Last Updated on October 6, 2026 by A Teaspoon of Travel

Exploring the Big Island with a Toddler: The Best 6 Day Itinerary

Traveled in May 2024

Heading to the Big Island of Hawaii with a toddler and want the best toddler-friendly beaches and activities that will keep you and your little one happy?

I’ll be sharing our favorite things to do on the Big Island with a toddler, including all the details you need to find them!

If you are ready for a relaxing vacation to the Big Island with a toddler, then this itinerary is for you. This itinerary includes a fair amount of relaxing on the beach, but also includes some forays into the natural wonders of the Big Island that are manageable with a toddler. There are many exciting and unique experiences on the Big Island, but they’re not always doable with a toddler that runs on his/her own schedule. Luckily, there are several gorgeous keiki (baby) beaches on the island with calm waters that are perfect for a toddler to play in, and ways to appreciate the Volcanoes National Park without doing long hikes. Read on for more toddler-friendly activities in the Big Island to explore!

We definitely only scratched the surface of what the Big Island has to offer and cannot wait to return when our kiddo is a bit older to continue exploring!

6 Day Sample Itinerary on the Big Island with a Toddler

We spent 6 days on the Big Island with our toddler and stayed in the Waikoloa resort area. Rather than trying to see the entire island, we used one home base and planned one main activity each day. This itinerary is based on what we actually did, including the beaches we explored, the day trip we almost skipped, and the parking challenges we ran into.

Relaxing in Hawaii with a toddler means slowing down and enjoying just one activity a day to prevent overtired toddler tantrums. We enjoyed the beaches rather than booking activities because the time difference made our toddler’s sleep (and hence mood) unpredictable and we did not want the stress of making it to an activity at a specific time. Rather than having each day strictly planned, we would pick and choose from the list of activities. Check out our itinerary below to see how we enjoyed our 6 days on the Big Island.

What You Need to Know for Planning

• Best area to stay: Waikoloa/Kohala Coast for this itinerary
• Ideal trip length: 5–7 days
• Rental car: Essential
• Best toddler activities: Calm beaches, farmers markets, easy nature stops
• Biggest challenge: Driving distances
• Best approach: One major outing per day + flexibility
• Our experience: We stayed in Waikoloa and used it as our base for the entire trip
• Who this itinerary is best for: Families who want beaches + nature without packing every day
• Biggest lesson from our trip: I thought one activity per day would automatically make this a relaxed itinerary. But the real challenge was getting out the door on time with a toddler and finding parking at popular beaches. If I did this trip again, I’d stay somewhere with beachfront access to a calm beach.

Is the Big Island Good for Toddlers?

Yes! But it is best for families that don’t mind driving and want a slower itinerary. The Big Island has some of the best calm beaches for kids to splash and play. Our kiddo loved the beaches and happily went every day. We spent most of our days at the beach or doing easy activities like farmer’s markets and had a great, relaxing vacation.

How to Get There

Flights from the mainland to the Big Island fly into the Kona International Airport (KOA). The Hilo International Airport (ITO) serves mostly inter-island flights from Oahu or Maui.

Booking tip: certain flight searches like Kayak, Skyscanner, or Google flights allow you to set price trackers that will alert you when the price of your flight changes. I never book a flight without tracking prices first because there is no better feeling than snagging a good deal! And I always book with a travel credit card because it includes travel insurance protections that I’ve taken advantage of (like delayed baggage reimbursements and trip delay reimbursements). Contact me for my recs on the travel cards that are worth their annual fee!

Bonus Booking tip: sign your kiddo up for frequent flyer accounts with airlines to start earning airline miles for them! Most airline miles do not expire for minors so your kiddo will thank you later.

Where to Stay in Big Island with a Toddler

For this itinerary, I would stay in Waikoloa.

We stayed in a condo rental in Fairway Villas and loved the location right next to King’s Shops. However, after having to rush our kid out the door in the mornings to get a public parking spot at the calmer beaches, next time we visit the Big Island, we’ll probably stay at a resort right on one of them like Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or at Mauna Lani Point because we loved those beaches. That way, we can have a truly relaxing vacation and walk out to the beach whenever we want, instead of having to hurry our kid along to beat the crowds and find parking. That said, friends have also recommended Hilton Waikoloa Village as a slightly more affordable option for a resort with direct access to a calm beach.

How to Get Around

The Big Island is big (no surprise), so it will be necessary to rent a car to get around. All of the car rental agencies are located a short shuttle ride from the airport, so since all the car rental agencies are equally convenient, take your pick!

