Car camping on BI? (Hilo, Captain Cook: car rental, rentals, hotel)

[DonJuanQuixote]

My wife and I are coming from Maui, looking to spend a week on the big island. We're on a budget so we're looking at our options. A car is pretty much a must (can someone recommend good discount car rental companies?), and if we could just stay in our car we'd be happy enough. Just wondering if it's doable?

[J.vick]

rentalcars.com had the best price I could find.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

discounthawaiicarrental.com

There are a couple of safe campgrounds with flush toilets and showers. One at Spencer Beach Park (near Kawaihae) and one at Ho'okena (south of Kona). I would assume that you could sleep in your car at both. There are two campgrounds in the Volcano National Park, but I think they have pit toilets.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

There are a couple of safe campgrounds with flush toilets and showers. One at Spencer Beach Park (near Kawaihae) and one at Ho'okena (south of Kona). I would assume that you could sleep in your car at both. There are two campgrounds in the Volcano National Park, but I think they have pit toilets.

I'd be very surprised you can sleep in your car in any Hawaii campground. It is expressly against the law to sleep in your car from 6pm to 6am on public roadways (HRC Title 17 291C-112) and although it makes exceptions for campgrounds, I don't see why a campground would allow that.

A hostel at $25/night would be a much better option than attempting to sleep in a car.

Hawaii Accommodations Guide - Vacation Rentals by Hawaiian Island

Edited to add - you definitely can't sleep in your car at a Hawaii State Park:

"Sleeping in vehicles in our campground parking lots is therefore not allowed."

http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/camping/

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Spencer Beach Park is a COUNTY park, not a STATE park, so the STATE rules don't apply. OP can look up the COUNTY park rules on-line.

Ho'okena is also a County park, but interestingly enough the County has transferred management of the park to a group called Friends of Ho'okena Beach Park. It has certainly been cleaned up a lot since then.

Check out Arnott's Lodge for cheap accommodations near Hilo and Manago Hotel in Captain Cook (south of Kona). Both are cheap and clean.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by Dreaming of Hawaii

Spencer Beach Park is a COUNTY park, not a STATE park, so the STATE rules don't apply. OP can look up the COUNTY park rules on-line.

THANK YOU!

Although I don't remember saying Spencer Beach Park is a STATE park.

I can tell you this about COUNTY park rules:

Camping within 25 feet of a main road is prohibited. Camping is allowed in designated areas only.

https://hawaiicounty.ehawaii.gov/cam...ils,57797.html

Lastly, a COUNTY rule can always be superseded by a STATE rule if the STATE chooses to do so.

[OpenD]

Most of the available Big Island camping is subject to the county reservation system. Buy a tent at Sports Authority, donate it to charity when you leave, but be sure you have a permit to camp...

https://hawaiicounty.ehawaii.gov/cam...E97ACFCFC.lana

[Grassyknoll]

Another option might be to rent one of the VW camper vans. I have been seeing these all over the island lately.
Link: Volkswagen Westfalia Camper/Motorhome Rentals in Hawaii

[hotzcatz]

Laupahoehoe has some good tent camping sites. Bring a pop up tent and enjoy. You need a permit for camping there, but you can do that online and it's not all that expensive. Laupahoehoe is a beach park, although the "beach" is a rocky ocean access. But it's really scenic and safe. There are several tent camping sites with water, bathrooms, fire/grill areas and some electrical connections.

Kalopa has some higher elevation camping with hiking in the forest. Cooler elevation, pack something warm. There are some bathrooms/water/electric although I don't know if that's just in the pavilion area or in the camp site area, too. In any case, they are pretty close to each other if the pavilion is the only electrical outlet. You could pop over there occasionally to charge up phones and such. They also have some cabins that can be rented if you don't want to tent camp.

Spencer is nice, has a sandy beach and some camping areas, although it is probably busier than the first two. I think it is just tent camping with no cabins, but I've not really looked. Hapuna has some cabins to rent, although last time I was there (several decades ago) the sleeping areas were extremely hard and you provided your own bedding. Maybe it's changed since then. Hapuna has a really lovely beach. Not sure if they have tent camping there, though.

Personally, I'd not recommend Isaac Hale or Kolekole for camping. Don't like the vibes there.

There is another higher elevation campground up near Volcano. Might be a nice staging area for visiting the park, great for bird watching and star gazing but it will probably be really cold, so pack warm things. http://www.hawaiivolcanohouse.com/cabins-campsites/

[DonJuanQuixote]

Thanks all for the recommendations.

We're just looking for the most affordable (and legal) way to experience the big island for our first time.