Big Island Hawaii Car Rentals
Welcome To The Big Island: The Orchid Isle
Welcome to the Big Island of Hawaii—larger than all other Hawaiian Islands combined and home to 10 of the world’s climate zones. While oceanfront resorts in Kona and Waikoloa offer world-class relaxation, planning a road trip on the Big Island to explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, and lush Hilo waterfalls requires a reliable personal vehicle.
Discount Hawaii Car Rental gives you access to major national brands at wholesale rates—with zero deposit upfront and free cancellation anytime. Book your cheap Big Island car rentals in Kona, Hilo, or Waikoloa in under two minutes and start exploring the island on your own schedule.
Because the Big Island spans 4,028 square miles with vast distances between regions and limited public transit, relying on taxis or rideshares to travel from Kona International Airport (KOA) or Hilo International Airport (ITO) quickly adds up:
- KOA Airport to Kailua-Kona Town: $35–$55+ each way
- KOA Airport to Waikoloa / Kohala Coast Resorts: $65–$105+ each way
- KOA Airport to Hilo / Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: $180–$260+ each way
The Bottom Line: Securing your own vehicle isn’t just about convenience—it protects your travel budget. Booking a cheap car rental at Kona Airport (KOA), Hilo Airport (ITO), or a Kohala Coast resort desk for your entire stay often costs less than two cross-island rideshare trips, granting you total freedom to explore.
Select Your Pickup Location or Region
Choose your primary airport or city resort pickup location to compare live rates:
Why Book Your Big Island Car Rental With Us?
For over 25 years, we have provided dedicated human support before, during, and after your rental. We leverage high-volume partnerships with Hawaii’s top national brands (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Payless, SIXT, and Thrifty) to secure wholesale rates and perks you won’t find booking direct. When you reserve your Big Island car rentals through Discount Hawaii Car Rental, you get:
- Zero Prepayment & Free Cancellation: Lock in your rate today without entering a credit card. If your travel plans change, cancel anytime with absolutely no penalties.
- Same Cars, Better Prices: You pick up the exact same vehicle from the exact same Kona (KOA) and Hilo (ITO) airport lots—just at a discounted rate with unique benefits.
- Up to 2 Free Extra Drivers: Sharing the cross-island driving duties between Kona, Hilo, and Volcanoes National Park shouldn’t cost extra. Our pre-negotiated contracts save you $13–$26 per day in extra driver fees.
- Inclusive International Rates: Non-North American renters can take advantage of our inclusive rates, saving you time and money at the counter.
- Reduced Young Driver Rates: Travelers ages 20–24 pay as low as $8/day through us compared to $27–$35/day when booking through suppliers direct.
Find the Perfect Vehicle Category for the Big Island
Choosing the right vehicle class makes navigating the Big Island’s diverse climates and long highway stretches effortless, whether you are picking up at Kona Airport (KOA), Hilo Airport (ITO), or a Kohala Coast resort. Explore our vehicle category options below:
The Island Explorer: Jeep Wranglers & Convertibles
The Vacation Story: Perfect for adventurous travelers exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, driving up Saddle Road to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, or cruising open-air along the sunny Kona-Kohala Coast.
Why It Fits the Big Island: A 4WD Jeep Wrangler provides elevated ground clearance for steep island grades and scenic lookouts, while a convertible lets you take in 360-degree views of black lava fields and ocean panoramas.
How to Get Around: Open-air coastal drives along Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway (Hwy 19), scenic lookouts at Pololū Valley, and Crater Rim Drive at Kilauea.
The Family & Group Shuttle: SUVs & Minivans
The Vacation Story: Ideal for families, golf groups, and multi-generational travelers covering cross-island distances with heavy luggage, coolers, snorkel gear, and strollers.
Why It Fits the Big Island: SUVs or 7–8 passenger minivans offer generous legroom for 2-to-3-hour cross-island trips, strong climbing power over high mountain passes, and ample cargo space.
How to Get Around: Comfortable group excursions to Hapuna Beach, family day trips from Kona to Hilo waterfalls, and easy luggage transit from KOA or ITO airports.
The Daily Cruiser: Luxury Sedans & Economy Cars
The Vacation Story: Best for couples, solo travelers, or Kona and Waikoloa resort guests looking for great fuel economy, easy parking, and dependable highway performance.
Why It Fits the Big Island: Because destinations on the Big Island are spread apart, fuel-efficient economy cars and smooth-riding sedans keep gas costs low while cruising paved island belt highways.
How to Get Around: Effortless parking along Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona, coffee farm tours in Holualoa, and smooth highway cruising between Kona, Waikoloa, and Waimea.
Local Big Island Driving Note: Major scenic routes across the Big Island—including Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway (Hwy 19), Mamalahoa Highway (Hwy 11), and Daniel K. Inouye Highway / Saddle Road (Hwy 200)—are fully paved where standard 2WD vehicles operate smoothly. Note that driving on unpaved roads (such as the unpaved gravel summit road above the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station, Waipiʻo Valley Road, or the off-road track to Green Sands Beach) is strictly prohibited under standard rental contracts. To enrich your drive, downloading the Shaka Guide Big Island Audio Tours provides GPS-triggered audio commentary as you explore.