Compare Big Island rental car prices before your trip.

Booking tip: if the car rental agency has a free membership program, sign up for it! Members usually get extra perks like a free additional driver, discounts, or faster reservation check ins (all very desirable things when you have an overtired toddler in tow).

Big Island with a Toddler Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Activity	Sleep In
0	Arrive at Kona airport Stop by Kailua-Kona for lunch and grocery shopping at Costco/Target/KTA superstore/Walmart Drive 20-30 minute to the Waikoloa resort area.	Waikoloa Resort Area
1	Kikaua Point Bay beach Lava Lava Beach Club Sunset at Anaehoomalu Bay	Waikoloa Resort Area
2	Makaiwa Bay Beach	Waikoloa Resort Area
3	Day trip to Waimea (best on Saturdays) Waimea town Farmers market Anuenue playground Kamuela Farmers Market	Waikoloa Resort Area
4	Day trip to Hilo side (best on Sundays for less traffic) Akaka falls Volcanoes National Park	Waikoloa Resort Area
5	Kukio keiki beach	Waikoloa Resort Area
6	Mauna Kea beach	Waikoloa Resort Area
7	Fly home from Kona

Important: Day 4 is a long driving day. If your toddler doesn’t tolerate long car rides well, I’d consider skipping this day or staying overnight on the Hilo/Volcanoes side.

Tips on timing: 

• The farmers markets occur on different days around the island. The two farmers markets in Waimea that we visited happen on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Check this amazing website for details locations and times of the various farmers markets. 
• We did our day trip to the Hilo side on a Sunday, and found that traffic was much lighter. The highways only have one lane each way, so the drive is faster when there are less cars on the road. The fastest way across the island takes about 2 hours, but can take 3 hours if there is traffic. That one hour makes a difference when you have a toddler trapped in the car with you. 
• Many of the beaches listed below are on the property of a resort or a private community, so the gate guards monitor the parking. There are usually only a few (15-20 depending on the beach) public parking spots at each beach. We went to those beaches no later than 10am on a weekday. If there were no parking passes, the gate guards told us where we could wait to watch for cars leaving. We usually just left and went to another beach. The gate guards suggested arriving early morning or after 1pm for the best chances. Some of these parking lots were not straightforward to find, but lucky for you, parking directions are listed below each beach.

I am all about visuals, so check below for a map showing the locations of all the activities listed below. As you can see, it’s pretty spread out. So make sure you factor in driving time when you are planning your day!

The Best Beaches on the Big Island with a Toddler

Makaiwa Bay at the Mauna Lani Beach Club

15 min north of the Waikoloa resort area

This is a small beach with shallow and calm waters for little ones to play in. It is also great for snorkeling, as we could see colorful fish even in the shallow waters we were in. The cabanas and chairs are reserved for resort guests, but there is some shade by the grassy area in the back. There is a public restroom and a foot washing station at the beach.

Kikaua Point

20 min south of the Waikoloa resort area

We found this beach because we could not get parking passes to the Kukio keiki beach on our first try. It has a small lagoon like area created by a small reef with calm water where our toddler could play. Otherwise the rest of the beach did have more waves. This beach was fun to walk down and explore because there were also small lava fields that created tide pools. There is a lot of shade from the trees bordering the beach.

You can walk from this beach to the Kukio keiki beach, either on the beach itself or on the paved path behind the beach. It took us about 20 hot minutes each way carrying just our toddler and not our beach gear. Would not recommend walking it with a child and beach gear. There is a public restroom and a foot washing station at the parking lot.

Kukio Keiki Beach

20 min south of the Waikoloa resort area

Could there BE a more perfect baby beach?! Kukio keiki beach is a protected lagoon, so the waters are very calm and shallow for a toddler. Our kiddo loved playing here because even in the shallows there were small schools of fish swimming around. Because the public parking spots are so limited, this beach did not feel crowded at all. There also seemed to be some good snorkeling as folks further out near the reef said they spotted a turtle. Some shade from the trees in the back. There is a public restroom and a footwashing station on the beach.

Anaehoomalu Bay

In the Waikoloa resort area

The local beach in Waikoloa. Great for sunsets – go behind the Kuualii fish pond for photos of the sunset reflected in the ponds.

