Is Kalōpā Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Kalōpā Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Kalōpā Campground before I book?

Yes! Kalōpā Campground has 1 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

Are there showers at Kalōpā Campground?

Yes, Kalōpā Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Are dogs allowed at Kalōpā Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Kalōpā Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What amenities are available at Kalōpā Campground?

Kalōpā Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Kalōpā Campground?

Popular activities at Kalōpā Campground include Hiking, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Kalōpā Campground

4.54

28 reviews

Kalōpā Campground

Quick Facts

2,000 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

No Pets

Showers

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Quick Facts

2,000 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

No Pets

Showers

Check Availability Official Website

Get Directions

Kalōpā Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Camping and cabin fees apply; specific rates not provided. Reservations are required in advance and an in-person check-in with staff is mandatory at...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Hawaii State Parks

Provider

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

Kalōpā Campground

20.0382, -155.4379

Nearby places

Honokaʻa (~5 miles), Waimea / Kamuela (~15 miles), Hilo (~40 miles).

Nearby supplies

Stock up in Honokaʻa (~5 miles)

larger services in Waimea (~15 miles) or Hilo (~40 miles).

Weather at Kalōpā Campground

Best Time to Camp at Kalōpā Campground

Perched at around 2,000 feet elevation, Kalōpā offers a refreshingly cool escape from Hawaii's tropical heat throughout the year. The trade-off for this highland paradise? Clouds, mist, and occasional rain are frequent companions, creating the very conditions that keep this rainforest so lush and alive. Pack your rain gear and a warm fleece—the damp, cool air is part of the authentic rainforest experience, and there's something deeply peaceful about falling asleep to the gentle patter of rain on a forest canopy.

Best

Spring(Mar-May)

4.0 / 5

Lush rainforest likely especially vibrant in wetter seasons; enjoyable cool climate.

Planning Tips

About Kalōpā Campground

Nestled on the slopes of Mauna Kea, Kalōpā Campground invites you into a misty, enchanted world where towering ʻohiʻa trees form a verdant canopy overhead. This intimate forested retreat within Kalōpā State Recreation Area offers campers a rare chance to sleep beneath one of Hawaii's most pristine native rainforests, where winding trails and the soft calls of forest birds replace the usual ocean views with something quieter and equally magical.

Developed state recreation area offering tent camping in a small forested tent area and duplex cabins; no RV sites or hookups.

Historical Significance

The area is managed as a native forest recreation area preserving remnant upland ʻohiʻa forest and serves an ecological and conservation role with educational interpretation about native species.

Weather and SeasonsPerched at around 2,000 feet elevation, Kalōpā offers a refreshingly cool escape from Hawaii's tropical heat throughout the year. The trade-off for this highland paradise? Clouds, mist, and occasional rain are frequent companions, creating the very conditions that keep this rainforest so lush and alive. Pack your rain gear and a warm fleece—the damp, cool air is part of the authentic rainforest experience, and there's something deeply peaceful about falling asleep to the gentle patter of rain on a forest canopy.

Natural Features and SceneryStep into approximately 100 acres of living Hawaiian history, where massive ʻohiʻa trees share the canopy with stately koa and scattered eucalyptus. The forest floor tells its own story: vibrant ferns unfurl in every direction, thick moss cloaks ancient trunks in emerald velvet, and the understory creates intimate green corridors that feel worlds away from civilization. As you wander the meandering trails, interpretive signs reveal the secrets of native plants that have called these mountains home for centuries, making each walk both a journey and an education.

Geological RegionSlopes of Mauna Kea — upland native ʻohiʻa forest (approximately 2,000 ft elevation).

Scenic ViewsPrimarily forest-interior views of towering ʻohiʻa and koa, mossy trunks, and fern-filled understory; occasional glimpses of surrounding uplands from park edges but no prominent ocean or mountain panoramas.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

3:00 PM (mandatory in-person check-in with staff)

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are not allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsUseDirect (Hawaiʻi State Parks reservation system)

Best CampsitesCamping is in a small tent area under tall ʻōhiʻa trees near the cabins and pavilion; sites near the upper parking/cabin area offer easiest access to restrooms, pavilion, and trailheads. Choose sites under dense canopy for maximum rainforest atmosphere.

Need help booking Kalōpā Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Small developed recreation area with restrooms, potable water, picnic pavilion, and cabins (duplex cabins have plumbing and hot showers). Facilities are basic and the site is generally rustic and forested.

Showers

Potable water

Flush toilets

Picnic tables

Cabin Lodging

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Primary activities center on rainforest experiences: short nature walks, loop hikes, birdwatching, photography, picnicking, and quiet relaxation. The signed 0.7-mile Kalōpā Nature Trail provides an interpretive introduction to the native upland ʻohiʻa forest.

Hiking

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsTrails and campsites can be slippery and muddy after rain; some trails may be overgrown in places following heavy rain. Cell coverage is limited or variable, and services nearby are limited, so visitors should plan and carry supplies.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

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From Booking Sources

4.5

28 reviews

Top-Rated

Kalōpā Campground is top-rated, placing it in the top 15% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors consistently praise Kalōpā as a beautiful, peaceful upland native-forest campground with well‑maintained trails and strong interpretive value. Reviews highlight the old-growth ʻōhiʻa and koa forest, cool damp climate, and quiet atmosphere; practical drawbacks noted are wet/muddy conditions, limited nearby services, and variable cell coverage.

Review Summaries

Based on 28 reviews

What Campers Love

Lush native rainforest with large ʻōhiʻa and koa trees, a quiet uncrowded setting, an easy family-friendly Nature Trail, picnic pavilion and basic facilities, duplex cabins (when available) with...

Based on 28 reviews