Kauai Hawaii is a magical place with it’s lush greens and steep rigid cliffs. Kauai has some of the most beautiful beaches, horizons, and sunsets I have ever seen. The nature on this island is so impeccable that I argue a camper van is the best way immerse yourself into its beauty. Not only does the camper van allow you to be one with nature it is MUCH more cost effective than staying in hotels or Air B&Bs. Faris and I traveled to Kauai in a camper van over Thanksgiving 2019 and we absolutely loved it! This How to Travel Kauai Hawaii in a Camper Van will go over everything you need to book your own Kauai camper van vacation including: itinerary, van rentals, camp sites, permits, and costs.
How To Travel Kauai Hawaii in a Camper Van Agenda
- Our Initial Thought Process
- How to Travel Kauai Hawaii in a Camper Van Itinerary
- Why Not Hotels?
- Why Choose a Camper Van?
- Camper Van Rentals
- Campsites
- State Campsites – Book Online
- County Campsites – Purchase Permit, only in person
- Private Campsites – Book Online
Our Initial Thought Process – How to Travel Kauai Hawaii in a Camper Van
Let me start out by saying we are not van lifers and have actually never stayed in a camper van before this trip, although, we are not luxury travelers by any means. We typically spend about $30-$100 a night on accommodations depending on the destination, since Hawaii did not offer this option we had to go another route. And honestly it’s not the worst place to try a camper van out for the first time!
We did allow ourselves 2 nights in hotels so we could be comfortable. We stayed our first and last nights in the hotel in order to prepare, get clean, and organised! The rest of the time was spent in the camper van.
How to Travel Kauai Hawaii in a Camper Van Itinerary
Faris and I spent a total of 9 nights in Kauai Hawaii. Night 1 and 9 were spent in hotels while nights 2-8 were spent in the camper van on campsites. You will need to reserve the campsites prior to your stays. I will discuss the different kinds of campsites and reservations in the later section of this blog called Campsites. I have listed hotel alternatives just in case you need an extra day or two in a room.
- Night 1 – Lihue, Kauai Palms Hotel $120*
- Night 2-3 – Polihale Beach Camp (state camp – camper van) $18 x 2 nights = $36
- Hotel Alternative: Wamiea Plantation Cottages $224 X 2 = $448*
- Night 4-5 – Kokee Camping (state camp – camper van) $18 x 2 nights = $36
- Hotel Alternative: The Cabins at Kokee Park $80 x 2 nights = $160*
- Night 6 – Kumu Camp Beach Retreat (private camp – camper van) $40
- Hotel Alternative: Pono Kai Resort $330*
- Night 7 Hiking Option: hike along Napali Coast and sleep on Kalalau Beach $20/person. If hiking is not your thing stay 2 nights at Hanalei Beach. See next bullet
- Night 7-8 – Hanalei Beach Park (county camp – camper van) $3 X 2 nights = $6
- Hotel Alternative: Hanalei Colony Resort $288/night
- Night 9 – Wailua, Kauai Shores Hotel $150
* The prices listed above are during the off season and will be higher during peak season.
Why Not Hotels?
Hotels in Hawaii are very expensive. Something simple like a Marriot in the off season will cost you about $200-$300 a night. Can you imagine in the peak season?! Now, there are all types of motels, hotels, resorts which can range from $100 to thousands a night. We decided to stay our first and last nights in hotels in order to still feel comfortable.
Why Choose a Camper Van?
Most people who travel to Kauai get a car to travel around the island. The total drive only takes about 2 hours and there are so many amazing spots to explore! We found the best way to cut costs was to combine our accommodations and car into one, hence the camper van! We booked the camper van and made campsite reservations for each night.
Camper Van Rentals
Camper vans in Hawaii are quite popular so there are a couple reputable companies to book with. We decided to go with Lemon Drop Campers Kauai because they had the cheapest prices with good reviews. Unfortunately, the company closed down about a month after our trip so I have listed some other alternatives below:
Now there are different kinds of sleeper vans. Ones that have a full kitchen in them, or ones that a tent can be pitched on top of the vehicle. There are plenty of choices to choose from. Faris and I went with the most basic, cheapest option.
We chose a 2004 Honda Odyssey with a mattress in the back. It was not luxurious by any means but it served its purpose and the mattress was comfortable. This van cost us $90 a day. Now since we did pick the least expensive van there were some hiccups. The sliding doors didn’t open and the back windows did not open leaving us quite hot at night. If we were to do it again we would spend another $30 a night to get a better vehicle. But hey we lived!
Campsites
When you book a camper van in Kauai you will need to reserve a campsite for each night. You can find them all over the island. There are three types: State Campsites, County Campsites, and Private Campsites.
Both the state and county campsites have bathrooms and facilities. Some of them are outdoor showers but rarely will you find a hot shower. The facilities are quite basic. Private camps are more expensive but the facilities are better and are more comfortable with hot showers and cooking areas.
State Campsites
State Campsites can be reserved online and cost around $18-$20 per campsite per night. We stayed at Polihale and Kokee on nights 2-5 which are both state campsites. These sites do have bathrooms and cold showers.
- Polihale
- Kokee
- Kalalau
County Campsites
A permit is required in order to stay on the county campsites, they only cost $3 per vehicle, but you can only book them in person. There are only a few locations on the island to get your permit. I listed them below. Check out the County of Hawaii Website for more information.
Most people land at the Kauai airport and go straight to the Lihue office and get all of their permits. They will give you a tag to put on your dashboard. There are patrol officers who check and make sure you have the permit so don’t skip out on this step! We stayed at Hanalei Beach on nights 7-8.
- Lihue
- Lihue Civic Center – 4444 Rice Street, Piʻikoi Building Lobby
- Hours: Monday thru Friday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm closed for lunch: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
- Lihue Civic Center – 4444 Rice Street, Piʻikoi Building Lobby
- South/West Side of Island
- Kalaheo Neighborhood Center – 4480 Papalina Rd, Kalaheo, HI 96741
- Hours: Closed through March 2020
- Hanapepe Neighborhood Center – 4451 Puolo Road, Hanapepe
- Hours: Monday thru Friday: 8:00am to 4:00 pm
- Kalaheo Neighborhood Center – 4480 Papalina Rd, Kalaheo, HI 96741
- East/North Side of Island
- Kapaʻa Neighborhood Center
- Hours: Closed through March 2020
- Hanalei Neighborhood Center – 5-5358 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei
- Hours: Mon thru Fri, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM , 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Kapaʻa Neighborhood Center
Private Camp Sites
Private camp sites provide a tad bit more comfortability in regards to the facilities. You can get a hot shower and possibly a grill to make a hot meal. In addition, you may find bonfire pits and games to play.
Faris and I stayed at Kumu Beach camp on night 6 to get a hot shower. It cost us $40 which is obviously more expensive than the $3 county camps. Yet, it is still a cheap option if you’re looking for a hot shower! I’ve listed a few of the most popular private camps in Kauai.
Conclusion
Kauai Hawaii is a stunning vacation spot but it can be extremely expensive therefore, we recommend combining your accommodations and vehicle into one in order to save on some cash! Also, waking up to the morning sunrise on Polihale Beach is not the worst place to be, I promise! Make sure to give a comment and check out our other blogs if you enjoyed this How to Travel Kauai Hawaii in a Camper Van Blog!
[…] out our How to Travel Kauai Hawaii in a Camper Van Blog for all the details you need to book your own camper van! The blog includes the […]