Polihale State Park: Kauai’s Most Beautiful Beach (and camping!)

The first time we ever tried going to Polihale State Park We were not successful because we didn’t have the right type of car. I’ll tell you though, now that we’ve really gone to enjoy Polihale State Park. I will say that it is one of my favorite places in all of the Hawaiian Islands. I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful beach we have been to and it is such a special place. More remote than many visitors to Kauai head off to during their stay, once you visit. this is going to be one of your favorite places too and you’ll want to make the track here with each trip to the island.

Have you been to Polihale State Park? if not, read on and get the full scoop on planning your visit, including information about camping. If you have any additional questions about Polihale, Koke’e or Waimea Canyon State Parks, please leave a comment or send us a note. We love this part of Kauai and are happy to share more to help you plan a wonderful Aloha trip.

Why Visit Polihale State Park

I really don’t know what is the best thing about visiting Polihale State Park. Is it the beautiful cliffs, the perfect beach, the swimmable water, the birdwatching, the camping or the overall lack of people? Clearly I like it here. I do think that the view from the beach looking north is one of the most incredible views, not just on Kauai but throughout Hawaii. The NaPali Coast is EPIC and to understand both its unique landscape and the drama of the coastline, seeing it juxtaposed with the turquoise waters is simply perfect.

When it comes to the beach itself, I would venture to say that Polihale State Park is in the top three of the best beaches on Kauai. The sand is perfect and there is a ton of it, the beach is wide with lots of room to enjoy not being around people, and the curve of the beach provides for several areas that are more safe for swimming. The waves here are very different from nearby Barking Sands Beach, which I always feel a little unsafe at, so Polihale State Park is much better for visiting and enjoying the water.

NOTE: just because we swim here and feel safe doing so, you should only ever swim where YOU feel very safe and where you know the current and terrain of the floor beneath the waves. Not every visitor, no matter how confident they may be, will be skilled and ready for the waves of the west coast of Kauai.

Something else that like about Polihale State Park is the bird watching. I know not everyone gets excited about it like I do, but I love seeing the amakihi and Brazilian cardinals flying all around. There are also of tropicbirds that fly near the cliffs and sometimes stray a bit. You can really see them when you’re hiking in Koke’e State Park, but you can spot them from here too.

Tips for a Great Polihale Beach Day

Before you add visiting Polihale State Park to your Kauai itinerary, you should be sure that you have the right type of car to be able to drive the long dirt road. You need to have some sort of raised vehicle, such as a Jeep or SUV, to make it across the insane potholes and wells in the road. Just like the view from the beach is epic, the off-road experience is epic.

Because it is quite the adventure to get here, plan on spending a few hours at Polihale State Park. Bring your picnic supplies, your swimwear, beach chairs or beach tent, and plenty of water. You can walk the beach for a great distance and really enjoy this perfect slice of Kauai. When you’re done enjoying the beach, there is actually a great beach shower to get off the sand and salt, so be sure to use it before you start your long drive back to wherever you’re staying.

Adding Polihale State Park to your Kauai Trip: You can plan your time at Polihale State Park a few different ways. I like spending a half day here, usually after visiting Waimea Canyon State Park or hiking in Koke’e, but you can also just make this your primary destination on the western shore. To see a variety of beaches as you explore, start at Poipu or Shipwreck beach and then head to Glass Beach in Port Allen / Hanapepe, then stop at Barking Sands, and finish with the best: Polihale State Park. From the Poipu / Koloa area, it’s more than a hour’s drive to the day use areas of the park, so you can break up your drive with fun stops if you like.

Being Prepared for Polihale State Park

I can’t stress enough how great Polihale State Park is and how you’ll want to be here for as long as you can, so with that you do need to pack your car to be able to be here all day. Be ready with your snacks or a meal or two, bring much more water than you might expect you’ll want, and don’t forget a trash bag so you can pack out whatever you pack in.

Note: there are trash bins in the park at a few different spots, but if you’re not close to them it’s better to pack back whatever you brough with you than to leave it, including if the trash bin is full you should not leave trash next to it.

For enjoying the beach (as that’s 95% of what is so fun about Polihale State Park), be sure you have reef-safe sunblock and that you apply properly throughout the day. Also, you’ll be really glad to have an umbrella or sunshade if possible, although there are some sheltered picnic areas you can escape to if you need a break from the sun. And beach towels! You can’t go wrong with BIG towels if possible as they function for laying out, for drying off and as a picnic blanket.

Camping at Polihale State Park

There are actually campsites here at Polihale State Park and wow, what an environment to camp in. If you have camping gear (borrow from friends on Kauai if you have some) then you’ll be all set for one of the most beautiful camping destinations in Hawaii. There are showers, potable water, camping shelters to set up your tents and hammocks under, picnic tables and lots of privacy. The most difficult part of camping at Polihale State Park is getting the gear together if you don’t live on Kauai. I’m not a fan of open air camping so a tent is a must.

If you’re okay with sleeping without a tent, it’ll be easier to camp here than you might think. How? If you pack camping hammocks (and can actually sleep that way) you’ll be able to hang them easily and then you can get easy camping food at the grocery store in Waimea or Koloa before you arrive and boom! An amazing camping experience! You do need to reserve your campsite in advance, but there tends to be pretty good availability. Scoring a camping reservation for Polihale State Park is way easier than a reservation for hiking the Kalalau Trail in Haena State Park.

Getting to Polihale State Park

Getting to the beach at Polihale State Park is half of the fun. If you’ve been up in the mountains in Koke’e or Waimea Canyon, you can take Koke’e Road down to sea level and then make a right. The end of the road takes you to the entrance to Polihale, and then you have several miles of rough dirt roads to the beach and campground. You need four-wheel drive and a high up vehicle to safely drive the road. Once you’re at the beach, choose where to park based on the firmness of the ground and in consideration of others. You don’t want to get stuck in the sand.

And yes, you’ll see people drive onto the beach at Polihale State Park, but there is plenty of parking that isn’t on the beach. I always discourage people from driving on the beach due to turtle nests, dune vegetation, and because it’s just not often considerate of others, but if you feel it’s the right thing to do and you have the proper vehicle for it, you do you. Check any regulations not allowing beach driving BEFORE you arrive at the park.