7 Day Maui Itinerary With Kids: The Ultimate Family-Friendly Travel Guide

Planning a family vacation to Hawaii? This 7 Day Maui Itinerary With Kids is designed to make your trip unforgettable, stress-free, and packed with kid-approved adventures. From easy hikes to food trucks and epic pools to immersive nature experiences, Maui offers the ideal blend of relaxation and exploration for families. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, teens, or somewhere in between, this guide breaks down each day with simple plans, helpful tips, and local favorites—so you can spend less time researching and more time making memories in paradise!

This itinerary is designed for travelers who will have their own rental car. We love to use this rental car site to compare multiple rental company prices at once.

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7 Day Maui Itinerary Day 1

Arrive in Maui

The Maui airport is located on the north side of the island and is a 30 minute drive to Kihei.

Our flight arrived late afternoon. After collecting our car from the rental lot we headed to Maui Brewing Company for an early dinner. They have awesome food and a large outdoor space for you to enjoy while you wait for food. We were all extremely tired from our long travel day so as soon as dinner was over we checked into our accommodations and went to bed.

Where We Stayed – Kihei (2 Nights)

We stayed in the Kamaole Sands complex in Kihei and loved it. Location wise, it is a short drive to the Kihei Food Oasis, Maui Brewing and Wailea. It also has a community pool which was great for relaxing in the afternoon. It was a perfect home base for exploring central Maui since you don’t need to travel too far south on the coast to get there.

Maui Itinerary Day 2

Haleakala National Park

Playground and Breakfast

After a long travel day yesterday, you’ll be ready for a relaxing morning in Kihei. Start by grabbing coffee at the Kraken Coffee Food Truck – the Kihei Kicker was our favorite. If you’re traveling with younger kids, walk across the street to the Kalama Playground by the ocean. Let the kiddos play while you sip your coffee.

Once your kids have had their fill of climbing, take a family walk along the oceanside path (on the west side of Kalama Park) and take in the ocean views. Our kids had a great time rock scrambling and running down the path.

Head to breakfast at the Food Trucks of Kihei for breakfast. I’d highly recommend Bacon & Blossom for high quality breakfast entrees and sides or Sweet Hula for loaded açai bowls.

Haleakalā National Park

Haleakalā National Park is an hour and a half drive from Kihei. After breakfast, start your drive to the Haleakalā Volcano, known as ‘House of the Sun’ in Hawaiian. If you’re heading up after breakfast you’ll miss the crazy sunrise crowd and likely won’t see too much traffic on your way up the mountain.

A lot of people highly recommend doing Haleakalā at sunrise or sunset and while I’m sure it’s absolutely amazing, we decided to go for the mid-day experience with the kids instead. We found the summit very enjoyable mid-day (we got there around 11 a.m.) as crowds were very minimal and we had plenty of room to explore. Anyone visiting during the day does not need to make reservations and can purchase an entrance ticket at the gate.

If you want to do a sunrise tour, you will need to make a reservation to enter the park between 3 a.m. – 7 a.m. Tickets become available 60 days in advance and sell out quickly so be sure to book tickets as soon as they are available. You do not need a reservation if you plan to arrive at the park after 7 a.m.

Once you enter Haleakalā National Park, drive all the way up to the 10,023-foot high summit – the highest point on Maui. Walk around the red summit and take in the expansive views of the entire island. After exploring the summit, drive back down to the visitor’s center where you’ll find closer views of the crater. To the right of the visitor’s center you’ll find a short rock scrambling path that will bring you up for even better views of the crater than you’ll get by the visitor center. Our littles ones loved this short trail.

If you have decent hikers with you and you want to spend more time in Haleakala, I’d recommend hiking some of the Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands Trail). The trail descends into the crater for an up close experience. The entire trail is 11 miles but you could just go out and back for a short bit.

Plan 1.5-4 hours at Haleakalā National Park depending on how much hiking you want to do.

