Parking & Directions

Diamond Head's only parking is a small lot on the crater floor, inside the crater. Drive in from Diamond Head Road, between Makapuʻu Avenue and 18th Avenue, through the Kahala Tunnel. Non-residents must reserve a $10 parking slot online in advance, along with $5 entry for each person, and must drive out by the end time of that slot. Hawaii residents park free but are not guaranteed a space.

Getting There by Car

The entrance road leaves Diamond Head Road on the inland side of the crater, between Makapuʻu Avenue and 18th Avenue in Honolulu. It runs through the Kahala Tunnel, built in the 1940s through the crater wall and now the only public way in. Past the tunnel you reach the entry booth, then the lot on the crater floor. The trailhead is right beside the lot.

The agency gives the entrance as Diamond Head Road between Makapuʻu Avenue and 18th Avenue. Use that as your map destination.

Parking Reservations

• Price: $10 per non-resident vehicle, plus $5 entry per person. Credit card only.
• Book: up to 30 days ahead at gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead. Parking and entry are booked together.
• Arrive within the first 30 minutes of your slot, or you may be refused parking.
• Leave by the end time of your parking reservation. The agency enforces exit times so later visitors can park, because parking in the crater is very limited.

See reservations for refunds and changes.

Hawaii Residents

Residents with a Hawaii ID park free and need no reservation. Part of the lot is held for residents, but the agency says a space is not guaranteed and residents may be turned away when the lot is full. Residents who walk in are always admitted. Out-of-state passengers riding with a resident still need entry tickets.

Parking Outside the Crater

The state's reservation system was set up partly to cut down on hikers parking on the residential streets around Diamond Head. Follow posted signs if you park outside. Many visitors skip the car entirely: a walk-in or drop-off entry ticket needs no parking reservation, and you can stay until you finish your hike. See getting there from Waikīkī.

Accessible Parking and Facilities

The agency says the facilities on the crater floor are fully accessible to people with disabilities. The summit trail is not.

Tour Buses and Shuttles

Commercial vehicles pay $25 to $90 depending on size and book through a separate portal for licensed carriers. If you are on a tour or trolley, the operator handles entry and parking. See tours.