Mauna Kea (Kauna’oa) Beach

20 min north of the Waikoloa resort area

Your picture perfect sandy beach. This half crescent sandy beach is bordered by trees, so there is a lot of shade. The waves are a little strong for a toddler, but would be good for little kids. There were a lot of turtles here, in fact, we even saw one swimming along the coast in knee deep water. The lifeguards ensure visitors give the turtles adequate space, but it was magical for our kiddo to see one little turtle swimming in the water (bubble bubble bubble bubble pop IYKYK). This beach did get windier and the waves got stronger as the morning progressed, so it might be more enjoyable in the morning.

Other Beaches and Parks on the Big Island with a Toddler

• Spencer beach park (17 min north, on the way to Waimea)
• Harold H. Higashiwara park (45 min south)
• Honokohau beach – turtles (29 min south, by airport)
• Hapuna beach – more waves (15 min north on the way to Waimea)
• Manini’owali beach – gorgeous white sand beach but no shade (22 min south)

Non-Beach Activities on the Big Island with a Toddler

Waimea Farmers Markets

Visit the Saturday Farmers Markets in Waimea town (30 min drive north) for some delicious locally produced treats and beautiful art. There are over 40 vendors at each farmers market selling everything from local jam and coffee to local art.

• Waimea Town Farmers Market at Parker School. Highlights for us were Akaka Falls Farms with unlimited jam samples, Ahualoa Farms with unique flavors of macadamia nuts, and Danielle Burnside Art with beautiful ocean inspired art flecked with copper flakes. Grab breakfast at the Mai Grille stand – the pancakes were so fluffy and delicious!
• Hit up the Anuenue Playground at Waimea Park next to Parker School to burn off some energy
• Kamuela Farmers Market. Highlights for us were Wild Harvest for delicious freeze dried local fruits, toothSWEETS for unique mochi flavors, and Pine Village Small Farm for island-inspired crepes and fresh musubis.

Day Trip to Hilo with a Toddler

One day is not enough to do justice to Volcanoes National Park because there are so many unique hikes to explore. We initially were not planning on going because we did not think we could maximize it with a toddler in tow. However, we ultimately decided that we would still like to see the park and we are glad we did! With only one day to see the highlights of the national park, this route is a good place to start.

We drove to Hilo on the Hamakua coast road, which is longer but more scenic. The day we traveled it was rainy and foggy so we didn’t see much, but apparently the views of the coast are beautiful. It took us 1.5 hours to get to Akaka Falls State Park.

Akaka Falls State Park

Akaka Falls is a 0.4 mile paved hike with 650 steps down to the waterfall. The hike down has some real Jurassic Park vibes, minus the possibility of death by dinosaur.

From Akaka Falls, it takes about 1.5 hours to get to Volcanoes National Park, passing through Hilo on the way. If you have time, 2 Ladies Kitchen in Hilo was highly recommended by friends for their strawberry mochi (closed Sun Mon). We drove straight through Hilo because it was raining and because we wanted to ensure we saw some of the national park before nap time. 

Volcanoes National Park

There is something awe-inspiring about being in the presence of an active volcano. Follow the route below to hit the highlights of the Volcanoes National Park. This route is heavy on views and light on hiking.

• Stop at the entrance gates of the national park to pay for park entrance fees.
• Take the first left turn to take the road to the Thurston lava tubes. The Thurston lava tubes are underground tunnels created by lava flows. There is a loop trail that will take you through the tunnels and back to the parking lot.
• After exiting the Thurston lava tubes, cross the street and look for the Kilauea iki overlook trail. This is a short trail with great views of the Kilauea iki crater. It shares the same parking lot as the Thurston lava tubes.
• Stop at Kilauea visitor center for ranger advice on what to see. Cross the street to Volcano House to marvel at the active volcano from the lobby overlook.
• Drive to one of the parking lots along the Crater rim trail for an easy paved ¼ mile walk along the top of the crater.
• Drive back to Waikaloa resort area via the Saddle road (2 hrs). 

Big Island Activities to Save for When Kids Are Older

When our kiddo is a bit older, these are the unique Big Island activities we would love to enjoy. If you have older kiddos or have a babysitter, definitely check out these excursions and let me know how they are!

Big Island has some truly unique experiences and landscapes that you can’t do or see anywhere else. But these activities aren’t exactly toddler-friendly because of how strenuous they are. When our kiddo is a bit older, these are the unique Big Island activities we would love to enjoy. If you have older kiddos or have a babysitter, definitely check out these excursions and let me know how they are!

• Night time manta ray snorkel
• Stargazing on Mauna Kea
• Green sand beach
• Polulu valley overlook and Waipio valley overlook

Where to Eat

Hungry from all that exploring and looking for where to eat on the Big Island? Check out my post with our list of delicious Big Island eats!

