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Pāpalaua Wayside Park

Pāpalaua Wayside Park is one of only three camping sites run by Maui County parks, and it’s the only one on the main island of Maui itself (the other two are on Molokai). It’s currently the sole county-run camping option on Maui after Kanaha Beach Park’s campground closed. It sits right along Honoapiʻilani Highway on Maui’s west side, between the Kihei/Wailuku area and Lahaina, with the Pacific on one side and mature kiawe trees providing shade on the other.

It’s an affordable spot to pitch a tent right by the water.

How to Camp

The park covers 6.7 acres. Amenities are basic: seven portable restrooms (three inside the campsite and two on each side of the campground), two picnic tables, and beach access for surfing, snorkeling, and kayaking. There’s no drinking water on site, no electrical hookups, and no ADA-accessible facilities. Bring your own water and pack out your trash.

The beach itself isn’t sandy the whole way. Expect some rocky, uneven seafloor, so water shoes are worth packing if you’re planning to swim or snorkel.

Camping is tent camping only, but you can drive your vehicle right up to your site. Your permit covers a tent. Pāpalaua’s posted rules don’t spell out whether sleeping inside your vehicle is allowed, so if that’s part of your plan, confirm with Maui County Parks and Recreation directly before you go. Maximum 6 campers per site.

Closed Tuesday and Wednesday every week for maintenance. Plan your stay around this. It’s non-negotiable and applies every week, not seasonally.

Maximum stay is 4 consecutive nights.

Fees depend on whether you’re a Hawaii resident and what day you’re camping.

Hawaii Residents:

Monday to Thursday: $5/adult, $3/minor, $3/pet per night.
Friday, Sunday & Holidays: $10/adult, $6/minor, $6/pet per night.

Non Residents:

Monday to Thursday: $50/adult, $6/minor, $6/pet per night.
Friday, Sunday & Holidays: $100/adult, $12/minor, $12/pet per night.

All fees are paid in cash or money order at the time of reservation, and they’re non-refundable once paid.

Permits are first-come, first-served through Maui County’s Department of Parks and Recreation. You’ll need to provide:

A valid government-issued photo ID (18 or older).
Your address and phone number.
Full names of everyone in your group (max 6 per site).
Your tent color.
Your vehicle’s color, make, model, and license plate number.

For current permit office locations, hours, and to check availability before you go, use Maui County’s official permits page: mauicounty.gov/410/Park-Permits. Permit rules and fees can change, so confirm details there rather than relying on any third-party guide, including this one.

Provisions	Information
Park size	6.7 acres
Park structures	None
Swimming	Beach access for surfing, snorkeling and kayaking
Picnic areas	Two tables
Sports	Camping; no camping on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Activities	None
Parking	General use parking available. Parking for camping permit holders available by designated camp spots
Public Restrooms	Seven Portable Restrooms (Three within campsite and four on each side of campgrounds)
Water	None
ADA Accessibility	None
Electrical	None
Offices	None
Emergency	Maui Police Department: 9-1-1

Location

The park sits along Honoapiʻilani Highway (Highway 30), roughly between mile markers 11 and 12, on the route between Maalaea and Lahaina.

Maui Campervans

Pāpalaua lets you drive your vehicle right up to your campsite, and it’s tent camping. Your permit covers a tent, not sleeping inside the vehicle itself. Unlike Waiʻānapanapa State Park, which has a designated area and separate permit for vehicle sleeping, Pāpalaua’s rules don’t spell out a vehicle-sleeping option. If that’s part of your plan, confirm directly with Maui County Parks and Recreation before you book, rather than assuming it’s covered.

If you’re renting a campervan for your Maui trip and want a spot where vehicle sleeping is clearly allowed, Camp Olowalu’s car camping option is a straightforward alternative nearby.

Either way, you can check availables Maui campervans below. To save more, grab your discount code on Outdoorsy discount page and enter it at checkout to confirm it.