Camping in Kauai can be a great way to save a TON of money. Like seriously, we spent less money camping for 13 days than we would for one night at a luxury resort. And quite frankly, we were closer to the beach than any resort even offers.
There are only about 9 different campgrounds in Kauai, with the addition of 9 backcountry campsites. Some campsites are very easy to get to, located right on the beach with a parking lot just feet from your tent. While others require traveling miles down a long dirt road or even require hiking 11 miles to your final destination. So camping in Kauai is not a come-one, come-all adventure.
As nice as that sounds to be posted up on a beach hearing the waves crash as you fall asleep in your tent, camping in Kauai does come with its downfalls.
First off, you are camping on a thin air mattress/pad, have no a/c, and your walls are paper thin. Getting a good night’s sleep is often interrupted by roosters, loud neighbors, parties. And the weather can really add some challenges too. From hot and humid nights to frequent rain showers and strong winds.
Logistically, it can be hard to plan a camping trip to Kauai because many permits aren’t available until 90 days in advance. Plus there are certain days campgrounds are closed to all campers. So you often need to plan your itinerary around closure dates. So we created this ultimate guide for everything you need to know about camping in Kauai.
Due to a flood in April 2018, many of the campgrounds were shut down from the damage. Northern Kauai saw the most rainfall, nearly 50 inches in less than 24 hours. The storm caused major landslides and flash floods that closed down many of the areas in the north of Kauai. Additionally, a few campgrounds have also not re-opened after covid. Ultimately leaving campers with fewer campgrounds to choose from.
In this ultimate Kauai camping guide, we will cover everything you need to know about each campground. Including when you can apply for a permit, nightly cost, facilities, and weekly closures for maintenance. Along with our personal reviews of each campsite we had the pleasure of staying at.
This post may contain affiliate links. Disclosure policy.
Private, State, & County Campgrounds in Kauai:
There are actually 3 different types of camping opportunities on Kauai: Private, State, & County Campgrounds.
Private Campgrounds in Kauai:
Typically the most expensive, but offers the most amenities and a host on duty.
- Kumu Camp
- Camp Sloggett
- Camp Naue
State Campgrounds in Kauai:
Priced in the middle with the best access to their respective state parks.
- Kokee State Park
- Polihale State Park
Primitive State Park Camping (require hiking or 4×4 driving):
A good fit for those looking for backcountry camping
- Kalalau Trail
- Hipalau
- Kaluahaulu
- Kawaikoi
- Lonomea
- Sugi Grove
- Waialae Cabin Campsite
- Waikoali
- Wiliwili
County Campgrounds in Kauai:
Least expensive, but also the most basic amenities.
- Anini Beach Park
- Anahola Beach Park
- Lydgate Beach Park
- Salt Pond Beach Park
Campgrounds That Are Currently Closed:
- Haena Beach Park
- Hanalei Beach Park (aka: Black Pot Beach)
- Lucy Wright Beach Park
- Hanamaulu Beach Park
List of all 18 Campsites in Kauai
Here is a list of all 18 different camping areas in Kauai. Some campgrounds are just open areas where you can camp anywhere in the designated area. Others are numbered campsites, managed by private campground hosts. While others are single campsites that require hiking or driving in many miles.
