Take This Road To Nowhere In Hawaii To Get Away From It All

Sometimes, you just need to hop in the car and drive with no particular destination in mind, and luckily for those of us who live on Oahu, there is a road that seemingly never ends. The road goes by quite a few names as it makes its way around the small island of Oahu – H-1 Freeway, Kalanianaole Highway, Hawaii Route 72, Kamehameha Highway, and Hawaii Route 83 as they meander in a large loop from Honolulu to Waimanalo, up the eastern coast to the north shore, and then back South through Wahiawa and Mililani.

Not only is driving this massive 100-mile loop an excellent way to spend a Saturday and explore parts of the island you’ve never seen before, but it is also might alleviate some of that island fever you may be experiencing.

Hop on the highway near your home - or hotel - choose a direction, and simply drive, stopping wherever peaks your interest. We do suggest you consider traffic when thinking about your perfect day - no one wants to get stuck going west on H-1 at 4 p.m. during rush hour.

Travel Stock Photos/Flickr

Because most people live in Honolulu, we’re going to take you on a tour starting in the city and heading south, but you can tailor this incredible scenic drive to your location, as well as your desires, especially when it comes to where you want to stop.

Paul Sableman/Flickr

On the southeastern shore of Oahu, you might want to make a few of the following stops: Hanauma Bay, Lanai Lookout, Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail, and Halona Blowhole + Cove.

Will Fisher/Flickr

As you round the corner from the southeastern coastline to the eastern coast, you’ll definitely want to make stops at the Makai Research Pier, Sea Life Park, as well as Waimanalo, Bellows, Lanikai and Kailua Beaches.

Wally Gobetz/Flickr

Anne Petersen/Flickr

Once you hit Kailua and Kaneohe, you might consider stopping at the beautiful Byodo-In Temple, Kualoa Ranch + Beach Park, the stunning Laie Point State Wayside as well as Kahuku’s famous shrimp trucks.

Robert Linsdell/Flickr

On the north shore, be sure to hit up Turtle Bay, Laniakea Beach, and the Banzai Pipeline before spending some time exploring Haleiwa.

TurtleBayResort/Flickr

And then as you head down Kamehameha Highway through the middle of the island, you can admire the pineapple fields (perhaps even stopping at the Dole Plantation), and exploring Wahiawa and Mililani if you have time.

Ken Lund/Flickr

If you need a little more structure in your life, consider closely following The Ultimate Oahu Road Trip, or even this road trip to Oahu’s best waterfalls.