Wake up to birdsong at Hosmer Grove, the only drive-up campground in the Summit Area section of the park. On the slopes of the volcano, surrounded by towering trees and adjacent to one of Maui’s best birding trails, this campground at an elevation of 6800ft tends to be cloudy, but a covered picnic pavilion offers shelter if it rains.
Camping is free on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of 50 people. No permit is required, though there’s a three-day camping limit per month. It’s busier in summer than in winter and is often full on holiday weekends. The campground is just after the park entrance booth, and has grills, toilets and running water. Since you’re close to the summit, it can get cold, but it’s a cinch getting up for sunrise.