Kid Essentials You’ll Be Glad You Packed

• Sound Machine: If you’re sharing a room with your little one, a portable sound machine can be a total lifesaver. Because of the time difference and earlier bedtimes, kids are more likely to be asleep while there’s still noise around. A sound machine helps drown out outside sounds and keeps them sleeping longer.
• Pack and play sheets: Even if the condo/hotel has a pack and play, they may not always have sheets to go with it. We always bring our own. It’s even better if your kiddo has slept on the sheets recently, because then it smells like home and can put them to sleep easier in an unfamiliar place.
• Slumberpod: The Slumberpod worked wonders for us when our kid was smaller. I was skeptical, but it worked so well that we even used it over his crib at home for a while. Once he turned 2 though, being zipped up in the Slumberpod seemed to scare him more if he woke up in the middle of the night.
• Hip seat carrier: We love our hip seat carrier with convertible straps! It’s so much easier to move around beaches and carry beach gear when our kid is strapped to us rather than pull a wagon or stroller through the sand. The hip seat is also much more comfortable for him to nap in if we’re taking longer walks or hikes because he can actually sit rather than being suspended. We especially love ours because it’s hands free, and can be worn in the front or back.
• Oxo Tot 2-in-1 travel potty: I bring this potty seat everywhere. I love that it can be a standalone potty that you can use with any old plastic bag. And you can put it on top of a regular toilet to make it easier for kids to sit.
• Long sleeve rash guards: If your kid hates putting on sunscreen (as mine does), then a long sleeve rash guard is key for protecting them from the sun. Choose neon yellow, neon green, bright orange, or hot pink for maximum visibility in the pool.
• Sun hat with neck cover: A wide brimmed sunhat with a neck cover is so useful for a bit more sun coverage. Especially on the back of the neck, where we always forget to reapply sunscreen!
• Water shoes: Our kiddo got a blister once after walking in wet rubber sandals. So now we make sure to bring the water shoes that are made of neoprene.
• Kid’s swim goggles: These swim goggles reliably keep the water out while still being comfortable and easy to put on. We thought our kiddo would take some time getting used to goggles but he used these happily right away!
• Kid’s reef safe mineral sunscreen: Walmart and Target on the island usually has adult versions of reef safe sunscreen. However, we brought our own mineral sunscreen for our kiddo when he was smaller and had more sensitive skin. The stick version of this sunscreen has been a gamechanger for putting sunscreen on my kid’s face!
• Travel entertainment: Our go-tos are one new book (seek and find books or lift the flap books last longer!), Water WOW coloring books, sticker books (we like this one because the stickers are right next to the sticker page, and the ones from Daiso are amazing and cheap), a drawing pad, and mini magnatiles.
• Water bottles: We like the stainless steel ones.
• Health kit: I always bring a thermometer and Children’s Tylenol. If your kid has any allergies, definitely bring Children’s Zyrtec. It’s easier to have it on hand when you need it. I also bring hydrocortisone 1% cream to Hawaii for myself because I always get mosquito bites!

Reality Check of Traveling to the Big Island with a Toddler

Traveling with a small child is HARD. The extra level of difficulty is that you travel with a different child each time you go on a trip. The developmental leaps that make raising a child so awe-inspiring also make said children extremely unpredictable. What worked on one trip won’t work for the next one, and you may run into new problems that were never an issue in previous trips. On this trip in particular, the time difference hit us particularly hard and we ran into sleep issues that we haven’t seen since our sleep training days. The lack of sleep made us all a little more on edge, and there were more meltdowns than usual from all parties involved.

I thought that we were already being relaxed by having only one activity planned per day. But I did not anticipate the power struggles that would ensue from trying to rush a toddler through transitions and out the door by a certain time every morning so we could find parking. What we learned from this trip is that trying to leave the house by a certain time every day creates more stress than it is worth. Not only do we have to limit our activities, we also have to limit our expectations of what time we will actually make it to those activities. There is no perfect trip when traveling with a toddler, only endless learning opportunities for how to stress less next time. Want to learn from our mistakes? Read my post with tips on how to make traveling with a toddler more enjoyable.

Ready to take this traveling circus international?

For more jaw-dropping natural wonders, consider taking your next family vacation with your toddler in the Canadian Rockies or Switzerland! Both countries are safe, clean, and have stunning natural beauty and lots of fun activities for kiddos. Stressed about traveling internationally with a toddler? Leave the planning to me by following our toddler-friendly itineraries to Banff and Jasper in the Canadian Rockies or to Switzerland!