Anini Beach Campground
Apply up to 120 days in advance
Cost: $3 per adult per night (free for Hawaiian Residents w/ state ID) children under 18 years of age are free
Facilities: flushing toilets, outdoor showers, drinking water, picnic tables
Closed For Weekly Maintenance: every Wednesday
Campsite Type: free-for-all in designated camping area
Anahola Beach Campground
Apply up to 120 days in advance
Cost: $3 per adult per night (free for Hawaiian Residents w/ state ID) children under 18 are free
Facilities: flushing toilets, outdoor cold showers, drinking water, picnic tables
Closed For Weekly Maintenance: every Thursday
Campsite Type: free-for-all in designated camping area
Lydgate Campground:
Apply up to 120 days in advance
Cost: $25 per night ($5 for Hawaiian Residents w/ state ID)
Facilities: flushing toilets, outdoor cold showers, drinking water, picnic tables
Closed for Weekly Maintenance: every Tuesday & Thursday
Campsite Type: Assigned
Salt Pond Beach Park:
Apply up to 120 days in advance
Cost: $3 per adult per night (free for Hawaiian Residents w/ state ID) children under 18 are free
Facilities: flushing toilets, outdoor cold showers, drinking water, picnic tables
Closed for Weekly Maintenance: every Tuesday
Campsite Type: Free-for-all
Kumu Camp
Apply up to 3 years in advance
Cost: $25-$35 per person per night (depends on campsite location) They also have tentalows, bungalows, and yurts for rent
Facilities: flushing toilets, indoor hot showers & outdoor cold showers, drinking water, outdoor kitchen w/ sink, picnic tables, Wifi, outdoor pavilion, beach volleyball
Weekly Maintenance Closure: None
Campsite Type: Assigned
Camp Sloggett
Apply through Julia Adolfo, (808) 245-5959 or julia@ywcakauai.org
Cost: $20 per night – Bunkhouse, cabins, and lodge also available
Facilities: flushing toilets, indoor hot showers, drinking water, picnic tables or patio tables w/chairs
Closed for Weekly Maintenance: none
Campsite Type: Assigned
Camp Naue
Apply through campnaue@yahoo.com or mailed to YMCA of Kauai, P.O. Box 1786, Lihue, HI 96766
Cost: $20 per person per night – Also five beachfront bunkhouses with a total of 50 bunk beds available
Facilities: flushing toilets, indoor hot showers, outdoor cold showers, drinking water, picnic tables
Closed for Weekly Maintenance: none
Campsite Type: Assigned
Kokee State Park
Apply up to 90 days in advance
Cost: $30 per night ($20/night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: flushing toilets, indoor hot showers, drinking water, picnic tables
Closed for Weekly Maintenance: none
Campsite Type: Assigned
Polihale State Park
Requires a drive down a long 3.5+ mile dirt road (some rental car companies prohibit travel down this road)
Apply up to 90 days in advance
Cost: $30 per night ($20 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: flushing toilets, outdoor cold showers, drinking water, picnic tables
Closed For Weekly Maintenance: none
Campsite Type: Free-for-all in designated camping area
State Primitive Campsites in Kauai:
(requires hiking, kayaking, or dirt road access to site, must carry your camping gear with you)
Apply up to 90 Days in Advance for all state primitive sites
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO PACK IN, PACK OUT!
Kalalau Trail: (includes Hanakoa Campsite)
~22 mile hike/ 6,177ft elevation (or it can be kayaked in the summer)
(there is a halfway point at mile 6 on the Kalalau Trail called Hanakoa Campsite – still need a permit to camp here)
Cost: $35 per person per night ($25 per person per night for Hawaiian Residents) – Additional parking or shuttle fee into Ha’ena State Park (where the trailhead starts)
Facilities: Composting toilet, no shower, non-potable water, picnic tables
Campsite Type: free-for-all in designated camping area
Milolii
This permit is ONLY for Kayaking & Boating from May 15 to Sept 7
It allows access to Milolii Beach and Kalalau Beach (but no access to the Kalalalu Trail or Haena State Park)
Cost: $35 per person per night ($25 per person per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: Composting toilet, no shower, non-potable water, picnic tables
Campsite Type: free-for-all in designated camping area
Wiliwili:
~5 mile hike/2240ft elevation via Kukui Trail
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: composting toilet, non-potable water, picnic tables
Camping Type: Assigned
Kaluahaulu:
~ 6 mi hike/ 2240+ ft elevation via Kukui Trail & Waimea Canyon Trail
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: Composting toilet, no shower, non-potable water, picnic tables
Campsite Type: Assigned
Hipalau:
~7 mile hike /2240+ ft elevation via Kukui Trail & Kaoie Canyon Trail
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: Composting toilet, no shower, non-potable water, picnic tables
Campsite Type: Assigned
Lonomea:
~ 10.4 mile hike/ 3018 ft elevation change via Kukui Trail & Kaoie Canyon Trail
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: Composting toilet, non-potable water, picnic tables
Camping Type: Assigned
Kawaikoi:
Access via road or hike from Mohihi-Camp 10 Road, which starts 100 yards past Kokee State Park headquarters along Highway 550 (aka Kokee Rd). Road is unpaved and by 4WD access only during good conditions.
