How to Plan the Perfect 3 Days on Maui Itinerary for Your First Time
This 3 days in Maui itinerary features the best beaches, hikes and road trips that you don’t want to miss on your first visit to Hawaii.
Soaking up the rays on golden beaches, snorkeling with sea turtles, chasing waterfalls, wandering bamboo forests — yes, it’s all possible with just 3 days on Maui. If you’re looking to balance island adventures with some laid-back beach hopping, this is the Maui guide for you.
This 3 day Maui itinerary includes secret beaches, heart-pumping cliffside drives and everything in-between. Plus, we’ve included practical advice for planning your first visit and ideas for how to spend any extra time on the island.
Keep scrolling for an action-packed 3 days in Maui, and read to the bottom for tips like where to stay and what you MUST remember to pack.
Editor’s Note: Some activities in this itinerary may be unavailable at this time. As the island recovers from the 2023 fires, it’s important to bolster the tourism industry by visiting respectfully and responsibly and supporting locally-owned businesses. Please check the Hawaii Tourism Authority website for up-to-date information.
The Ultimate 3 Day Maui Itinerary and Map
Plan your 3 days in Maui with this detailed itinerary and map. We’ve included the best things to do on your first trip to the island. Click on the map below to open a Google Map that you can save and use while planning your trip to Maui.
Day 1 — South Maui Beach Hopping
If you’ve come to Hawaii for the beaches, Maui certainly won’t disappoint. The South Maui coast is known for its calm waters and pretty sand and you won’t be short on beach parks here. Plus, you can see islands like Lanai and the Molokini Crater off in the distance. Let’s start this 3 day Maui itinerary with some beach hopping!
Kihei Beaches
The town of Kihei offers about six miles of beaches on the Maalaea Bay, some quiet and rustic and others with amenities and lifeguards on duty. Try Kalama Park if you’re looking for a kid-friendly Maui beach. Along with the sandy shore and water sports, there’s green space with picnic pavilions, a skate park, a playground, and tennis and basketball courts. The three Kamaole Beach Parks are another popular choice, with lifeguard stations and facilities.
Wailea Beach
Up next on the beach-hopping agenda is Wailea, where a wide patch of soft sand fronts a handful of posh resorts with picture-perfect grounds. Anyone can access Wailea Beach, though, and the free parking and facilities are a short walk down to the ocean. With the calm waters here, you’ll see lots of folks trying their hand at stand-up paddle boarding. The Wailea area offers plenty of shopping and dining spots as well as pristine golf courses.
Makena State Park
A bit less crowded but just as stunning, Makena State Park has two beaches to sample. Big Beach is the largest option and most family-friendly, with lifeguards on duty. Little Beach is on a small and private-feeling cove and has a reputation for being clothing optional. The area around the state park is undeveloped, so instead of the polished shopping centers and cafes of Wailea, you’ll find taco trucks along the road.
Makena Cove
A bit of a hidden gem, Makena Cove just beyond the state park is tucked behind a stone wall with just a small alley entrance. In fact, the parked cars squeezed along the road are the only giveaway that there’s a beachfront nearby. Used for many a photo shoot, this idyllic sandy cove features jagged black rocks and a sea turtle family that enjoys riding the feisty waves that foam onto the golden shore.
Day 2 — West Maui Sightseeing and Boat Tour
One of the most popular places to stay on Maui, the western end of the island incorporates everything from resort-side relaxing to old Hawaii sightseeing to boat rides in search of whales and dolphins. You don’t want to skip this area on a 3 day Maui itinerary.
Kaanapali Beach
Head to Kaanapali Beach for some time on the sand surrounded by ritzy resort grounds with huge pool decks and lush gardens. If you’re staying in the area, the ocean is probably just outside your door, but public access is available, too. Hanakaoo Park and its wide sandy beach is just next door and offers plenty of parking as well as picnic pavilions, lifeguard stations and restroom facilities.
The palm-adorned Kaanapali Beachwalk runs between the hotels and sea in this zone for about a mile, perfect for a sun-soaked stroll on the way to shopping and dining. The resorts along the path have breezy restaurants and evening luaus you can check into, while the Whalers Village plaza holds retail stores and Hawaiian eateries (think surf-and-turf and fish tacos).
Lahaina
Ten minutes south, the oceanside town of Lahaina played an important role in the Kingdom of Hawaii, once it’s capital and a former whaling hub. In more recent years, the colorful Front Street held art galleries, handicraft shops, and restaurants.
Unfortunately, recent fires destroyed most of the old town and its historic buildings. The recovery and rebuilding efforts will take years, so please be mindful and respectful if you visit this area.
Wildlife and Snorkeling Excursions
The Maalaea Harbor is a launching point for whale-watching boat excursions and snorkeling tours to the Molokini Crater. The crescent-shaped volcanic formation off the south coast attracts an abundance of marine life, so snapping on a mask and fins here is sure to result in some epic underwater sightseeing.
