10 Amazing Things To Do In Maui For Free 2025
Are you wondering what budget-friendly things Maui has to offer? If so, this article’s for you.
I recently spent 5 days driving around, and exploring the island of Maui. It’s full of natural beauty, from the turquoise blue beaches to the lush West Maui mountains, and scenic Road to Hana drive.
Although food and hotels are generally expensive in Maui, many attractions are free to visit.
Here are 10 amazing things to do in Maui for free, or cheap on your upcoming trip.
Free Things To Do In Maui
1. Drive The Road To Hana
If you’re renting a car, the best thing to do in Maui on a budget is driving the scenic Road to Hana. This is a breathtaking 64.4 mile stretch of coastline that connects Kahului to the rainforest town of Hana.
Throughout this drive, there’s many beautiful waterfalls, beaches, hiking trails and scenic overlooks to stop at for free. It’s a 2 hour drive one way, so you can expect it to take the entire day to do the drive.
Here are a few of the free attractions you can see on the Road to Hana.
- Upper Waikani Falls (Three Bears): 3 tiered waterfall with swimmable ponds
- Rainbow Eucalyptus: Grove of rainbow eucalyptus trees off the side of the road
- Wailua Falls: Gorgeous 100 ft waterfall that can be seen off the side of the road
- Keanae Lookout: Coastal viewpoint of lava rock cliffs near Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread stand
- Kaihalu Red Sand Beach: Hidden red sand beach accessible by a short hike
- Koki Beach Park: Local surfing beach with a popular huli huli chicken stand
For a full list of attractions, check out our guide to driving the Road to Hana!
2. Enjoy The Beaches
Maui has 30 miles of swimmable beaches, and to my surprise, most of them were completely free to visit!
Maui’s public beaches often have free street parking available, and the only beaches that require entrance fees are the state parks (Waiʻānapanapa, Makena, etc.).
In West Maui, you can enjoy the crystal clear beaches of Napili or Kapalua. In South Maui, you can enjoy a variety of beaches in Wailea. These beaches are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or having a picnic.
3. Snorkel At Honolua Bay
If you’re looking to snorkel without booking a tour, there’s no better place than Honolua Bay. This is a crescent shaped bay in West Maui (near Napili), with crystal clear waters filled with tropical fish.
It’s entirely free to visit, and there’s ample street parking on the side of the road. From parking, it’s a short hike through the forest to reach the bay.
It has a rocky shoreline so make sure to bring water shoes, and keep in mind there are no restrooms on site.
4. Hike Waihee Ridge Trail
Waihee Ridge Trail is a 4.5 mile roundtrip hike in West Maui, with spectacular views of the coastline, and lush green mountains. This was my favorite hike in all of Maui, and at the top of the mountain, you’ll be in the clouds at over 3,000 feet in elevation!
There’s free parking at the trailhead, but it’s a small lot, so it’s best to arrive early in the morning. If you can’t find parking, you may have to wait around for a few minutes, but it’s worth it!
13 Crossings Trail
Another amazing West Maui hike near Waihee Ridge Trail is the 13 Crossings Trail (Makamaka’ole Stream). This is a 2 mile roundtrip hike through a bamboo forest, with multiple river crossings, to a stunning 270 foot waterfall.
For this hike, you’ll need to wear water shoes, as you’ll be crossing over streams with slippery rocks. It’s less than 5 minutes from the Waihee Ridge Trail, and there’s a small pullout for parking off of the side of the highway.
5. Spot Turtles At Hookipa Beach Park
Hookipa Beach Park is a long stretch of sandy beach with crystal clear waters, and one of the best places to spot sea turtles on the island. It’s located near the start of the Road to Hana, and has ample free parking.
This beach has restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and a viewing area where you can see dozens of sea turtles basking on the shore.
Just remember to stay at a viewing distance of 10 feet to avoid breaking the law, as it’s illegal to disturb the sea turtles! This was one of the most beautiful beaches I visited on the island, and it’s the perfect place to stop for a picnic.