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: composting toilet, no showers, non-potable water, picnic tables
Camping Type: Assigned
Sugi Grove:
Access via road or hike from Mohihi-Camp 10 Road, which starts 100 yards past Kokee State Park headquarters along Highway 550 (aka Kokee Rd). Road is unpaved and by 4WD access only during good conditions.
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: composting toilet, no showers, non-potable water, picnic tables
Camping Type: assigned
Waikoali:
Access via road or hike from Mohihi-Camp 10 Road, which starts 100 yards past Kokee State Park headquarters along Highway 550 (aka Kokee Rd). Road is unpaved and by 4WD access only during good conditions.
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: composting toilet, non-potable water, picnic tables
Camping Type: assigned
Waialae Cabin Campsite:
11 miles one way (suggested route – horseback) but can also hike
Cost: $18 per night ($12 per night for Hawaiian Residents)
Facilities: composting toilet, non-potable water, picnic tables
Camping Type: Assigned
Check out Look Into Hawaii for more information on this hike
Everything You Need To Know About Camping in Kauai
Homeless campers in Kauai:
I hate to say it, but you will most likely be sharing the campgrounds with a few homeless people on the island (except for private campgrounds). We never had any issues with them, but just a note so you know your surroundings.
Hawaii residents get to stay at the campgrounds for free for up to 60 consecutive nights in a calendar year. While we obviously didn’t go up to some people staying on the beach, and ask if they were homeless, it definitely seemed apparent. So we often noticed some people definitely living at some campgrounds, but honestly they never really bothered us, or seemed to bother other campers.
The homeless we encountered more so seemed to be people who fell on hard times versus being “cracked” out.
We also heard some Hawaiian Residents can get territorial. Not all campgrounds have this same problem. We avoided Anahola Beach Park because of repeated reviews of campers not feeling welcome and multiple people having their gas tank drilled into…
Be sure to lock your vehicles and try to keep your valuables with you or out of sight at all times if possible. I think if you follow these guidelines, you shouldn’t have any trouble with the homeless.
We definitely don’t want to scare you off from camping in Kauai or make you feel unsafe, but rather just prepare you so nothing bad will happen!
Roosters/Chickens:
There are roosters and chickens EVERYWHERE! And sadly, they aren’t just “coo-ing” at the crack of dawn like they show in Hollywood movies. Rather they go off all hours of the night. If you are a light sleeper, you might consider bringing ear plugs. We kind of just had to learn how to sleep through the coo-ing, otherwise we probably wouldn’t have gotten any sleep.
No Hosts On Duty At Campsites in Kauai:
Unlike campgrounds you pay for in the U.S. where there is a campground host usually on duty. There was often only a county truck that rolled through the camp early in the morning to grab trash and restock toilet paper but always left shortly after. There was never really anyone checking permits or enforcing the rules.
Therefore, there are rules in place for “quiet hours”, no alcohol, etc, which was maybe helpful for keeping rowdy parties to a minimum. But these rules were often ignored by both locals and visitors.
Sleeping In Vehicles in Kauai is Prohibited:
Sleeping in vehicles is prohibited. But as just stated above, there really is no one enforcing the rules. Honestly, we wish we knew this and rented a campervan.
We ran into a couple who was camping on the island who said they always showed up later in the evenings and left in the mornings with their camper van and never had any problems.
We also saw many roof-top tent campers at many of the campgrounds which is also technically “prohibited”.
So if tent camping for a week+ sounds daunting to you, you can most likely get away with camping in a roof-top tent or campervan. Not to encourage people to break the rules, but if you are a paying visitor, and don’t take up more than a single parking spot, I don’t think you will be given any trouble. Consider renting a camper van from a local through Outdoorsy or RVezy.
You can also choose private campgrounds which DO allow sleeping in vehicles.
Facilities For Camping in Kauai:
The facilities at all the campgrounds were pretty rustic and definitely could use a good power wash. Some were definitely worse than others, but none of them were squeaky clean.
Honestly, the County campground bathrooms were better than the state campgrounds. They were often restocked daily with TP, but not necessarily “cleaned” daily.
The county campgrounds only had “beach showers” which were outside and cold water. So if you do plan to shower outside, just be sure to use some biodegradable shampoo and soap. The state campground we stayed at (Kokee State Park) had indoor showers, but they could definitely use a good cleaning. I personally would have felt dirtier leaving that shower than taking one… Plus the men’s didn’t even have a shower curtain.
