Venture beyond Honolulu to experience more of the most-visited island in Hawaii by taking an Oahu road trip!
Our one-day Oahu road trip itinerary begins and ends at the iconic Waikiki Beach. From your Honolulu hotel, set off on a scenic drive around Oahu to the famous North Shore.
Along the way, snorkel, hike, eat, or take in stunning ocean views at any or all of these must-visit places on Oahu!
Disclosure: This Oahu road trip guide contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you click on and make a purchase from one of these partner links.
Why Take a Scenic Drive on Oahu?
Driving Maui’s Road to Hana, finding unique things to do in Kauai, visiting Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and taking a scenic Oahu Circle Drive day trip from Honolulu are some reasons to add Hawaii to your bucket list.
Those bucket-list-worthy activities may also have increased Hawaiian tourism since pre-pandemic times. In November 2022, more than 700,000 people visited Hawaii, with visitors spending 9% more, at $17.4 billion.
However, the island of Oahu has seen the most significant increase in average visitor spending, up to 10.5% more from nearly 94,000 daily visitors. Given the plethora of activities on the island, it’s no surprise that tourists are spending more on their Oahu vacations.
Compared to other Hawaiian islands, Oahu is an excellent place for first-time Hawaii vacationers. It has plenty of established roads that are easy to navigate for scenic drives and road trips from Honolulu.
You can easily get to the best stops on the island by following the Oahu circle drive. On average, a day trip from Waikiki in Honolulu to the North Shore and back can take around 8 hours without significant rushing.
There are many stops along the way, such as Diamond Head and the Dole Plantation. Just start early to fully enjoy the vast landscape of Oahu on this one-day drive from Honolulu!
Looking for more things to do during your Oahu vacation? Check out Viator and GetYourGuide!
Map Out Your Oahu Road Trip Itinerary
Before starting your one-day Oahu road trip from Honolulu to the North Shore, you should map your driving route and plan your itinerary.
To do this, you can use the Google map below that pinpoints the seven destinations we’ll discuss later in this guide.
We also recommend downloading a GPS-guided audio driving tour to your mobile device. Once you’ve downloaded GuideAlong’s Oahu Tours, select the 90-mile North Shore Loop or the 105-mile Island Circle as you set off from Honolulu.
With GuideAlong as your tour guide, you’ll be given driving directions to follow as the narrator points out scenic viewpoints, shares advice for your road trip, and tells insightful stories about the island and its history.
One-Day Oahu Road Trip Itinerary Stops
Before you leave for your trip, prepare a list of places you plan to visit to avoid wasting precious daylight. Below are seven places you shouldn’t miss on your Oahu road trip!
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is a scenic marine life sanctuary located only a 30-mile (48 km) drive away from Honolulu.
It’s a prime spot for seeing hundreds of different species of fish and coral reefs, but you may also catch a glimpse of green sea turtles that swim close to the bay.
Please note that to enter Hanauma Bay, tourists must make a reservation online on the official state park website. Even then, parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure that you will be able to make your reservation on time, it is best to book first thing in the morning.
If you want to spend more time snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, you might save this stop for another day of your Oahu vacation.
On a Hanauma Bay snorkeling tour, you’ll be picked up from your hotel to snorkel at sunrise. Snorkeling gear will be provided, but you should bring your own snacks, reef-safe sunscreen, and a fast-drying beach towel.
Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
If you’re looking for adventure and a workout, we recommend visiting the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail along Route 72.
The hike is moderately easy, taking around 30 minutes to an hour before rewarding you with a gorgeous view of Oahu’s Windward Coast, where you can see the Koko Head and Koko Crater.
During the whale watching season between December and May, you may want to prepare your own pair of binoculars to catch any passing animals at the Molokaʻi Channel.
Kailua Beach Park
Ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in Oahu, Kailua Beach Park should be one of your longest stops for a one-day road trip.
This beach is the best place for big groups and families, especially with its sprawling land area stretching approximately 2 miles (3.2km).
Unlike other beaches, there are several amenities, such as rentals for kitesurfing and windsurfing, bathroom facilities, beach showers, and picnic tables.
Downtown Kailua is also just five minutes from the main beach area, allowing you to pick up any snacks or necessities before heading out.
Don’t forget to pack your beach essentials, including reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes, towels, and sunglasses!
Kahuku Roadside Food Court
For food lovers, you shouldn’t miss a lunch stop at the Kahuku Roadside Food Court.
Located on the North Shore of Oahu, the food court features a large open-air pavilion with various food vendors offering their own take on traditional Hawaiian dishes and more.
Here are some of the food vendors you should try on your visit to Kahuku:
- Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
- Famous Kahuku Shrimp Truck
- Fasay Thai Wagon
- Seven Brothers at the Mill
- HI-BBQ
- Mike’s Huli Chicken
- Marie’s Baja Fish Tacos
Banzai Pipeline
For professional surfers and surfing enthusiasts, the Banzai Pipeline at Ehukai Beach offers perfect waves for training and watching surfing competitions.
The name comes from the barreling waves that curl like a pipe.
In December, these waves reach their peak, allowing winter surfers to test their might during the annual Pipeline Masters competition. Recent management changes are shifting the event towards inclusivity, allowing women to participate.
Considering how dangerous the waves can be, amateur surfers should consider coming during the summertime when the waves aren’t as strong.
Shark’s Cove
Another part of the famous North Shore is Shark’s Cove, famous for its blue waters, large reef, and impressive sea life.
Compared to Hanauma Bay, this area tends to attract a smaller crowd and is a free Oahu attraction, making it a great snorkeling alternative.
If you visit Oahu with kids, you can take them to eastern tide pools to wade in.
You should prepare to protect yourself from the sharp lava rocks by wearing water shoes and being careful when entering and exiting the water.
Dole Plantation
Starting as a fruit stand in the 1950s, the Dole Plantation has since become one of Oahu’s most visited family-friendly spots. In fact, residents are outnumbered by visitors at Dole Plantation, alongside other popular spots like Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
You can do three main activities: a self-guided garden tour, a train ride through the pineapple fields and farmland, and the pineapple maze, which spans over three acres.
Like most places in Hawaii, most of the Dole Plantation is outside and under the hot sun, so keep yourself hydrated and seek shade when it gets too hot. You can also get the famous Dole Whip pineapple soft-serve ice cream to cool off!
Oahu Circle Island Tour
If you don’t plan to rent a car during your trip to Oahu, that doesn’t mean you can’t venture beyond Honolulu. You can take an Oahu Circle Island Tour as an alternative to a self-guided road trip.
Leave the driving and navigating to a professional driver and a local guide on a full-day bus tour of Oahu as you relax and take in breathtaking views of blowholes, rocky cliffs, surrounding islands, cerulean water, and famous surfing beaches along the North Shore.
During this nine-hour foodie journey, you’ll also taste Kona coffee, deep-fried Portuguese doughnuts from Leonard’s Malasadas, traditional Hawaiian dishes such as poi and kalua pork, farm-fresh macadamia nuts, tropical fruits, Hawaiian Kahuku-style garlic shrimp, and more.
Conclusion
With these suggestions, we hope your Oahu road trip goes more smoothly. There are plenty of other points of interest on the island, such as the Diamond Head crater and Pearl Harbor National Memorial, but we recommend visiting these places on other days since they’re closer to the main city. — Written by Harrison Stewart
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Planning a trip to Oahu? Save the pin below to your Hawaii or Oahu travel board to easily refer back to later!
Photo Credit:
Lead photo of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii: © Okimo/Adobe Stock.
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