Epic Big Island Drives
Exploring the Big Island’s spectacular landscapes—from the active volcanic craters of Kilauea and black sand beaches of Kaʻū to the rainforest waterfalls of the Hamakua Coast—requires a vehicle. Planning your Big Island road trip is simple when you know the primary routes:
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park & Chain of Craters Road (Hwy 11): Explore Kilauea’s volcanic craters, steam vents, and Thurston Lava Tube (Nāhuku), then descend 3,700 feet down the paved 19-mile Chain of Craters Road past ancient lava flows to the Hōlei Sea Arch.
- Saddle Road / Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Route 200): Connects Kona and West Hawaii to Hilo in just 90 minutes, climbing to 6,632 feet between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa with paved access to the Ellison Onizuka Visitor Information Station (9,200 ft) for sunset and stargazing.
- Hamakua Heritage Corridor & Pepeʻekeo Scenic Drive (Hwy 19): Drive north from Hilo past Rainbow Falls, the scenic 4-mile Pepeʻekeo tropical canopy detour, Akaka Falls State Park, and the historic cliffside town of Honokaʻa to the Waipiʻo Valley Lookout.
- Kona Coffee Belt & South Kona Coast (Mamalahoa Hwy / Route 11): Wind through upland Kona coffee farms, descend to Kealakekua Bay and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, and continue south to Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach to spot basking sea turtles.
- Kohala Coast & North Kohala Loop (Hwy 19 / Hwy 270 / Hwy 250): Cruise past black lava fields and top Big Island beaches (Hapuna Beach & Mauna Kea Beach) through Waikoloa up to Hāwī and Pololū Valley Lookout, returning through the rolling pastures of Kohala Mountain Road (Hwy 250) to Waimea.
Important Navigation Note: While you can drive any standard rental car on the paved road up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (9,200 feet), continuing beyond the Visitor Center onto the unpaved gravel road to the 13,796-foot summit violates standard rental car agreements. Book a commercial summit tour if you wish to ascend above the Visitor Center.
Big Island Driving Logistics & Map
- Primary Airport Rental Hubs: Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) (73-200 Kupipi St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740) on the west side and Hilo International Airport / General Lyman Field (ITO) (2450 Kekuanaoa St, Hilo, HI 96720) on the east side.
- Key Island Regions: Kailua-Kona (West), Waikoloa & Kohala Coast (Northwest), Hilo & Hamakua Coast (East), Puna & Volcano (Southeast), and Waimea / Kamuela (North Upcountry).
- Major Highway Routes: Hawaii Belt Road (Queen Kaʻahumanu Hwy 19 & Mamalahoa Hwy 11), Daniel K. Inouye Highway / Saddle Road (Hwy 200), Akoni Pule Highway (Hwy 270), and Kohala Mountain Road (Hwy 250).
Island Driving Logistics: All primary highways on the Big Island are toll-free and fully paved. Picking up your KOA car rental at Kona Airport puts you just 15–20 minutes from Kailua-Kona town, 25–30 minutes from Waikoloa Beach Resorts, and 90 minutes from Hilo via Saddle Road (Hwy 200). Picking up at Hilo Airport (ITO) puts you 10 minutes from downtown Hilo and 45 minutes from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. All rental vehicles in Hawaii are subject to a state surcharge and airport customer facility charges.
Exploring the Map: Use the interactive map below to zoom, pan, or switch to Satellite view to examine pickup locations, highway access, and island terrain. Click any red pin to view specific regional location details.
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Need Help? Talk to a Hawaii Car Rental Expert
Have a specific question about renting a car on the Big Island, debit card policies, or adding extra drivers? You don’t have to guess—our local island experts are ready to help you secure the perfect reservation.
or call us toll-free: 1-800-292-1930
Car Rentals on the Big Island FAQs
Vehicles can be rented at convenient hubs across the Big Island, with the largest fleets at Kona International Airport (KOA) on the west side and Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the east side. Additional neighborhood and resort pickup desks are available in Kailua-Kona town and along the Kohala Coast in Waikoloa (including Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort, Hilton Waikoloa Village, and Fairmont Orchid). Use the booking widget above to select your pickup zone.
Rental rates vary based on travel season, vehicle class, and whether you pick up at Kona Airport (KOA), Hilo Airport (ITO), or a resort desk. Because our reservations require zero upfront payment and no cancellation fees, the smartest strategy is to lock in a cheap Big Island car rental rate today. If prices drop before your trip, simply re-book at the lower rate and cancel your original reservation for free.
Discount Hawaii Car Rental provides wholesale rates from top national suppliers (Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Payless, SIXT, and Thrifty) with $0 prepayment and free cancellation. Reservations automatically include exclusive benefits like up to two free extra drivers ($13–$26/day value) and reduced young driver surcharges for renters aged 20–24.
You must be at least 20 years old to rent a vehicle on the Big Island. While standard rental counters charge young drivers $25 to $35 daily, our exclusive partner contracts reduce this underage surcharge to as low as $8 per day for renters aged 20 to 24.
No, a 4WD vehicle is not required for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Saddle Road (Hwy 200), or the paved road up to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (9,200 feet). Standard economy cars, sedans, SUVs, and minivans drive these paved state highways comfortably. Please note that standard rental agreements strictly prohibit driving on unpaved roads, including the gravel summit road above the Mauna Kea Visitor Center, Waipiʻo Valley Road, and Green Sands Beach.
Yes, one-way car rentals are available between Kona International Airport (KOA), Hilo International Airport (ITO), and select resort branches, making it easy to fly into Kona and depart from Hilo (or vice versa). Check the "Return at different location" box in the booking widget above to compare live one-way rates.
Cities on the Big Island
Waikoloa
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