The private campground we stayed at had indoor showers that were individual with shower curtains. Also, not exactly squeaky clean either, but at least workable.
There is NO soap in most of the bathrooms, so we suggest bringing your own.
And it was not uncommon to see spiders and other bugs in the bathrooms.
Weekly Closures At Kauai’s County Campgrounds:
The county campgrounds close at least 1 day per week for weekly maintenance. So when planning a camping trip in Kauai, you need to plan around these closures, so you aren’t stuck having to drive all the way around the island to a campground that is open. Or get stuck paying for an expensive resort or hotel room.
Is Camping in Kauai Safe?
Ultimately, Hawaii has a lower crime rate than other U.S. States. But you are camping after all which can lead to more unsafe circumstances. The biggest thing you have to worry about is theft. Sadly, Hawaii is known for vehicle break-ins. So always keep your valuables with you or clear out of sight. And this goes for nearly everywhere on the island, not just campgrounds. To be safe, Jake and I carried our valuables on almost all our adventures.
Camping is typically less safe than staying in a resort/hotel/vacation rental, etc. But overall, camping in Kauai is relatively safe.
The people at the campgrounds that we interacted with were always nice and welcoming. But always follow your gut. If you feel unsafe, leave the area.
Our Experience Camping in Kauai
Jake and I camped at various campgrounds around the island. Here is our personal experience at each campground in Kauai that we stayed at.
Keep in mind that your overall experience at a campsite can largely depend on variable factors. Some bad weather, a loud neighbor, or even a scary spider in the bathroom are all little details that could ruin your experience.
Anini Beach Park:
Anini Beach Park is one of the county campsites we enjoyed most on the island of Kauai. Plus it was $6 per night for the 2 of us, which is a steal!
It honestly got pretty quiet around 7pm and the area is huge, so there is plenty of room to spread out! Many people choose the beach front spots, which can get kind of crowded.
But there is a huge open grass area where you can camp too. So we opted for that, and always had plenty of room away from other campers.
But, the chickens definitely alarmed various times throughout the night.
The bathrooms could use a little love, but they were usable.
This is the wetter side of the island, so be prepared for passing rain showers.
There is also a reef along the coast, which offers great snorkeling. We suggest going in the morning because of calmer waters. It can get pretty windy in the afternoon, so you will also probably spot some wind surfers in this area. Overall, we felt pretty safe here.
Kumu Camp:
Kumu Camp was the only private campground we stayed at. The cost was $25 per person per night. So personally, we think for what you get, it is definitely priced way too high. While they do have an outdoor kitchen with a grill, and hot indoor showers, they weren’t extra clean by any means. The bathroom was open air, so there were spiders, webs, various bugs, and sand all over.
Plus there were definitely locals who love to drive on the beach, even though it says “no driving on beach” on a sign right before you head to the beach in your vehicle. So we were woken up by not only roosters at this campsite, but also some locals trying to “show off” their trucks and SUV’s in the deep sand.
But, we did choose this campsite because we heard negative reviews about nearby Anahola Beach Park, and we felt more comfortable here. So from a safety standpoint, we felt overall pretty safe here. We just think maybe $25 per night for a tent site (not per individual) makes more logical sense.
Salt Pond Beach Park:
Salt Pond Park definitely was the county site with the smallest camping area. With the amount of people they allow to camp in the designated camping area, you will most likely be setting up your tent close to other campers.
We did enjoy the beach here, which was great for snorkeling and is protected from extra large waves. It’s also the hotter, drier side of the island, so beach weather is more common.
While camping here, there was a kid’s birthday going on, on a Thursday night. Kids were screaming and yelling til around 9:30pm. Which was tough since we were trying to go to bed early and wake up early to capitalize on the daylight hours. Finally, another camper asked them to quiet down and they finally went to bed.
There was also a homeless family living in tents there. They yelled at each other a lot, but otherwise didn’t bother other campers.
And like I mentioned above, you really don’t get much personal space at this campground. So there will likely be times you can hear other campers nearby in their tents.
Overall, the beach is beautiful and a nice protected area for swimming and snorkeling. We personally just wish the camping area was bigger or they capped the number of permits lower.