Optional Afternoon Activities

We only spent a couple hours at Haleakalā before heading back so we had plenty of time for afternoon activities. This is really dependent on how much time you want to spend at Haleakalā. If you have significant time available in the afternoon, I would recommend moving the Kepaniwai Park/’Iao Valley stops (see day 3) here. This will free up more time on Day 3 so you don’t feel as rushed. Alternatively, spend the afternoon at the pool (if your accommodations has one) or head to the Kamaole Sands Beaches – all three are great!

Dinner at Kihei Food Oasis

Head to Kihei Food Oasis for dinner. Here you’ll find a large variety of food trucks perfect for letting everyone in the family choose their own adventure for dinner food. There are tables everywhere so you can order from a few different spots and all sit together in the common space. Our favorite food trucks were Thai Mee Up, Burger Boys, Bacon & Blossom, and Myth Legendary Kitchen. Be sure to stop for a unique dessert at Reef’s Real Fruit Ice Cream.

Stay at your Kihei accommodations tonight.

Maui Itinerary Day 3

Explore Central Maui and Road to Hana

Today is a very busy day, but if you want to stay in Hana on a 7 day Maui itinerary, this day has to pack in a lot. If you want to make this day a little less busy, spend less time at Kepaniwai Park/’Iao Valley – a couple hours total in the morning would be enough. Or, as mentioned above, you could add these stops to the afternoon on Day 2.

Breakfast

After you check out of your accommodations, stop for breakfast at Kihei Caffe or make a quick stop at Maui Ono Donuts – seriously some of the best donuts I’ve ever had.

Kepaniwai Park

On your way to ‘Iao Valley State Monument, you’ll pass Kepaniwai Park on your left. This stop was recommended to us by a local so we figured we would check it out. It ended up being one of our favorite activities on our trip to Maui with kids. Kepaniwai Park is a located at 870 Iao Valley Rd in a valley of the West Maui Mountains.

Kepaniwai Park is open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. and is free to enter. After parking in the lot, walk through the themed heritage gardens before heading down for a dip in the river. You’ll find many spots to walk down by the stream where your kids can play in the water. There are a lot of shallow areas with very slow moving water so it’s safe for even the little ones and is a really fun place for them to explore. We ended up spending longer here than we planned because we had so much fun.

Note: the kids will probably get wet – I mean you’re putting them by a river so don’t expect them to stay dry! Be prepared with swimsuits and a change of clothes.

‘Iao Valley State Monument

Make a quick stop at ‘Iao Valley State Monument. Once you park in the lot there’s a paved walkway to a small set of stairs to the top with the best view. You can easily use a stroller from the parking lot to the stairs if you need it for the little ones. Enjoy some awesome views of the mountains before heading on your way. If you have older kids there is a spot to get down by the river here as well but it’s much harder to access compared to Kepaniwai Park.

Reservations: ‘Iao Valley State Monument is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. You must have reservations to enter. If they are not booked they will allow you to buy tickets upon arrival (assuming they are not sold out) but there is no service at the entrance so you will have to drive back down the hill until you have enough service to purchase a ticket. Do yourself a favor and be sure to make a reservation before you drive up.

Explore the Surfer Town of Paia

Next, make your way to Paia, a quaint surfer town just 30 minutes from ‘Iao Valley. Stop here to explore the adorable boutique shops and grab a quick lunch. There is street parking available but if you can’t find any, you’ll find a paid parking lot behind Paia Bay Coffee & Bar.

Wander the sidewalks and stop into some boutique shops if that’s your thing. Sometimes it’s hard to shop with the kids but we had a great time finding all sorts of gems. I’m not really a souvenir gal but Paia had such cute handmade and local goods that didn’t feel overly touristy.

After you’ve had your fill of shopping, grab lunch at Paia Fish Market before heading on your journey to Hana.

