Oahu's iconic volcanic crater rising above Waikiki: a 1.6-mile round-trip summit hike with stairs and a tunnel to a 560-foot rim with sweeping coastline views. A day-use monument requiring advance reservations and a fee for out-of-state visitors. No camping.
Field briefing
Diamond Head State Monument changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Plan it as an early-morning day-use hike to beat the heat and crowds on the exposed trail. This is a state monument, not a camping park, and out-of-state visitors must make an advance reservation and pay an entry and parking fee. The monument is closed Wednesdays for maintenance.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Warm and breezy, pleasant for an early hike before the midday sun and crowds.
Pack Sun protection, water, and a timed reservation for the morning entry.
Hot and humid on the exposed, mostly shadeless crater trail.
Pack Extra water, sun protection, a hat, and the earliest reservation slot you can get.
Warm and steady, with slightly thinner crowds than peak summer.
Pack Sun protection, water, and a camera for the coastline from the rim.
Mild and pleasant, Oahu's comfortable hiking season, though still warm at midday.
Pack Sun protection, water, and a reservation booked ahead, as winter is high tourist season.
Diamond Head Summit Trail
A 1.6-mile round-trip climb of about 560 feet from the crater floor to the rim, with switchbacks, two long stair sections, and a lighted tunnel near the top, ending at a historic fire-control station and lookout with sweeping views over Waikiki and the south shore.
Summit views over Waikiki and the coast
From the 560-foot rim the trail opens to panoramic views of Waikiki, Honolulu, the Pacific, and the south Oahu coastline, the payoff that makes this one of the island's most popular hikes.
The volcanic crater and military history
Diamond Head, or Leahi, is a roughly 300,000-year-old tuff cone, and the trail passes World War I-era bunkers, tunnels, and the fire-control station that once helped direct coastal artillery.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Diamond Head State Monument, make Diamond Head Summit Trail the non-negotiable, add Summit views over Waikiki and the coast only if the first stop runs clean, and keep The volcanic crater and military history as the flexible finish.
Turn Diamond Head State Monument's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Diamond Head State Monument. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Diamond Head State Monument packing list
0 of 15 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
15 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Diamond Head State Monument asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
There is no camping at Diamond Head; it is a day-use monument. Almost all visitors stay in nearby Waikiki and Honolulu, minutes away with the island's densest concentration of hotels and rentals, and reach the crater by car, rideshare, bus, or tour. For state-park camping on Oahu, look to coastal parks elsewhere on the island, which have their own permit systems. Treat Diamond Head as a half-day hike from a Waikiki base.
Camping reservations
There is no camping here. The logistics that matter are the required advance reservation and the entry and parking fee for non-residents, plus an early start to beat the heat and crowds.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Out-of-state visitors must reserve entry in advance through the Hawaii DLNR Go Wild system. Reservations open 30 days ahead at midnight Hawaii time and are timed; popular morning slots fill quickly. Hawaii residents enter free without a reservation.
Where to book or verify
Official Hawaii DLNR reservation system for non-resident entry and parking at Diamond Head.
Official Hawaii Division of State Parks page for hours, fees, and the summit trail.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Getting there
Arrival note
Diamond Head State Monument is on the southeast edge of Honolulu, just minutes from Waikiki.
Car strategy
Most visitors drive or take a rideshare through the tunnel into the crater, where the parking lot and trailhead sit on the crater floor, while city buses and tours also serve the monument.
Local movement
Out-of-state visitors driving in must hold an advance reservation for entry and parking, and parking inside the crater is limited, so an early timed slot is the reliable approach.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
Out-of-state visitors must make an advance, timed reservation through the Hawaii DLNR Go Wild system, which opens 30 days ahead. Hawaii residents enter free and do not need a reservation. Reservations apply even if a non-resident enters with a resident, and popular morning slots fill quickly.
For out-of-state visitors in 2026, entry is $5 per person plus $10 per vehicle for parking, with children 3 and under free. Hawaii residents enter at no charge. The fee is not waived for non-residents even when entering with a resident.
The Summit Trail is about 1.6 miles round trip with roughly 560 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. It includes switchbacks, two long stair sections, and a lighted tunnel near the top, and is mostly exposed with little shade. Allow one to two hours, start early to beat the heat and crowds, and bring water.
No. Diamond Head is a day-use monument with no camping, and it is closed Wednesdays for maintenance. Almost all visitors stay in nearby Waikiki or Honolulu and visit as a half-day hike. For Oahu state-park camping, look to coastal parks elsewhere on the island.