Kokee State Park:
Kokee State Park is the most conveniently-located camping area to stay at if you are planning to spend a couple of days in Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. But we personally feel like 2 days is probably more than enough time since it is a rather small area. Hikes were not safe in the rain, and even viewpoints were completely covered by clouds.
Although the weather can really decipher the amount of time you need. We only had sunny weather for a couple hours when we entered the park, and after that, it was cloudy and rainy making many of the sites we wanted to see no longer visible.
The cost of a Kokee State Park Campsite is $30 per night, and quite frankly, we are wondering where the money goes? First off, our campsite wasn’t level, so our tent was set up at an angle. And the bathrooms could use a serious power wash or deep clean.
The toilets were kind of revolting and the shower was pretty filthy. If you were to shower in there, you would probably feel slightly dirtier. I wouldn’t want to set/hang up my towel anywhere in that area.
While we stayed here, it rained on us non-stop which is part of why we didn’t have that positive of an experience. But this is known to be one of the wettest places on earth, so you think there would be better infrastructure to help people deal with the rain. A cover over our picnic table would have been much appreciated because we basically had to make dinner in the rain both nights.
Also, a cop showed up to a site and spent about 45 minutes doing “something”. But, he no sooner left and loud music started in the distance. There was a party in the parking lot of the visitor center that went well into the early morning hours.
Like mentioned above, there is really no “host on duty”. So unless we wanted to go shut it down ourselves, we had to listen to loud bass music til about 2-3am. (Don’t get us wrong, we love a good party and loud music when it’s appropriate. But it’s basically torture to unsuspecting campers.)
Overall, we just didn’t enjoy this spot nearly as much as the beach campsites. But, it can be a good spot to stay if you want to check out Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. And if you want to camp in some cooler weather, as it’s often 10+ degrees colder.
But we honestly think we might have been happier just camping at Salt Pond, and driving the extra distance to see the park.
Hanakoa Camping Area (midway point on the Kalalau Trail):
A highlight of our trip was backpacking the Kalalau Trail on the North Shore. You must get permits in advance to camp at Kalalau Beach and Hanakoa Valley. But this hike is NO JOKE and absolutely not for everyone! Many people choose to just day hike to Hanakapi’ai Falls and turn back to stay in their luxury hotel.
The first night we stopped at the midway point at Hanakoa Camping area in the Hanakoa Valley. There are really only 2 designated sites with a shelter and picnic table.
Sadly, there was a ton of trash left at one of the picnic areas. Like maybe 5 full trash bags and tons of fuel canisters.
My assumption is maybe there are people who come “clean up” the trail and leave the trash they find for the helicopters to take out? Otherwise I can’t see how any backpackers could create this much trash?
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PACK OUT WHAT YOU PACK IN! If you can’t do that, then you shouldn’t go on to this camping area.
Camping at Kalalau Beach:
Then we headed toward Kalalau Beach through the Kalalau Valley, which is another 5 miles. Technically, you are supposed to camp in the designated camping area, but we saw many people camped on the beach, up by the waterfall, and outside the “designated area”.
But, we just set up camp in the designated camping area closest to the beach as possible. The area has good tree cover, but tons of berries that fall from the trees. Which can leave a nice purple splatter on your tent. We also found this area to not have much of a breeze at night. Which can be both positive and negative.
There are composting toilets located at Hanakapi’ai Beach, Hanakoa camping area and Kalalau Beach. Which was nice to have while backpacking. Of course, they weren’t super fancy or clean, but it gets the job done. Be sure to bring your own TP!
There is a waterfall where you can fill up your fresh water if you have a water filter. (We love our Platypus GravityWorks, <– check out our detailed review).
Overall, camping at Kalalau Beach is an incredible backpacking experience. And quite possibly one of the coolest places you can set up a tent! But it is a grand adventure that requires lots of advanced planning.
Takeaway | Camping in Kauai
Overall, camping in Kauai is an awesome way to be able to see the island at a fraction of the price. Out of all the Hawaiian Islands, we found Kauai to have some of the best campgrounds.
We saved so much money camping in Kauai, and it was nice to be able to change our accommodation around the island. But, camping can definitely wear on you after a while.
So unless you are an experienced camper or simply just like living in tents for a long duration of time then, then we feel a week is more than enough time in a tent.
Or consider renting a hotel room or VRBO for a night or two in the middle of your trip.
We hope this guide helps with everything you need to know about camping in Kauai.
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