Best Mauna Kea Stargazing Tours In 2024

Looking for the best value Mauna Kea stargazing tour? You’ve come to the right article.

The Mauna Kea summit is at an elevation of 13,803 feet, and home to 13 large telescope observatories. Not only is it an amazing place to watch the sunset above the clouds, but the clear and dark skies make the stargazing here unbeatable!

However, driving to the summit (past the visitor center) requires a 4×4 vehicle, and most rental car companies don’t allow it since the road is steep and dangerous.   

Thankfully, there are a variety of tours that will safely take you to the top of the summit. I’ve vetted the top Mauna Kea stargazing tours to help you choose a tour that aligns with your budget and preferences.

Ready to find out the best Mauna Kea stargazing tours? Let’s dive right in!

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase through these links we may earn a commission. 

Best Mauna Kea Stargazing Tours

Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stars Tour

• Provides pickup from: Kona and Hilo
• Includes: Snacks, drinks, jackets, gloves, use of professional telescope, free night photo
• Duration: 7-8 hours
• Cost: $270 + tax per person

Looking for the best value tour? Go for the Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stars Tour. You’ll get to go on a comfortable ride to the top of the summit, take a beautiful photo, and use a professional Celestron telescope to view the stars at night.

They provide guests with snacks, warm drinks, jackets, and gloves to stay warm while exploring the top of the summit. This is the cheapest tour from Kona, which has over 900 five star reviews.

The only difference between it and the highest-rated tour (next on this list), is that it does not include dinner. If you book this tour, make sure to pack your own dinner to bring with you for the ride. 

Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour

• Provides pickup from: Kona or visitor center 
• Includes: Dinner, dessert, warm drinks, hooded parkas, gloves, use of professional telescope
• Duration: 8 hours
• Cost: $310 + tax per person

Ready to stargaze while sipping hot cocoa? Look no further than the Mauna Kea summit and start a small-group adventure tour.

You’ll first stop by the visitor center (elevation of 9,300 feet) to enjoy a picnic dinner. After dinner, you’ll travel to the top of the summit.

Here you’ll get to watch the sunset, view the stars through a professional Celestron telescope, and enjoy hot chocolate and dessert. 

This tour includes snacks, drinks, hooded parkas, and gloves to stay warm at the summit. 

But, they only provide pickups from Kona or the visitor center, so it may not be the best option if you’re staying in Hilo. 

Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo

• Provides pickup from: Kona or visitor center
• Includes: Dinner, parka, ski pants, gloves, use of professional telescope, free photo
• Duration: 8 hours
• Cost: $280 + tax per person

Looking for the cheapest tour that includes dinner? Opt for the Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo.

You’ll first stop by the visitor center for a light dinner, and travel up to the top of the summit.

Here you’ll get to watch the stars from a professional telescope, and get your photo taken to share the moment with friends. They provide guests with warm drinks, parks, ski pants, and gloves to stay warm at the top of the summit. 

They do not provide pickup from Hilo, only from Kona or the visitor center. 

Mauna Kea Arnott’s Adventures 

• Provides pickup from: Hilo or visitor center
• Includes: Jacket
• Duration: 7 hours
• Cost: $240 + tax per person

Looking for the cheapest tour? Go with Mauna Kea Arnott’s Adventures Tour.

You’ll get to travel to the top of the summit to view the observatories, watch the sunset, then return to the visitor center for a stargazing session. 

This tour only provides pickup from Hilo or the visitor center, and doesn’t include snacks, drinks, or use of a professional telescope.

However, it is around $100 cheaper than the other tours so it’s an excellent budget-friendly option. 

Mauna Kea Stargazing Tours FAQs

Are there tours from the visitor center?

Yes, all of the tours on this list provide pickups from the visitor center.

You can drive any car to the visitor center (elevation of 9,300 feet), and there is a large free parking lot with plenty of space.

If you’re staying in Hilo, it’s around a 45 minute drive to the visitor center (Onizuka Center for International Astronomy). 

What’s the weather like on the Mauna Kea summit?

The Mauna Kea summit and the visitor center are very windy and chilly due to the elevation. The average temperature around the summit is 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit. 

What should you wear on a Mauna Kea tour? 

You should wear warm winter clothes since it can be very cold at the top of the summit.

When I visited the visitor center, it was around 45 degrees, yet my hands still froze while taking pictures. 

If your tour company doesn’t provide jackets or gloves, make sure to bring your own to avoid freezing!

How do you visit the Mauna Kea summit without a tour?

If you want to visit the Mauna Kea summit without a tour, you must drive a 4×4 vehicle with more than a half tank of gas.

There’s a roadblock at the visitor center where a park ranger will stop to check that you meet the requirements for driving to the summit.

Our car rental company (Dollar Car Rental) didn’t allow us to drive to the summit, so we watched the sunset from the visitor center.

Most Big Island rental car companies don’t allow you to drive to the summit, but a few Jeep rentals do.

Big Island Jeep rentals and Kona Jeep rentals both allow their rentals to drive to the top of the summit.

However, the road past the visitor center is rocky, steep, and narrow, so it may not be suitable for all drivers. 

Is driving to the Mauna Kea summit dangerous?

Yes, driving to the summit can be dangerous due to road conditions and the risk of altitude sickness.

People in poor physical condition, pregnant women, children under 16, and those with heart or respiratory problems are advised not to venture past the visitor center due to the risk of altitude sickness. 

When does the Mauna Kea summit and visitor center close?

The Mauna Kea summit closes 30 minutes after sunset, whereas the visitor center is open until 9pm daily. 

What’s the difference between the summit and visitor center?

The Mauna Kea summit is at an elevation of 13,803 feet, whereas the visitor center is at an elevation of 9,300 feet.

You can stargaze and watch the sunset at the visitor center, but the large telescope observatories can only be viewed at the summit.

At the visitor center, there’s a small gift shop, restrooms, and an on-duty park ranger to answer any questions you may have on visiting the summit.

For more guidance on which to visit, check out our article on the Mauna kea summit vs visitor center.