Tip: Paia Fish Market is the most well known restaurant in Paia so there is usually a line out the door – but it’s worth it. Instead of waiting in the line, explore the town first and when you are ready to head out, call ahead and order your food for pickup. They will tell you what time it will be ready so you ca n walk to nearby Paia Bay or drive to Hoʻokipa Beach Park and enjoy your food there instead.

Road to Hana

Now it’s time to depart on the Road to Hana. From Paia to Hana will take about 2 hours without any stops. Any additional stops will add to the total amount of time it will take you to get there so plan ahead. With the kids we didn’t want to make too many unloading stops but the drive itself was absolutely gorgeous. We decided to split up our stops along the Road to Hana between the way there and the way back. Easy stops with kids on the way to Hana include:

Rainbow Eucalyptus Grove

Near mile marker 7, the Rainbow Eucalyptus Grove is a beautiful stop with rainbow colored eucalyptus trees. Such a unique site, the pictures don’t do it justice. You can just pull off to the side to see this site.

Hana Lava Tube

A fun stop if your kids will enjoy exploring a pitch dark cave with a flashlight.

Dinner at Hana Ranch Restaurant or Food Trucks

After checking into your accommodations, head to either Hana Ranch Restaurant or the Hana Food Trucks for dinner. We opted for the Hana Food Trucks since we just find the food trucks so easy with kids. We all loved the poke bowls and meat kebab plates from Poke Bobs.

Where We Stayed – Hana (2 Nights)

We stayed at the Hana-Maui Resort and absolutely loved it. The resort is right on the coast so you can see the ocean from the pool and it was such a dreamy stop. The Hana-Maui Resort was a perfect location for walking to the Hana food trucks or Hana Ranch Restaurant from the hotel. They have a cut through path so you don’t have to walk on the road which is great when walking with kids.

However, if you are staying with a larger family, you will have to get multiple rooms as the maximum occupancy per room is four. If you want somewhere a bit cheaper, look into getting rooms at the Hana Kai Maui. If you don’t want to book multiple rooms, I’d suggest staying at the Hana Homestead if it’s available and within your budget.

Maui Itinerary Day 4

Morning Hike + Afternoon Relax

Breakfast

If you’re staying at the Hana-Maui Resort, don’t miss breakfast at their restaurant. The food is phenomenal, especially their mochi pancakes – my kids were obsessed. If you’re looking for something more low key, grab banana bread and coffee at Da Mean Bean in the Hana Food Truck area.

Morning Hike in Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park can also be accessed from the eastern side of the island along the Road to Hana. This area of the park is lush, jungle vibes, just like the rest of the Hana area. The main two hikes here are the Pipiwai Trail and the Seven Sacred Pools Trail.

Note: These hikes can only be accessed from inside Haleakala National Park. If you visit Haleakala from the west side of the island during the first part of your trip, hold on to your annual parks pass ticket to avoid paying the entrance fee a second time.

Pipiwai Trail Hike

The Pipiwai Trail is a fairly easy 4 miles out and back hike with easy dirt and stair hiking, past a giant banyan tree, through a bamboo forest, across a stream with a beautiful waterfall at the end. Depending on your pace, this trail will take 2.5-4 hours to complete.

‘Ohe’o Gulch (aka Seven Sacred Pools) Hike

The ‘Ohe’o Gulch Hike (also referred to as Seven Sacred Pools) is also located in Haleakala National Park and can be accessed from the same parking lot as the Pipiwai Trail. The Oheo Gulch hike is a short, easy half mile out and back trail super easy for younger kids. If you have small ones that won’t want to complete the four mile Pipiwai Trail the ‘Ohe’o Gulch trail is an easier alternative offering beautiful views of the waterfalls and pools without a difficult climb. Note: There is no swimming in the park due to safety concerns.

Stop at Wailua Falls

Stopping at Wailua Falls is a very easy stop off the side of the road. There is a small parking area to leave the car and then a bridge to see Wailua Falls. There is also a short walk down to the water if you want to take a quick dip with the kids. Be sure to watch kids closely on the side of the road.