6. Hike Kapalua Coastal Trail
If you love long walks on the beach, hike the Kapalua coastal trail. This is a 2 mile roundtrip trail along the West Maui coast, partly over lava rock fields, and then a coastal path.
It has beautiful views of Molokai island in the distance, and has access to multiple sandy beaches.
Although it has a paid parking lot, you can find free street parking near Napili Bay, and access the hike from there. I hiked the full Kapalua coastal trail from Napili Bay and it took me a little over an hour.
7. Hike Dragon’s Teeth Trail
Another beautiful coastal hike in West Maui is the Dragon’s Teeth Trail. This is a short hiking trail that leads to a rocky lava outcropping known as Makaluapuna Point.
You may be able to find free parking at the nearby DT Fleming Beach, but the trail also connects to the Kapalua Coastal Trail. So if you’re up for a longer hike (~3 miles roundtrip), you can find free street parking at Napili Bay, and hike both trails from there!
8. See The Nakalele Blowhole
The Nakalele Blowhole is an interesting blowhole that can spout seawater as high as 100 feet when the tide’s high.
You can view the blowhole from the top of the mountain, and it’s free to visit as long as you’re just checking out the blowhole. If you plan on hiking around the area, keep in mind there’s a $15/parking fee for nonresidents.
This is a cool roadside stop to check out while in West Maui, and there’s typically fruit stands selling fresh banana bread.
9. Visit Upcountry Maui
If you love small towns, head to Upcountry Maui. Upcountry is a region in central Maui, nestled on the slopes of Haleakala volcano, that encompasses the towns of Makawao, Hali’imaile, and Kula.
Hali’imaile is home to the Maui Gold pineapple farm, where you try one of the world’s most delicious pineapples.
They’re the largest pineapple farm, and famous for making the sweetest pineapple on the island. You can purchase a fresh pineapple directly from their store, and a variety of other souvenirs.
Makawao is a charming cowboy town lined with shops, art galleries, restaurants, and the famous Komoda bakery, where you can enjoy a donut on a stick!
Kula is a farm region nestled highest on the slopes of Hakealaka, with scenic views all throughout. Here you can stop at Kula country farms to shop for local produce, or pay a small fee (~$5/person) to stroll around the Ali’i Kula lavender farm.
The Ali’i Kula lavender farm has a stunning view of the countryside, and a small cafe that sells everything from lavender scones to lattes.
10. Attend The Maui Swap Meet
Maui’s Swap Meet is held every Saturday from 7am-2pm, and only 75 cents/person to attend. It’s held in Kahului, and has dozens of vendors selling everything from produce to handcrafted souvenirs, fresh coconut water, jewelry, and more.
Just remember to bring cash, as they don’t accept credit cards at the entrance.
FREE with America the Beautiful Pass: Haleakala National Park
If you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you can visit Haleakala National Park while in Maui. This national park is home to the island’s largest volcano, and makes up over 70% of the island’s land mass.
It has two entrances, one for the summit, and a coastal one along the road to Hana.
The summit is at 10,023 feet above the clouds, and one of the most popular activities is to watch the sunrise/sunset from the summit.
You can make a reservation to watch the sunrise, or drive up to the summit at sunset. For full details, check out our guide to watching the sunset from Haleakala sunset!
If you’re driving the road to Hana, you can visit the Kipahulu entrance of the park. Here you can hike to the Seven Sacred Pools (O’heo Gulch) or hike the Pipiwai Trail.
The Seven Sacred Pools is a short coastal hike to a waterfall and series of pools tucked in the rainforest. The Pipiwai Trail is a long hike through a bamboo forest to a stunning 400ft hidden waterfall (Waimoku Falls).
Entrance to the national park is $30/vehicle for a 3 day pass, so it’s worth buying if you plan on visiting both entrances!
Maui Free Attractions Map
Summary
Maui is not necessarily a budget-friendly destination, but there’s dozens of free activities to help you save money on vacation.
Most of the beaches are completely free, and there’s many great hiking trails and fun attractions to see on the road to Hana.
For more tips planning your upcoming vacation, check out our complete 5 day Maui itinerary!
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