A Big Island volcano tour is a guided day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home of Kilauea, where you see the summit caldera, steam vents, lava tubes and the lava fields along Chain of Craters Road. Tours leave from Hilo, about 45 minutes from the park, or from Kona on the far side of the island, and most include park entry. We took the lowest listed price for all 13 volcano tours we sell. Prices checked October 26, 2026.
Quick Answer: A shared volcano tour on the Big Island costs $125 to $296 per person in 2026. Four things set the price: where you start, shared or private, whether meals are included, and whether a helicopter is involved. Tours from Hilo are cheapest, from $125, while full-day tours from Kona cost $249 to $296 with lunch and dinner. A volcano tour with a helicopter flight costs $630 to $899.99, and a private tour for your group costs $1,000 to $1,668.
Fun Fact
- Cheapest volcano tour: Hilo, 8 hours with park entry, $125
- Cheapest from Kona: a 14-hour guided caldera hike, $249, lunch and dinner included
- Evening crater tour from Kona: $295.99, 12 hours, two meals
- Helicopter plus ground tour: $630 from Hilo, $899.99 from Kona
- Private tour for your group: $1,000 to $1,668 per group
- Park entry: included on 10 of the 13 tours
How We Got These Prices
We sell all 13 of these volcano tours, and each one is booked through the operator’s FareHarbor calendar on our site. On October 26, 2026 we took the lowest price listed on every tour’s booking page, along with its length, starting point, what is included and how the price is quoted.
Eight tours are priced per person and five are priced for a private group, so we show them in separate tables. Every tour visits Hawaii Volcanoes National Park except the e-bike ride, which follows the 2018 lava coast near Keaau.
Shared Volcano Tour Prices
These tours are priced per person. Some are shared with other guests and some are private but still priced per head.
| Tour | Starts from | Price from | Length | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volcano Park Shore Excursion Craters, lava tube, Chain of Craters Road, ship-timed | Hilo | $125 | 8 hours | Per adult |
| Black Sand Beach and Volcano Tour Punalu’u turtles, Kilauea, Rainbow Falls, lunch | Hilo area | $179 | 8 hours | Per adult |
| Beach Cliffs Fat Tire E-Bike Tour Ride the 2018 lava coast near Keaau | Near Keaau | $189 | 4 hours | Per adult, ages 15 and up |
| Elite Volcano Hike Halema’uma’u Trail to the caldera floor, 6 to 8 hikers | Kona | $249 | 14 hours | Adult and child |
| Evening Volcano Tour Kona coffee, Punalu’u, crater at twilight | Kona | $295.99 | 12 hours | Adult and child |
| Big Island Volcano Private Tour Kilauea, Chain of Craters Road, Akaka Falls | Hilo | $374.58 | 9 hours | Adult and child |
| Hilo Volcano Helicopter Tour Ground tour plus a 45-minute flight | Hilo Airport | $630 | 10.5 hours | Adult, child and infant |
| Volcano Helicopter Tour from Kona Flight plus cross-island ground tour | Kona airport | $899.99 | 10 hours | Per adult |
The two cheapest tours start in Hilo, and both include park entry. The $125 shore excursion is timed around cruise ship schedules, with pickup from Hilo Harbor, Hilo Airport or a Target lot in Hilo. The Kona tours cost more because they are much longer days, and both include lunch and dinner.
Private Volcano Tour Prices
| Tour | Starts from | Price per group | Length | Group size and cost per head |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Kilauea Iki and Lava Tube Hike Crater floor and Nahuku lava tube | Hotel transport from the meeting point | $1,000 | 4.5 hours | Up to 8, $125 each with 8 |
| Frozen Fire Private Shore Excursion Timed to Hilo cruise schedules | Hilo | $1,250 | 8 hours | Confirm group size at booking |
| Ultimate Hilo Volcano Adventure Certified park interpretive guide, Mercedes van | Hilo | $1,345 | 6 hours | Family rate |
| Custom Volcano Park Tour Pick waterfalls, black sand or Volcano Winery | Confirm at booking | $1,545 | 7.5 hours | Up to 11, about $140 each with 11 |
| Private Tour to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Driver stays with you, deli lunch | North Hawaii resorts | $1,668 | Flexible | Up to 8, about $209 each with 8 |
A private tour looks expensive until you divide it. The Kilauea Iki hike works out at $125 each for a group of eight, the same as the cheapest shared ticket, and the custom park tour is about $140 each with 11 people. For couples, a private tour is a splurge; for a family group of eight or more, it is often the best value. Our guide to private volcano tours on the Big Island compares them in more detail.
Kona vs Hilo: Which Side Should You Start From?
| From Hilo | From Kona | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive to the park | About 45 minutes each way | A cross-island day; tours run 10 to 14 hours |
| Cheapest shared tour | $125 | $249 |
| Helicopter plus ground tour | $630 | $899.99 |
| Meals | Lunch on the $179 tour, snacks on the $125 tour | Lunch and dinner on both shared tours |
| Best for | Hilo stays and cruise passengers | Kona and Kohala Coast resort stays |
The park sits much closer to Hilo, so Hilo tours spend more of the day inside it and cost less. From Kona, the drive takes a big slice of the day, and the tours make up for it with stops along the way, such as Kona coffee and the black sand beach at Punalu’u. Read volcano tours from Kona vs Hilo for a full comparison.