Sunset Cruises
Day 3 — Road to Hana Excursion
A must for even a short Maui 3 day itinerary, the Road to Hana produces some of the island’s best scenery. The winding drive along the east coast follows the Hana Highway from the beachside town of Paia to remote Hana on the tip of the island. Along the way, the coastal path curves along dozens of hairpin turns surrounded by rainforest and traverses one-way bridges over streaming waterfalls.
Road to Hana Waterfalls
You’ll have plenty of opportunities to chase waterfalls on the Road to Hana, though roadside parking can be tough at some of the more popular spots. Start looking for Twin Falls at mile marker 2 (you’ll have to walk a trail for this one), Waikani Falls at 19, Puaa Kaa Falls at 22, and Hanawi Falls at 24. Just past Hana town around mile marker 45, Wailua Falls typically draws a crowd with its 80-foot drop.
Garden of Eden
One of the few paid attractions along the road, the Garden of Eden is a welcome chance to stretch your legs and hit up the restrooms. The grounds are full of maintained nature trails through forests of bamboo, fruit trees and vibrant blooms. From elevated scenic lookouts, you can also catch a glimpse of the ocean and Puohokamoa Falls with its lush green surrounds.
For a more rustic but free nature walk, stop just before the garden at the Waikamoi Ridge Trail, a nearly one-mile dirt path through forests and bamboo groves.
Waianapanapa State Park
Waianapanapa State Park, on the outskirts of Hana, is known for its black-sand beach and rocky surroundings, where bright green plants pop against the background. There are spots to walk along the jagged coast here, spotting sea arches and blowholes along the way. The little cove generally has a small crowd of beachgoers and waders admiring the dark sand.
You need to make a reservation to visit this state park.
Hana Town
Though there are plenty of smoky food trucks and mouth-watering banana bread stands along the drive, if you make it to Hana town with a growling stomach, this is the perfect spot to grab a picnic lunch and head for the oceanfront. Hana Bay Beach Park, Koki Beach Park and Hamoa Beach are all nearby with sand to spread out on.
Haleakala National Park
Beyond Hana, it’s worth continuing the drive to see the Seven Sacred Pools at Oheo, a tiered set of waterfalls in the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park. If you have time for a hike, 400-foot tall Waimoku Falls is along the 4-mile, round-trip Pipiwai Trail in the park.
Tips for 3 Days in Maui
This mini Maui travel guide will help you plan where to stay, when to go and what to pack for your 3 days in Maui.
Best Time to Visit Maui
Maui is a year-round destinations, with balmy days and cooler evenings in winter or summer. There are a few differences in the seasons, though, that may influence when you decide to go.
The dry summer season of May through October has highs in the mid-80s and lows in the 70s. Beaches are typically calmer during this time, but always be aware or alerts for strong currents.
The rainier winter season, November through April, sees highs in the high 70s and lows in the high 60s. The wet weather of winter is mostly in the upper elevations and on the windward side of the island, where waves are larger and currents stronger. Most resorts are on the leeward side. Winter is a busy tourist season for Maui and also popular for whale watching.
There is a colder microclimate on Maui in the mountains, which most tourists will experience when visiting Upcountry or the Haleakala National Park Summit District. Temps at the mountain peak drop below freezing at times and it occasionally snows. If you head to the national park for the famous Haleakala sunrise, remember to dress warmly.
How to Get to Maui
Maui’s Kahului Airport is on the north coast of the island and has international, domestic and inter-island flights with major carriers. Maui’s central location in the Hawaiian chain means flights to Oahu, the Big Island and Kauai take less than an hour.
How Many Days in Maui
If you are island hopping in Hawaii, you need at least 3 days in Maui to drive the Road to Hana and visit a few beaches. Four days in Maui or five days on Maui is even better to add in activities like kitesurfing in Paia, watching the Haleakala sunrise from a 10,023-foot summit, and exploring the old-timey towns and lavender farm of Upcountry Maui. With a week or more, you can slow down a bit and relax on the beach, try a bunch of local restaurants, and even take a day trip via ferry to the nearby island of Lanai for remote landscapes and beaches.
What to Pack for Maui
You have a swimsuit and sunscreen, but what else should you bring on your island vacation? This Maui packing checklist will help you pick the right clothes and gear for different activities and ensure you don’t leave anything important behind. Click on the images below to shop for some Maui must-haves!
Where to Stay on Maui
The southern and western ends of Maui are the most popular places to stay on the island, full of resorts, condos and hotels. Maui is one of the most expensive destinations in Hawaii, with swanky resorts perfect for honeymoons and luxury vacations. If you need something cheaper, you can find some budget-friendly condos.
Learn more about these neighborhoods and other accommodations around the island in this guide to where to stay on Maui and find out which is our favorite Maui resort.
Do You Need a Car on Maui?
If you plan to spend most of your time at a resort, you can arrange a shuttle service to your hotel and use public buses or rideshare to occasionally get out. Otherwise, renting a car is the best way to see more of the island and beach hop. Popular activities like the Road to Hana and Haleakala summit sunrise require either a private vehicle or a guided tour, which can add up. I recommend reserving your rental car as far in advance as possible, since there is a limited supply and lots of tourists on the island!
