Big Island Jeep RentalKailua-Kona · Hawaiʻi5 min from KOA
808-465-2331Book a Jeep

Driving to the Mauna Kea summit

Mauna Kea, the "white mountain," rises to 13,803 ft. Measured from the sea floor, it's the tallest mountain on Earth. It's a place of deep cultural and spiritual importance, and we're the Kona rental company that lets you drive to the top.

Which Jeeps can go up

52 of 55 Jeeps

Every Wrangler and Gladiator. They have a true 4-low transfer case, which you need to come down safely. Renegades are AWD, not 4x4, and aren't allowed on the summit road.

See summit-rated Jeeps

The five rules

  1. 1

    No 4-low going up

    Save it for the way down.

  2. 2

    A/C and defrost off going up

    Defrost turns the A/C on, and the engine overheats on the climb.

  3. 3

    Come down in 4-low

    Let the gears hold you back, not the brakes. Hot brakes are how people get into trouble.

  4. 4

    Keep the engine running up top

    Batteries fail at random at altitude.

  5. 5

    Full tank and packed food

    Leave with a full tank, plus lunch, dinner and snacks. It's a long day at altitude.

The drive, station by station

Drive profile from our shop to the Mauna Kea summitThe road climbs from sea level by Kona Airport to about 6,600 feet at the Saddle Road junction, 9,200 feet at the Visitor Station and 13,803 feet at the summit.04k8k12kKONAMAUNA KEA SUMMIT
  1. SEA LEVELOur shop, by KOALeave with a full tank, plus lunch, dinner and snacks.
  2. ≈ 6,600 FTSaddle Road junctionTurn here at least 2 hours before sunset.
  3. 9,200 FTVisitor StationStop for an hour to acclimate. Engine running if you can.
  4. 13,803 FTSummitThe gate closes 1 hour before sunset. Coming down: 4-low, not your brakes.
Generalised profile. Elevations are published station heights; the horizontal axis isn't to scale.

Timing

  • Arrive at least 2 hours before sunset.
  • Allow 1 hour to acclimate to the elevation.
  • The summit gate closes one hour before sunset.
  • Watch the sunset, wait about 1.5 hours for the light to fade, then stargaze. You may be asked to come down after sunset, but you can stop at points on the way.

Stargazing

You can see about 90% of the stars visible from Earth from Mauna Kea, including the Southern Cross.

Check before you go

Road conditions and live webcams: mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu