The Big Island measures around 95 miles wide with over 480 miles of road, the Hawaii Belt Road is the highway that circles the island. You will find that having a car is practically a necessity if you want to cover all the areas spread out along the coast. Rental cars are available at both Kona and Hilo International airports, around the island, at both cruise ports, and at some resorts. Also traveling from the Kona coast to Hilo on the east side of the island is much easier with your own vehicle, the bus and other transportation can take a long time.

Bus service on the island is provided by Hele-On Bus, the offer islandwide service for around $2 per adult, $1 for students, seniors and people with disabilities and children 5 and under travel for free. Their route tends to be limited for tourists as the bus is generally used for commuters. The bus does make two stops a day at the Kona airport and offers the Intra-Kona line that runs between Kailua-Kona and the Keauhou Shopping Center. Bus times are infrequent and travel times are long making the bus difficult to use if trying to plan out your day.

The Keauhou Resort Honu Express Trolley is available in the Kailua-Kona and Keauhou Resort area, it is an open air 44 seater trolley that runs daily from 9:00 am – 9:15 pm along Ali`i Drive making 6 stops a day at 31 locations. The cost is $2 (free for those with vouchers from certain hotels, the Sheraton included) and you can ask for a voucher at the shops in Keauhou and Kona Commons when spending $25 or more.

Walking around the resort areas and small towns on the Big Island is one of the best ways to see everything the area has to offer. Ali`i Drive is a long stretch of road that runs along the coastline from the pier south with shops, restaurants, and attractions that are great to reach on foot. The beach areas are perfect for a stroll in the sand. Hilo is a quaint town perfect for roaming on two feet to see the attractions in the area. And the opportunities for walking around the national parks, trails, rainforest and volcano areas are endless!

Taxis are available on the island but can be expensive. You cannot flag down a taxi on the street, the best way to order a taxi is to have your hotel call ahead and reserve one when you need it. In Hilo there are only a few taxi companies available, a flexible shared taxi program is offered for around $2 per ride.

are offered on the Big Island, install the apps on your smartphone and register with a credit card, select your pick up and drop off locations and order your ride.

There are some areas that are great for riding a bicycle around, such as Ali`i drive along the waterfront, some of the beach areas and towns like Kailua-Kona, but due to elevation changes and narrow roads getting around long distances on a bike is not recommended. If you are staying around town a bike or moped is a great option for sightseeing. Moped rentals are available around the island for around $20 an hour, $45 for a half day or $60 for the full day.