Maui is not hard to navigate, but that doesn’t mean that accidents never happen. Crashes occur most of the time due to drivers being unfamiliar with the area and are not paying enough attention to the roads but instead take in the beautiful beaches and scenery surrounding them. The best tip is to be hyper-aware of what is going on around you and respect your fellow drivers.
Rules For The Road
Always drive without distractions to avoid getting in trouble with the law. Avoid making any assumptions about the drivers in Maui. Drivers generally take their time when navigating the towns, giving other cars a gap and refrain from honking unless they have an emergency. Always check for road closures before setting out on an adventure.
Weather Conditions
Before going on a road trip, always check the weather report of Maui. The weather forecast will give you a good idea if you can take the road to Hana since driving in the rain can be perilous. Mudslides often happen on the east and north sides of the island and can result in drivers experiencing dangerous situations or slow traffic.
Car Rentals
When you want to rent a car, make sure you check the restrictions about where you are allowed to drive. Due to the multi-climate and rugged terrain in Maui, most car rental agencies have policies that outline where drivers are allowed to take their cars, and it’s better to check out lifted jeep rentals. It is not a pre-requisite to rent a 4×4 vehicle for getting around Maui. However, there are beautiful places on the east side of the island, which is not accessible without a jeep or 4×4. You will encounter plentiful areas where you can pull over to visit a waterfall or gain access to the beaches. When you are accessing the non-paved roads, it is useful to rent a jeep to avoid getting stuck in the sand or not being able to visit the unexplored spots which are not along the standard routes.
Parking
There is a problem with parking availability that is in desperate need of improvement. The obvious, less complicated overnight option for parking would be to part at a resort or park for a fee and steer clear from receiving a parking ticket. Maui Country started to necessitate resorts to keep several free available parking spots for drivers; however, there are generally limitations. In areas where it gets bustling, you won’t have any luck in obtaining a free beach parking later in the day; therefore, your only option would be to seek parking in a shopping complex, garage, or resort. Parking becomes more available in the country spots where there aren’t so many tourists.
Traffic
The rush hour in Maui is generally around 4 pm and is most infamous on the single-lane roads that surround Paia, which is on the north and Lahaina on the west side. This is where you’ll frequently notice locals are giving directions according to time and not by miles since traffic moves slower on the islands than the mileage would suggest.
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