Afternoon Relax at Pool or Beach

Ok you’ve hiked and now you’ve earned an afternoon of relaxing by the pool – it’s all about balance! If you’re staying at the Hana-Maui Resort, enjoy their oceanside pool with the kids. If you’re staying somewhere else in Hana, spend the afternoon playing at Koki Beach or Hāna Bay Beach. Note: Koki Beach is not a great spot for swimming as the waters are quite rough but can be a nice spot to just relax.

Dinner at Hana Food Trucks

After your relaxing afternoon, head to the Hana Ranch Restaurant or Hana Food Trucks again for dinner. There are two Hana Food Truck parks – one to the north of the Hana Ranch Restaurant and one to the south. If you did the north food truck park last night, check out the other one tonight; otherwise, try some different food trucks in the same area. We loved Órale Taco at the southern food truck park.

Stay at your Hana accommodations tonight.

Maui Itinerary Day 5

Wai’anapanapa State Park and Road to Hana Back to Kaanapali

Wai’anapanapa State Park – Black Sand Beach

Since you are starting your day in Hana again, you can make a trip to Wai’anapanapa State Park early. We got to the park as soon as it opened and it got busy very quickly. We were thankful for the first 15 minutes with only a handful of others. If you can, I suggest arriving right at 7 a.m. for those few peaceful moments before it fills up.

While you are here, explore the black sand beach and let the kiddos play in the shallows. As soon as you get down the stairs to the beach, take a right turn and head into the little cave on your right. It’s nothing special but a cute little cave nonetheless. If your kids like a little hiking, take them on the coastal trail for beautiful views of the ocean and the beach from afar. The start of this trail is located on the far end of the beach opposite the bottom of the stairs.

Plan to spend 1-2 hours at Wai’anapanapa State Park.

Reservations: Waianapanapa State Park requires timed reservations to enter. These tickets fill up quickly – especially during high season. Be sure to book your tickets at least a week in advance if not more. Book tickets to Wai’anapanapa State Park here.

Road to Hana Back to Kaanapali

Start your adventure back along the Road to Hana toward your end point for the day – Lahaina/Kaanapali. On your way back, make a few additional stops along the Road to Hana that you may have skipped on the way there. Here were our favorite stops on the way back:

Ke’anae Peninsula (Mile Marker 16)

Make a stop through the old Hawaiian village on the Ke’anae Peninsula. Drive out to the Ke’anae Lookout for beautiful coastal views and crashing waves.

Aunt Sandy’s Banana Bread (Mile Marker 16)

Stop at the famous Aunt Sandy’s for some infamous banana bread made fresh all day. We had to wait 20 minutes for our bread to be ready so we used that time to explore the Ke’anae Peninsula before we headed back to pick up our bread.

Tip: There are bathrooms down the road past Aunt Sandy’s on the way to the Ke’anae Lookout. This is a great bathroom break stop on the Road to Hana.

Dinner at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop

One of my favorite spots for dinner on the west side of Maui is Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop. This local, farm-fresh restaurant has amazing food with even more amazing pies for dessert in a plantation style restaurant. Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. so plan on an early dinner as it’s right on your drive back from Hana to Lahaina/Kaanapali.

Where We Stayed – Kaanapali (2 Nights)

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Maui and again really loved this hotel for our family. The hotel is located right on Ka‘anapali Beach in West Maui and has a lot of awesome features for families. There is a great kids pool area with zero entry, a large splash pad and a small waterslide perfect for even the really little ones. The hotel also has some resident animals such as penguins and birds with times each day to interact with them or watch them being fed. My kids loved this little activity while we were there.

If you have a larger family and are looking for an apartment instead of multiple hotel rooms, check out this Oceanview Condo or Aston Kaanapali Shores in the same area.

