Volcanoes National Park – Chain of Craters Road

Chain of Craters Road is a 19-mile winding paved road through the East Rift and coastal area of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The original road, built in 1928, connected Crater Rim Drive to Makaopuhi Crater. The road was lengthened to reach the tiny town of Kalapana in 1959. The road has had parts covered by lava several times due to eruptions of the Kilauea volcano.

The road starts at just about 4,000 ft of elevation and ending at sea level, passing numerous craters along the way. An enormous lava field stands between these craters and the seas, all of which must be traversed. Currently the road is closed, due to lava, at a location which Lava Arches can be spotted along the coast.