96796
Red Dirt Shirts
When the volcano erupted in 2012, all the white shirts at this screen printers were covered with a layer of soot. The company decided to print them anyway, and customers fell in love. The event gave birth to Red Dirt Shirts. While the process has been refined, the concept caused by the volcano’s eruption remains the same.
Location: 4350 Waialo Road, Eleele, HI 96705
Aloha Spice Company
Find hand-blended spices, organic rubs, sea salts, and more at the Aloha Spice Company. They also sell some terrific Hawaiian cookbooks so that you can re-create your favorite dishes once you get back home.
Location: 3857 Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, HI 96716
Banana Patch Studio
See over 20 artists creating hand-painted ceramic tiles and pottery at Banana Patch Studio. Then, take home your favorite pieces.
Location: 3865 Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, HI 96716
lū.lā
Find clothing for the whole family at lū.lā. You can also find accessories and some locally created artwork there.
Location: 3900 Hanapepe Road, Hanapepe, HI 96716
Sightseeing
The Swinging Bridge
The Swinging Bridge is a pedestrian bridge across the Hanapepe River. This bridge was constructed in 1992 to replace one built in 1911 but then destroyed by a hurricane.
Location: Hanapepe, HI
Salt Pond Beach
Salt Pond Beach is a great place to go snorkeling because the natural fringing reefs keep the water calm. You can also find outstanding tide pools on the east end of this beach to explore.
Location: Hanapepe, HI
Lawa’i Bay
The small strip of land near the Lawa’i Bay is an excellent place to see wildlife. Go at low tide because the area is not always accessible. This bay is also an easily accessed snorkeling location, and green turtles are often abundant in this bay.
Location: Kalaheo, HI
Spouting Horn
When the water crashes into Spouting Horn, which is near Poipu Beach, it can shoot up to 60 feet into the air. A short walk will take you to another hole where the water glows an eerie green color.
Location: Koloa, HI
Grove Homestead & Sugar Plantation Museum
The 100-acre Grove Homestead & Sugar Plantation Museum has the oldest surviving buildings in Hawaii. Take the two-hour guided tour to see the mansion, teahouse, cottage, and washhouse while hearing about the family that started this farm in 1864.
Location: 4050 Nawiliwili Road, Lihue, HI 96766
How to Get to
Koke'e State Park
Koke'e State Park is easy to reach from Hanapepe. Get on Hawaii 50 West and head north. You will reach the park in about 24 miles.
Entering Koke'e State Park
The park is open 24 hours a day.
Koke'e State Park Per car (non-Hawaii resident) : $5.0
Koke'e State Park Per Hawaii resident : $0.0
Koke'e State Park Commercial PUC vehicles (1-7 passengers) : $10.0
Koke'e State Park Commercial PUC vehicles (8-25 passengers) : $20.0
Koke'e State Park Commercial PUC vehicles (26+ passengers) : $40.0
Koke'e State Park is an exciting stop to include when visiting Kauai, Hawaii. Start your visit by stopping at the museum to learn more about the plants and animals that live in this ecosystem. Then, head out on one of the seven well-marked hiking trails to explore nature for yourself. Bring along some bait and your fishing pole so that you can go fishing. Grab a picnic lunch as there are several scenic places to dine in nature. If you have visited this state recreation area, then share about it on your social media feeds. Tag RVshare in your comments because the site wants to see what you have to say. You can also send your stories and photos by emailing them to [email protected]