Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park drew 1,433,593 visitors in 2024 and 1,620,294 in 2023 — somewhere between 1.4 and 1.6 million people a year, and a large percentage of them show up at the Kīlauea Visitor Center as their first stop. That building is closed. It has been since February 2025, and it will not reopen until late 2026. If you are planning a Big Island trip this summer, that changes how your park visit works.

The visitor center closure is the most visible piece, but it is not the only change. A multi-year infrastructure project is repairing damage from the 2018 summit collapse. A March 2026 storm closed trails and roads that are still being cleared. And the volcano remains active — Episode 44 erupted on April 9, 2026, with 8.5 hours of lava fountaining in Halemaʻumaʻu crater before pausing again. The park is very much worth visiting this summer. You just need to know where things stand.

The Kīlauea Visitor Center closed on February 17, 2025 for a full renovation — the first major overhaul in the building’s history. The original structure was undersized for the park’s visitor volume and needed accessibility upgrades, expanded restrooms, and modernized exhibits.

The new visitor center will include a covered open-air hālau (pavilion) on the west end, fully ADA-accessible facilities, an expanded Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store, and bilingual exhibits in English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Office space is being converted to public use. The former Jaggar Museum exhibits, which were displaced by the 2018 summit collapse, are being relocated here.

As of early 2026, construction is progressing — roof underlayment on the hālau is complete and contractors are installing fascia and roof sheathing. The park has not announced a firm reopening date, but late 2026 is the target.

Kīlauea Erupts Again: Episode 44 Lava Fountaining Begins April 9

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Temporary visitor services have moved to the Welcome Center at Kīlauea Military Camp (KMC), located on Crater Rim Drive about 1.2 miles east of the closed visitor center. Rangers are stationed there daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. You can pick up trail maps, get Junior Ranger activity books, stamp your passport, and browse the HPPA bookstore. Check the NPS basic info page for current hours.

The Uekahuna observation deck — built on the site where the old Jaggar Museum stood before the 2018 collapse — is open and provides one of the best overlooks into Halemaʻumaʻu crater. If lava is visible, this is the primary viewing point.

The Volcano Art Center Gallery, located next to the closed visitor center, remains open and is worth a stop. It showcases local artists working in Hawaiian themes and sits in the original 1877 Volcano House building.

A strong kona low storm on March 14, 2026 dropped heavy rain across the park and forced temporary closures. Most areas reopened on March 18, but some trails and roads may still have restrictions depending on repair progress.

Separately, the two-year infrastructure project to repair and remove buildings damaged by the 2018 summit collapse is ongoing. Construction zones may restrict access to sections of Crater Rim Drive and surrounding trails.

Before you drive down, check the NPS conditions page for real-time trail and road status. Chain of Craters Road is open but dead-ends where lava crossed it — there is no through route to the coast road. Bring layers — the park sits at 4,000 feet elevation and temperatures are 10-15 degrees cooler than the Kona coast.

Kīlauea erupted again on April 9. Episode 44 ran for 8.5 hours — lava fountains from the north vent reached 800 feet at peak, and the NOAA Washington Volcanic Ash Advisory Center reported the plume up to 16,000 feet above sea level. Southerly winds pushed tephra north of the crater, with chunks up to 10 inches reported near Kīlauea Military Camp and the Volcano Golf Course. Fine ash and Pele’s Hair reached Hilo. The eruption is now paused.

What this means for visitors: the eruption cycle is alive and well — 44 episodes since December 2024. Active fountaining episodes are the best time to see Kīlauea in action, but expect closures near the crater. Most episodes have lasted a day or less, so if you are on-island when one begins, act fast. Between episodes, the Halemaʻumaʻu crater still glows at night — arrive after dark for the best view.

Volcanic emissions (vog) are a factor. Sulfur dioxide levels rise during active eruptions and can affect air quality downwind. People with respiratory conditions should check the AirNow vog forecast before visiting. The park posts real-time air quality at ranger stations and the KMC Welcome Center.

Entry fee: $30 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. The $55 Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Annual Pass covers Volcanoes, Haleakalā on Maui, and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau — worth it if you are visiting multiple islands or spending more than a week on the Big Island.

Getting there: The park is 45 minutes from Hilo and about two hours from Kailua-Kona via the Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road). There is no public transportation to the park. Book a rental through Discount Hawaii Car Rental for Big Island rates, and fill up your tank before leaving Hilo or Kona — there are no gas stations inside the park.

How long to spend: A half day covers Crater Rim Drive, the Uekahuna overlook, the Thurston Lava Tube, and a short walk. A full day adds Chain of Craters Road down to the coast, the Kīlauea Iki Trail (a 4-mile loop that crosses a solidified lava lake), and time at the Volcano Art Center. If lava is active, stay until dark — the glow is dramatically better after sunset.

What to bring: Rain gear and layers. The park gets 100+ inches of rain per year. Temperatures range from the mid-50s to mid-60s, which feels cold after a day on the Kona beaches. Good waterproof hiking shoes make the lava rock trails far more comfortable than sandals.

A cultural festival is planned for July 2026. If your dates are flexible, timing your visit to overlap with the festival adds a dimension that most park visits miss — Hawaiian cultural practitioners, native plant walks, and traditional storytelling in the place where Pele lives.