Can You Drive To Hawaii From The Mainland United States?

No place on earth brings up images of paradise more than Hawaii, from its lush mountains, crystal clear waters, and rich culture. The island chain is very far from the mainland, making taking your own car very difficult.

It isn't possible to drive to Hawaii from the mainland United States. The only way to get your car there is by shipping it. Fortunately, it's incredibly easy and cost effective to fly to the islands and rent a car there, saving you time and money.

Hawaii is a wonderfully rich destination, full of culture, nature, and peaceful relaxation. Continue reading below to find out more about how to get to Hawaii hassle-free so you can ease into your vacation in paradise.

Can you drive to Hawaii from the mainland US?

The Hawaiian Islands are tropical destinations that lie in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The distance between Hawaii and America's west coast is roughly the same distance as the lower 48 itself: over 2,400 miles of open ocean.

Because of the distance, there are no roads between the mainland United States in Hawaii. Crossing the Pacific will take more than just a road trip.

There are also no ferries that cross this long distance. If there were, it would take three and a half days to reach the island from California, chugging along at 29 miles per hour.

Because of this, and the high cost of shipping your car via freight, very few people ever try to bring their car to Hawaii. There are, however, other cheap and easy alternatives, so you don't have to worry.

Once you're in Hawaii you may in fact see license plates from other states and even other countries! Surprisingly, there are easy explanations for this.

First off, although there are no ferries for civilians, military personnel can sometimes bring their cars over via naval transport. This perk of military service allows them to use their car wherever they are stationed, even in Hawaii.

Let's also not forget that there are some very wealthy people who call Hawaii home. If money isn't an object, some people opt to ship or even fly over their expensive, exotic cars to the islands.

You can bring your car over to Hawaii, but it is likely to be expensive

If you absolutely can't live without driving your car in Hawaii, you can make it happen, but with a steep price. You'll need to find a shipping company that transports goods between the mainland and the Hawaiian Islands, buy a shipping container, and have your car loaded inside.

To do this, you will have to spend somewhere around $1,500 to $3,500. Also, a normal 20-foot container will fit a car, but not a large truck like a Ford F-350. For something like that, you'll need to upgrade to a bigger container.

If this seems like a hassle now, there's more. Make sure to factor in the cost of getting your car from where you live, to the port of Long Beach or elsewhere in California.

On top of that, just because you have your car in a container, doesn't mean you can store anything in there. Most companies ask that your car is empty before shipping. So, luggage, equipment, etc. must be shipped separately.

In the end, if you are still committed to shipping your car to Hawaii, you'd be looking at 5 to 7 days before it arrives on the islands. Then, you'll have to be there to pick it up.

Alternatively, there are specialist car transportation firms that are more expensive but offer a more secure service. These setups often have special car harnesses inside their containers, which will keep your car safe from any damage on the way.

You can fly to Hawaii and then hire a car

There really isn't any reason for shipping your car. It's expensive and a real hassle that will take time and money out of your much-needed vacation.

Fortunately, you can easily fly over to Hawaii from the continental USA and rent a car once you arrive. This is the easiest, cheapest, and most convenient option that millions of people do every year.

Almost all car rental companies like Hertz, Budget, Avis, Enterprise, and Alamo are located at Honolulu's international airport and other domestic airports on every island. Once you leave the airport, there are even more car rental companies to choose from, making your list of options very long.

If you fly to the other islands from Oahu, you'll be able to find a great rental car company easily. Just keep in mind, you'll have to rent a car on each island separately because there are no ferries between them.

You cannot take your car between different islands in Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands are relatively close to each other. However, there are very few ferry services because of the rough seas surrounding them and the cheap and easy flight options.

There are only two ferries operational in Hawaii. They run between the islands of Maui and Lanai and Maui to Molokai. These ferries are passenger-only and can't take vehicles.

The main way people travel between the islands is by air. Most planes are small, seating around 10 people.

Traveling by air is popular, safe, easy, and affordable. There are three local air companies that compete with Hawaiian Airlines for your business, helping to keep prices down.

Once you arrive, you can choose between dozens of rental car companies and plenty of cars. For example, if you search on Hertz's website, you can easily find cars like Chevy Camaro SS, a Porsche Macan, Dodge Challenger R/T and a Range Rover Sport. Jeep Wranglers, full size SUVs and everything in between are also available.

A 2-week rental of one of the amazing cars in Hertz's Adrenaline Collection, including the Ford Mustang GT and other fast and luxurious vehicles costs less than $1,200 if you pay at the location - even less if you book it online.

This is less than the cost of shipping your car one-way from the mainland to Hawaii.

Flying to Hawaii and renting a car there is easier than taking your own

As you can see, shipping your car from the United States' mainland is a hassle and, arguably, not worth your precious vacation time. When you're in Hawaii, you'll want to be stress-free and completely ready to take in the relaxation of island life.

Flying to Hawaii and renting a car there is by far the best way to do this. It's cheap, easy, and provides you with a lot of vehicle options so you can drive around the islands in luxury and have the vacation of a lifetime.