What Your Money Buys at Each Price Level
| Budget per person | What you get |
|---|---|
| $125 to $189 | A shared day from Hilo with park entry, craters and a lava tube, or a four-hour e-bike ride on the 2018 lava coast |
| $249 to $296 | A full shared day from Kona with lunch and dinner: a caldera hike, or an evening tour timed for twilight at the crater |
| About $125 to $210 each, as a private group | A private tour split across a full group of 8 to 11, which can cost the same per head as a shared ticket |
| $630 to $900 | A helicopter flight over Kilauea plus a guided ground tour of the park |
Costs the Tour Price Doesn’t Show
- Park entry is usually included. Ten of the 13 tours list Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entry in the price, so you will not pay at the gate.
- Meals. The Kona tours include lunch and dinner, the $179 Hilo tour includes lunch, and the $125 shore excursion has water and light snacks. On the 9-hour private tour from Hilo, the lunch stop is at a local restaurant in Honomu.
- Warm layers. Every operator warns that the park is cooler and wetter than the coast. Bring a rain layer, even in summer.
- Car seats. The custom park tour asks for car seats for children aged 7 and under, with boosters available if you ask ahead.
- Tips. Guides on full-day tours welcome a tip, and it is not part of the listed price.
Volcano Tours with Kids: Ages and Prices
Several tours quote one price for adults and children, including the Kona caldera hike, the evening tour and the 9-hour private tour from Hilo. The Ultimate Hilo Volcano Adventure is priced per family and welcomes all ages.
Age limits apply on the active tours: 7 and up for the Kilauea Iki and lava tube hike, and 15 and up for the e-bike ride. Our Big Island with kids guide lists more family-friendly options by age.
Will You See Lava?
Not always. Glowing lava depends on what Kilauea is doing on the day, and every operator says so. The evening tours from Kona are timed so that if there is a glow, you are at the crater after dark to see it. Our guide to evening volcano tours explains when a twilight tour is worth it, and hiking Kilauea covers the guided hikes.
Our Take
How to Pick in 30 Seconds
- Cheapest: the Hilo volcano shore excursion at $125.
- Turtles and the volcano in one day: the black sand beach and volcano tour at $179, lunch included.
- Staying in Kona: the evening volcano tour at $295.99, or the caldera hike at $249 if you want to walk.
- A group of eight or more: the private Kilauea Iki hike or the custom park tour.
- From the air: the Hilo volcano helicopter tour at $630. Our Hawaii helicopter tour prices guide compares every flight.
- Staying on Oahu or Kauai: a Big Island volcano day trip, from $1,190.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a volcano tour on the Big Island?
A shared volcano tour on the Big Island costs $125 to $296 per person in 2026, based on the tours we sell. Tours with a helicopter flight cost $630 to $899.99, and private tours for your group cost $1,000 to $1,668.
What is the cheapest volcano tour on the Big Island?
The cheapest volcano tour we sell is the eight-hour Volcano Park Shore Excursion from Hilo at $125 per adult, with park entry, a lava tube walk and Chain of Craters Road included.
How much is a volcano tour from Kona?
Shared volcano tours from Kona cost $249 for a 14-hour guided caldera hike and $295.99 for a 12-hour evening tour, both with lunch and dinner. A helicopter and ground tour from Kona costs $899.99.
How much is a volcano tour from Hilo?
Volcano tours from Hilo cost $125 to $179 for a shared day, $374.58 per person for a 9-hour private tour, $630 with a helicopter flight, and $1,250 to $1,345 for a private group.
Is park entry included in volcano tour prices?
On most tours, yes. Ten of the 13 Big Island volcano tours we sell list Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entry as included.
How much is a private volcano tour on the Big Island?
Private volcano tours cost $1,000 to $1,668 per group. Split across a full group, that can be $125 to $209 each, close to the price of a shared ticket.
How much is a volcano helicopter tour?
A volcano helicopter tour that includes a ground tour of the park costs $630 from Hilo and $899.99 from Kona. A volcano day from Oahu or Kauai costs $1,190 to $1,499.99.
Is it better to take a volcano tour from Kona or Hilo?
Hilo is closer to the park, about 45 minutes away, so Hilo tours are cheaper and spend more time inside the park. Kona tours are longer days with more stops on the way and include meals.
Will I see lava on a volcano tour?
Not always. Visible lava depends on Kilauea’s activity on the day, and no operator guarantees it. Evening tours put you at the crater after dark, when any glow is easiest to see.
Can kids go on a volcano tour?
Yes. Several tours charge one price for adults and children, and some welcome all ages. Hiking and e-bike tours have minimum ages of 7 and 15.
Using this data?
Bloggers, journalists and travel planners are welcome to quote these prices or reproduce the tables. Please credit Hawaiian Activities and link to this page: https://hawaiian-activities.com/big-island-volcano-tour-prices-2026/. We recheck the prices regularly and update the date at the top.
Found your volcano tour?
See live times and book online, or call and we’ll help you choose between Kona and Hilo.
All Big Island Volcano Tours · Volcano Hub · Helicopter Tours · (808) 207-9427
Pricing disclaimer: prices are the lowest rates listed on each tour’s booking page on October 26, 2026. Volcano tour prices, routes and park access change with volcanic activity and the season, and can change without notice. Final prices, availability and inclusions are confirmed at checkout with the operator.
