How do I get from the airport to Big Island?

KOA is unlike any airport you've flown into on the mainland. You step off the plane onto open tarmac, cross a lava field that radiates stored heat well past sunset, and walk into an open-air terminal with no walls. The trade wind hits your face immediately, carrying the sweetness of plumeria from lei stands near baggage claim. Hertz, Budget, Avis, and National all have counters at the terminal exit, with 5-minute shuttle rides to their lots. Big Island covers 4,028 square miles. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park sits 96 miles from Kailua-Kona. The Kohala Coast resorts are 30 miles north. Waipi'o Valley is 55 miles northeast. A single round-trip to the volcano by ride-hail would cost $300 or more. Book your rental 3-4 weeks ahead during June through August and over December holidays. Walk-up rates at KOA counters tend to run $30-50 per day above pre-booked online prices.

Uber and Lyft both operate on Big Island, but driver availability is spotty. At KOA, you might wait 15-25 minutes for a pickup. After 9 PM, the apps sometimes show zero available drivers. Fares to Kailua-Kona run $25-35 for the 7-mile ride south. To the Waikoloa Beach Resort area, 25 miles north, expect $65-85. Taxis line up at the curb outside baggage claim, but Hawai'i County has no metered-fare ordinance for this route. Settle on the price before you get in. A couple of the Kohala Coast properties, including the Mauna Lani and Fairmont Orchid, run scheduled airport shuttles for guests. These tend to depart 3-4 times per day, not on demand, so call ahead to confirm your flight lines up with a pickup window.

If you're landing at Hilo International (ITO) on the east side, downtown Hilo sits 2 miles from the terminal. A taxi or ride-hail costs $10-15 and takes about 5 minutes. Rental counters from the major agencies line ITO's terminal too. The drive from Hilo to Kona takes roughly 2.5 hours on the Saddle Road, now officially the Daniel K. Inouye Highway. It climbs to 6,600 feet between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. You'll feel the temperature slide from the low 80s at sea level to the mid-50s near the summit before dropping into dry Kona-side warmth. Night driving on this route is something to avoid your first time. Even on the improved highway, long stretches at elevation lack streetlights, and free-range cattle wander across after dark. If your flight lands at ITO in the evening, stay the night in Hilo and drive over in the morning.

Gas on Big Island currently runs $4.80-5.50 per gallon, roughly $1.50 above the national average. Fill up in Kailua-Kona or Hilo where stations cluster and compete on price. Waimea has 2-3 stations at slightly lower rates. South of Kailua-Kona along Highway 11, stations are spaced 20-30 miles apart and some close by early evening. Costco in Kailua-Kona tends to carry the cheapest fuel on the island, often 40-50 cents below other stations. Expect a 20-minute line on Saturdays.