Maui’s Two Wild Coastal Drives
The Roads Most Visitors Never See
Two completely different routes around the island — both beautiful, both remote, and both very different from the typical Maui experience.
Quick Take
✔ Stunning coastal scenery on both drives
✔ Very light traffic compared to the Road to Hana
✔ Shows a side of Maui most visitors never experience
✔ Northwest drive offers dramatic cliffside views
✘ Northwest route becomes extremely narrow for miles
✘ Southeast route becomes rough past Kipahulu
✘ These drives are best suited for confident drivers
Most visitors experience Maui through resorts, beaches, and the famous Road to Hana. Driving the outer coastal roads reveals a very different side of the island.
These routes feel quieter, more rugged, and far less developed.
At a Glance
Routes Covered
• Northwest Maui Coastal Drive (Kahekili Highway)
• Southeast Maui Coastal Drive (past Kipahulu)
Starting Point: Kihei
Total Drive Time: Several hours exploring both routes
Vehicle Used: Chevrolet Malibu rental
Road Conditions
• Northwest: narrow cliffside road with single-lane sections
• Southeast: generally good pavement, rougher past Kipahulu
Key Details
Traffic
• Northwest: light
• Southeast: very light
Scenery
• Northwest: mountains and dramatic coastal cliffs
• Southeast: lava fields and rugged coastline
Difficulty
• Northwest route tighter than the Hana Highway
• Southeast route easier but rough in sections
Full Report
Northwest Maui Coastal Drive (Kahekili Highway)
We started the drive from Kihei, heading first toward Lahaina.
Lahaina
One of the first stops was the Lahaina Banyan Tree.
The town is still clearly recovering from the devastating fires. Some houses have been rebuilt and others are under construction, and a few stores have reopened, but much of the town is still gone.
It’s a sobering reminder of how recent the disaster was.
Beyond Kapalua
When we lived on Maui more than 20 years ago, we never drove past Kapalua.
At the time we were told the road beyond that point was extremely difficult to navigate — especially in a larger vehicle like the 4WD F150 we had then.
This time we continued all the way around the island toward Wailuku.
Now we understand why people warned us.
Extremely Narrow Road Sections
The road quickly becomes very narrow for miles at a time.
There are numerous single-lane sections, and in many places the road hugs the cliff edge with steep drops toward the ocean.
Even in the small Malibu rental car, there were places where we barely squeezed through.
The pavement itself was generally in good condition, but the tight road width requires attention.
The Scenery
The reward for navigating the narrow road is the scenery.
The route offers:
• dramatic coastal cliffs
• steep green mountains
• sweeping ocean views
We passed through Kahakuloa Village and stopped a few times for photos.
Traffic was light during our drive, which made the experience manageable, but it would likely feel much more stressful if more vehicles were present.
Compared to the Road to Hana, this drive is much tighter in many places.
Southeast Maui Coastal Drive (Past Kipahulu)
On a different day we explored the southeast side of the island, driving from Kihei toward the Kipahulu area.
Reaching the coastal road requires driving upcountry briefly before descending back down toward the ocean, since there isn’t a straight road connecting the interior directly to the coastline.
Once you reach the coast, the landscape changes dramatically.
Lava Coastline
This side of Maui feels far more remote.
The scenery includes:
• lava fields
• rugged cliffs
• wide open coastline
There are very few houses once you reach the coast, and the area feels quiet and undeveloped compared with most parts of the island.
The ocean was moderately rough the day we visited — not calm, but not stormy either.
Road Conditions
For a while the road is wide and well paved, but as you continue past Kipahulu the road gradually becomes narrower.
Eventually the pavement quality deteriorates and the road becomes much rougher.
That was the point where we decided to turn around.
Comparing the Two Drives
Although both routes circle the outer edges of Maui, they feel completely different.
Northwest Maui
• tight cliffside driving
• dramatic elevation changes
• narrow roads for miles
Southeast Maui
• lava fields and open coastline
• very little development
• easier driving until the rougher sections past Kipahulu
Both drives show landscapes that most Maui visitors never experience.
Reality Check
These routes are not typical tourist drives.
The northwest coastal road in particular can feel intimidating due to the narrow lanes and cliffside driving.
Confident drivers will likely enjoy the experience, but visitors uncomfortable with tight roads may find the drive stressful.
The southeast route is easier overall, though road conditions deteriorate past Kipahulu.
Neither drive offers many services, so travelers should plan accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Exploring the outer coastal roads reveals a side of Maui that many visitors never see.
The northwest drive offers dramatic cliffside scenery and narrow mountain roads, while the southeast coastline showcases remote lava landscapes and quiet stretches of ocean.
For confident drivers who enjoy scenic exploration, both routes provide a memorable way to experience the island beyond the typical tourist destinations.
Comments