Driving to Mauna Kea visitors center

I%26#39;m planning to visit Mauna Kea for some star gazing on a first trip to Hawaii this summer, and am curious how difficult a drive it is to the visitors center (and back) at night. We%26#39;ll be staying at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, and have seen differing reviews of driving Saddle Road.

Thanks for any advice.

Driving to Mauna Kea visitors center

This isn%26#39;t true for all rental agencies, but it is for most. Saddle Road is prohibited.

Some allow you to drive the HILO portion of the Saddle, but only because it%26#39;s ';newly'; paved and is in great condition. The KONA side of the Saddle is horrible and they call it ';Straddle Road'; for a reason. It%26#39;s probably nothing you haven%26#39;t seen before (considering the budget of most mainland DOT%26#39;s these days) - but all rental agencies prohibit their vehicles on that stretch. Apparently this includes even Harper%26#39;s. Granted they say you CAN drive on the Saddle, but that if you damage the car your still 100% liable.

So, hopefully that%26#39;ll help. I would NOT advise driving ANY portion of the Saddle at night. Fog gets pretty bad up there sometimes, remember, you%26#39;re at 6,000 feet above sea level at the ';hump.';

So try and take a tour (despite the pesky costs) if you can.

Aloha,

John

Driving to Mauna Kea visitors center

if permitted by your rental car. it is a 1.5 lane hiway, no shoulders, guard rails or markings....last paved in 1960.....with 2 way traffic...including trucks, blind corners and one lane bridges....has the honor of the highest accident ratio in all hawaii. with the most fatalities......fog/ice/wild pigs/cattle/rain/ all in 48 miles. No phone, services or help.... its the wild west like you never dreamed....grades 12 to 17 %..

Its quite easy....sure

And at night it gets even better......

I can attest that my son%26#39;s car almost got creamed by a wild pig that came right at him in the dark while doing 55, and he also almost ran into the back of a slow moving truck running with no taillights in the fog -- on one night.

If you make it you will say it%26#39;s a piece of cake, so I%26#39;m sure there will be posters who chime in and say it%26#39;s no big deal, but those who drive it regularly know it carries risks. The fog alone is very disconcerting, to be driving an unlit road in white out fog.

I think people overestimate the value of the trip. You are not going to see world class astronomy -- that is done by the computer-connected big scopes, not at the VC. I like stars, but I don%26#39;t go up there at night; it%26#39;s not worth it to me.

Thanks to all for the feedback. Very helpful.