Hilo travel guide

Hilo Tourism | Hilo Guide

You're Going to Love Hilo

With a population of 43 263, Hilo is a must-see destination in Hawaii, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Hilo has to offer.

Where to Eat in Hilo

If you’re looking for affordable options, Hilo Bay Cafe (123 Lihiwai Street) and Hula Hulas (93 Banyan Drive) are great picks.

When to visit Hilo

Hilo in October
Estimated package price
$515
2 travelers
Flight to Hilo
3 nights at hotel
Hilo in October
Estimated package price
$515
2 travelers
Flight to Hilo
3 nights at hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Hilo in July, when the average temperature is 77 °F, and the highest can go up to 82.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 64.4 °F, with an average temperature of 71.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in November, when precipitation is around 15.5″. In contrast, June is usually the driest month of the year in Hilo, with an average rainfall of 7.4″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Hilo

Plane

When flying to Hilo, you’ll arrive at Hilo Intl (ITO), which is located 5 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Hilo include American Airlines, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Hilo departs from Honolulu and takes around 54m.

Car

Another option to get to Hilo is to pick up a car rental from Kahului, which is about 194 km from Hilo. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Ace, among others, in Kahului.

Plane

When flying to Hilo, you’ll arrive at Hilo Intl (ITO), which is located 5 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Hilo include American Airlines, Delta and Hawaiian Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Hilo departs from Honolulu and takes around 54m.

Car

Another option to get to Hilo is to pick up a car rental from Kahului, which is about 194 km from Hilo. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Ace, among others, in Kahului.

Airlines serving Hilo

Lufthansa
Good (4,672 reviews)
KLM
Good (856 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,512 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,612 reviews)
Air France
Good (982 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,942 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,476 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,817 reviews)
Finnair
Good (878 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,613 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (716 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,608 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (184 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (773 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (967 reviews)
Avianca
Good (1,329 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (54 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (815 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (776 reviews)
China Airlines
Excellent (606 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Hilo

Average rates range from around $241 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $319 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Hilo

Most booked hotels in Hilo

Hawaiian Ohana Home
3 stars
Excellent (9.3, 307 reviews)
$88+
Keaau Place
0 stars
Excellent (9.1, 83 reviews)
$124+
The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 290 reviews)
$133+
Ala Kai Bed & Breakfast
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, 49 reviews)
$300+
SCP Hilo Hotel
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1660 reviews)
$192+
Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.9, 1670 reviews)
$193+

Renting a car in Hilo

Renting a car in Hilo costs $61 per day, on average, or $183 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Payless and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Hilo is the Dollar branch at 1 General Lyman Field, which is 1 km from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 2% cheaper than airport locations in Hilo.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Hilo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Hilo is Compact (Nissan Rogue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Hilo costs $61 per day, on average, or $183 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Payless and Hertz are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Hilo is the Dollar branch at 1 General Lyman Field, which is 1 km from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 2% cheaper than airport locations in Hilo.

Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Hilo (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Hilo is Compact (Nissan Rogue or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 45% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.