Camping at Hosmer Grove in Beautiful Haleakala National Park

Most people don’t consider the option of camping when they plan their trip to Maui, so bravo to you for landing here to check out camping at Hosmer Grove in Haleakala National Park! Camping in Hawaii isn’t as easy as camping in the Lower 48, so as you read on, pay attention to our tips for making sure you 1.) are able to camp and 2.) have an enjoyable experience. The Hosmer Grove Campground is in a beautiful spot and it’s a great camping experience, but again, camping in Hawaii isn’t your average weekend in the mountains.

Have you visited Hosmer Grove before, or better yet, have you gone camping in Hosmer Grove? Located just inside Haleakala National Park, this spot is my actual favorite place on Maui and is a magical place to go to sleep. If you have any questions about camping in Hosmer Grove or planning your time in Haleakala National Park, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re happy to share more about this experience and tips for planning your own camping adventures on Maui.

What to Expect Camping at Hosmer Grove on Haleakala

I wish I could say that Maui is a camper’s paradise, but I’m not going to feed you that line. I will say though, camping at Hosmer Grove in Haleakala National Park is special. It’s no secret that I’m into birdwatching, and my favorite Hawaiian bird is the i’iwi, whose red curved beak and legs make it a bucket list bird for lots of people. Guess what’s directly accessed from the Hosmer Grove campground? The BEST place in all the Hawaiian Islands to see the i’iwi.

Once you set up camp, or even before, you can just walk directly onto the Hosmer Grove nature trail through this beautiful, towering forest. You don’t even have to be big into birding to appreciate this spot. The trees are amazing and then once your eyes adjust and you start seeing birds, you’ll be floored. The i’iwi (red and black honeycreeper), the apapane (similar, but stronger beak shape) and the amakihi (the green and yellow version) are all over the place. It’s awesome. When you’re done with your birdwatching, go back to your readily accessible campsite and enjoy an evening of bbq and birdsong as the sun sets on the hills above you. And then you have silence once the sun goes down, preparing you for your next day of easy access for Haleakala sunrise viewing!

Details for Camping at Hosmer Grove

Camping at Hosmer Grove is kind of a once in a lifetime experience. There are only 10 sites and you have to log onto the Recreation.gov site at 11:59 am EST /6:59 to reserve your camping spot 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE. True, you may be lucky and score a campsite at Hosmer Grove without the 30 day planning, but do you want to risk it?

Also, camping at Hosmer Grove also ensures that you have Haleakala sunrise access. This is usually booked in advance through Recreation.gov too, but if you’re camping, you don’t need it. When it comes to choosing your campsite, they are all together in an open area. Choosing a site number just means that you’ll get to choose if your 40 feet from the restroom or 60 feet from the restroom. All sites are level and have both a picnic table and a standing BBQ with a campfire ring.

Note: When you check in for you camping AT THE ENTRY BOOTH they’ll let you know if campfires or open flam barbecuing is allowed. If not, you’ll need to rely on your propane camp stove.

What are the Hosmer Grove Campground sites like?

The Hosmer Grove campground is very small with just 10 sites. They each have a picnic table and cooking area. There is also a community picnic shelter with two tables and grills. Something that surprised me based on what I had previously read was that there IS water at the Hosmer Campground. There is a potable water spigot in the campground near site #1 and a potable water filling station next to the community picnic shelter.

There are restrooms here at the Hosmer Grove Campground, but they are pit toilets. Well maintained and nice as they may be, they do not have running water with flush toilets. The Park Service does a good job maintaining them though, so in each of our visits they’ve always been clean and not grossly stinky.

Food and Services in Haleakala National Park

When you’re camping at Hosmer Grove, and in fact anywhere in Haleakala National Park, know that there are no food options at all within the park. There isn’t any restaurant or snack bar, and there is no National Park lodge. This means that with any visit to Haleakala National Park you must bring all food and beverages with you for your visit.

We like to keep things easy for camping meals, so when we only have a night or two between civilization we like to purchase sandwiches or cold meals to keep in our cooler instead of a bunch of ingredients. On Maui, a good camping meal shopping list includes musubis, fruit, instant coffee, del sandwiches, donuts, more fruit, chips and beef jerky. That will keep us fed and happy for two days of camping. We sometimes bring wine or cocktails too.

More Camping Options for Haleakala National Park

In addition to camping at Hosmer Grove there is also camping in the Kipahulu District on the south side of Haleakala National Park, near the Seven Sacred Pools. This is a slightly larger campground that’s MUCH WARMER for camping than Hosmer Grove. Access is via the Road to Hana or the Pilani Highway. You can also secure a backcountry camping permit if you have the right packable gear. This allows for camping in the crater, the arid zone and more.

How to do Camping on Maui and Haleakala

If you’re visiting Maui from the mainland or another island, chances are you don’t have camping gear. So how can you plan camping at Hosmer Grove or anywhere else on Maui? Simple: you rent it. There are both camping gear services and full camper rentals you can use when you get to Maui. Some campgrounds don’t allow campervans or similar setups, so as you make your plans, confirm what is allowed where you want to camp.

We had a campervan / Jeep camper for camping at Hosmer Grove. This meant that even though we had a reserved campsite, we had to utilize a level parking spot. At the Hosmer Grove campground there is only one truly level spot… We camped other places too though and had no problem.

Things to Do Near Hosmer Grove in Haleakala National Park

When you’re camping at Hosmer Grove, the best and easiest activity is exploring the grove itself. It’s known for its i’iwis and pueos (Hawaiian short eared owl). My favorite hike that isn’t too far up the mountain from here is Haleakala National Park’s Halemaumau Trail out to the Rainbow Bridge. It’s only halfway up the mountain and can be either a short hike or an all day hike ending on the Sliding Sands Trail at the summit.

Of course though, the most famous thing in Haleakala National Park and the most popular tourist activity is experiencing sunrise from the absolute summit of the mountain. It’s amazing and beautiful, and it’s the coldest I’ve ever been in Hawaii. I’ve trekked to the Kaneikeoi Overlook for lava glow at Kilauea in the middle of the night and it’s not as cold as sunrise on Haleakala. You need to do it though! Be sure to do the Sliding Sands Trail and check out the visitor centers too. Haleakala National Park is awesome and you’ll love getting to camp here!