Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

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, WSW The Steakhouse | Breakfast, Sunday Brunch & Dinner (71 Banyan Dr) and Miyo's Restaurant and Izakaya Bar (564 Hinano St) are great picks.

When to visit Hilo

Hilo in June
Estimated package price
$148
2 travelers
Flight to Hilo
3 nights at hotel
Hilo in June
Estimated package price
$148
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 Alaska Airlines, Japan Airlines and Southwest. The shortest domestic flight to Hilo departs from Honolulu and takes around 53m.

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 Ace and Dollar, 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 Alaska Airlines, Japan Airlines and Southwest. The shortest domestic flight to Hilo departs from Honolulu and takes around 53m.

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 Ace and Dollar, among others, in Kahului.

Airlines serving Hilo

KLM
Good (1,499 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,926 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,888 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,407 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,571 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,592 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,728 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,930 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,387 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,237 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (1,187 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (202 reviews)
Avianca
Good (2,508 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,782 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,549 reviews)
Copa Airlines
Good (1,575 reviews)
Philippine Airlines
Good (986 reviews)
Royal Air Maroc
Good (589 reviews)
Qantas Airways
Good (1,019 reviews)
Virgin Atlantic
Good (687 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Hilo

Average rates range from around $235 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $563 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Aarons Cottage and Wild Ginger Hotel.

Where to stay in popular areas of Hilo

Most booked hotels in Hilo

Hale paradise
0 stars
Excellent (9.6, 95 reviews)
$124+
Hoomaikai Blessings
2 stars
Excellent (9.5, 118 reviews)
$109+
Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast
3 stars
Excellent (9.3, 376 reviews)
$294+
Ocean Breeze Inn
2 stars
Excellent (9.2, 247 reviews)
$138+
Keaau Place
0 stars
Excellent (8.9, 255 reviews)
$125+
Howzit Hostels Hawaii
1 star
Excellent (8.6, 474 reviews)
$93+

Renting a car in Hilo

Renting a car in Hilo costs $67 per day, on average, or $200 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Thrifty, Alamo and Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 13% cheaper than airport locations in Hilo.

Expect to pay $4.47 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 $53.60 and $71.47. The most frequently booked car type in Hilo is Standard (Chevrolet Blazer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Chevrolet Malibu or similar) are, on average, 54% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Hilo costs $67 per day, on average, or $200 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Thrifty, Alamo and Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 13% cheaper than airport locations in Hilo.

Expect to pay $4.47 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 $53.60 and $71.47. The most frequently booked car type in Hilo is Standard (Chevrolet Blazer or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Full-size rental cars (Chevrolet Malibu or similar) are, on average, 54% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.