Maui Itinerary Day 6

Relax in Kaanapali

Breakfast Whaler’s Village

Start your morning with a mini adventure to Whaler’s Village for breakfast. If you’re at the Hyatt or right on the beach in Kaanapali, take a 15 minute stroll along the oceanfront path to Island Vintage Coffee in Whaler’s Village. Grab a breakfast sandwich, an açaí bowl (because can you have too many açaí bowls while you’re in Hawaii) and a coffee. Then let the kids play at the climbing structure and splash pad (if it’s running) before heading back to your hotel for a relaxing pool day.

Pool Day

You’ve had a very busy trip up until this point so spend your last day having a fun pool or beach day with the kids! We had such a fun time swimming, getting poolside lunch and shave ice at the Hyatt Regency Maui. If you’re staying somewhere without a pool or if you prefer sand in your toes, spend your day at Baby Beach in Lahaina – well known as the perfect beach stop for families.

Dinner at the Honoapiilani Food Trucks or The Fish Market Maui

If you’re up for another night of food trucks (I can’t get enough of the Maui food truck life) head to the Honoapiilani Food Trucks in Lahaina. There is a fruit stand right to the left when you walk in where you can order a fresh coconut that they will cut so you can sip on the fresh coconut water. Then when you’re done, bring it back and they will cut out the fresh coconut meat for you to enjoy. It doesn’t get any fresher than that! We also loved the sushi truck – I know what it sounds like but it was actually really good.

Maui Itinerary Day 7

Fly Home or Continue Your Adventure

Today you fly back home or on to your next stop.

If you are taking the red eye home (as many do from Maui), book tickets to the Maui Ocean Center or the Pineapple Farm to enjoy your last few hours in paradise before heading to the airport.

With More Time in Maui

If you can add one more day to this 7 day Maui itinerary, I would add an additional night in Kaanapali to end your trip on a relaxation high. We spent three nights in Kaanapali and loved it.

If you can add multiple days, consider adding more time in Kihei or Kaanapali and including other island adventures. Some of our other favorite activities on Maui with kids include:

• 🐳 Whale Watching: Perfect for those visiting between December-April. Book a whale watching tour to catch a glimpse of the humpback whales migrating from Alaska to Maui for the winter. Kids love this one! Tours are usually around a $100 but they are so worth it! Book a whale watching tour run by a local here!
• 🌊 Molokini Crater: If you have kids that love to snorkel, book a snorkeling tour of Molokini Crater to get out on the ocean and if you’re lucky you’ll see some sea turtles!
• 🌴 Zip Lining: Adventurous families should stop at the Maui Zipline Eco Adventure to soar through the jungle on ziplines located in the town of Haiku. Make reservations here!
• 🤿 Lanai Snorkel Tour: Head out for a half-day tour with dolphin sighting and snorkeling to Lanai island. Alternatively, you can take the ferry straight to Lanai to see another one of the Hawaiian Islands.
• 🚁 Helicopter Tour: For an unforgettable family memory, book a doors-off helicopter tour of West Maui and Molokai. This is definitely a splurge but is such a unique and memorable experience if you can swing it!
• 🏄‍♂️ Surfing Lessons: Let the kids learn how to surf with lessons in Kihei or Kaanapali.

With Less Time

If you don’t have time for a full 7 day Maui itinerary, I would cut out Hana – especially if you’re traveling with little kids. Alternatively, if your kids are older you could consider doing it in one day if you think they would be ok with a very long day in the car. If you do Hana as a day trip, stay one additional night in Kihei before moving on to Kaanapali.

When to Visit Maui

Maui is amazing all year but we always suggest visiting during shoulder season for awesome weather with fewer crowds. April-May and September-November are prime shoulder season in Maui. If you want to see the whales, consider going between December-March and if you prefer the warmest weather and calmest waters visit between June-August but note these are the busiest/most expensive times to visit. We went in September and had the best weather without the crazy crowds.

Other Reads

• Maui Activities for Families: Complete Guide to Maui with Kids
• Best Affordable Maui Tours for Families: 10 Adventures Under $100
• Road to Hana with Kids: Complete Family-Friendly Adventure Guide
• Packing for International Travel with Kids: Complete Packing Guide

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