Nāmakanipaio

Reservable Budget CampersTent CampersVolcano Explorers

16 Total Sites

$15 Per Night

Reservable Booking

Seasonal Open Season

The Quick Take

Namakanipaio is the kind of campground that surprises people. You come to Hawaii Volcanoes expecting barren lava fields, and instead you get a shady eucalyptus grove at four thousand feet where you actually need a sleeping bag at night. With only sixteen sites spread across an open grassy area, it feels more like a community park in upcountry Hawaii than a typical national park campground. The trade-off is real: you get potable water, picnic tables, and barbecue pits, but there are no showers, no flush toilets, and no camp store anywhere nearby. At fifteen dollars a night in one of the most expensive states in the country, this is a steal. Best for tent campers who want a base camp for exploring the crater rim trails and Chain of Craters Road without driving back to Hilo every night.

Budget CampersTent CampersVolcano ExplorersHikers

Booking

Reserve Your Campsite

All 16 sites are reservable.

Phone 8665367972

Booking tip: Reserve online as early as the window opens for summer and holiday dates -- with only sixteen sites, Namakanipaio fills quietly but completely, especially on weekends.

What You Get

Potable Water

Firewood for Sale

Cell Service

Flush Toilets

Camp Store

Dump Station

Amphitheater

Ice for Sale

Food Storage Lockers

Trash & Recycling

Host On-Site

Showers

Internet / WiFi

Laundry

Electrical Hookups

Sites & Setup

Total Sites 16

Reservable 16

Tent-Only 16

RV Information

No RVs. No electrical hookups.

Accessibility

The park circle drive is asphalt and accessible Paved Roads - All vehicles OK

Rules to Know

Fires:Fires allowed in fire pits only.

Pro Tips

Camping Tip

Sites are reservable, and you should book ahead during peak season (June through August and holiday weeks). The campground only has sixteen spots, and volcano visitors who discover this place exists tend to grab them fast. Midweek in shoulder season (April, September, October) is your best bet for a walk-up site.

Camping Tip

The campground sits right off Highway 11, which means you are a short drive from Kilauea Overlook, Thurston Lava Tube, and the Devastation Trail. Stock up on groceries in Hilo before you arrive -- the nearest real store is over thirty miles away, and the Volcano Village general store has limited and pricey options.

Camping Tip

Nights at four thousand feet in Hawaii are genuinely cold -- expect temperatures in the low fifties or even forties. Bring layers and a proper sleeping bag rated to at least forty degrees. The eucalyptus trees provide good wind cover, but moisture rolls in fast. A rain fly is non-negotiable here.