Is Lanai Worth a Day Trip (without a doubt)

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One of the great things about visiting Maui is its proximity to Lanai. After a 75-minute ferry ride, you can land on a different island. Is Lanai worth a day trip, even though it is so easy to reach?

If you are staying on Maui, Lanai is worth a day trip (or more) if you have planned a long enough vacation to Maui. If you’re trying to squeeze in all Maui offers in five days, a day trip to Lanai won’t be worth it because there is plenty to see on Maui. But if you have a week or more on Maui, a day trip to Lanai is absolutely worth the journey. 

Want to know more about taking a perfect day trip? We’ve got you covered. 

The biggest drawback to visiting Lanai is the cost of the ferry ride. The Maui-Lanai Ferry is $66 per adult, one-way, plus taxes and fees. There are discounts for children, military, and kama’aina.

But once you get to Lanai, you can walk to Hulopoe Beach and take well-priced local shuttles around the island.

Is Lanai Worth Visiting?

Lanai is worth a day trip! It appeals to a number of people, from those seeking luxury to snorkelers to those who just want to visit the Lanai Cat Sanctuary.

There is something for everyone on the island. 

Jordan and I enjoy visiting Lanai because of its seclusion compared to Maui. While Maui is our favorite Hawaiian Island to visit, it is nice to get away to the quiet streets of Lanai City and to picnic at Hulopoe Beach.

The beach is our main reason! It is one of our favorite beaches in Hawaii.

The Maui-Lanai Ferry is the only ferry service in Hawaii. See our Hawaii Island-Hopping Guide for details on seeing multiple Hawaiian Islands during your trip.

Pro Tip for a Lanai Day Trip: Bring cash for restaurants and the shuttles on Lanai. Many places take credit cards, but cash is preferred by some local companies.

Where Exactly is Lanai?

Lanai, the smallest inhabited island in Hawaii, is located just nine miles from the west side of Maui. In fact, you can see it from most of the west and south side of the island. It’s one of three populated islands that make up the County of Maui: Lanai, Molokai, and Maui. 

Things to Do On Lanai

As a kid on a family trip, I thought Lanai was a little too quiet — that there was nothing to do on the island. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Read our full list of all the things to do on Lanai, including what requires a Jeep to visit, what is free, and details on the Lanai Cat Sanctuary.

Lanai is a hidden gem with something that will excite everyone:

• The Lanai Cat Sanctuary is the most visited site on Lanai for day trip visitors. The sanctuary is a 21-minute drive from Manele Small Boat Harbor. Click here for Google Map directions.
• Hulopoe Beach is the second most visited site on Lanai. It is a 10-minute walk from Manele Small Boat Harbor, where the ferry will drop you off.
• Snorkeling and diving: enjoy the beautiful underwater scenery at Hulopoʻe and Kaunolu Bays
• Garden of the Gods: Take in the unique scenery at Garden of the Gods, just a 45-minute drive from Lanai City.
• Shipwreck Beach: take a 4×4 to the secluded shipwreck beach (but swimming here is not advised!)
• Fine dining: treat yourself to excellent meals at either of the Four Seasons resorts.

Maui to Lanai Day Trip

If you’re on Maui, there are two preferred ways to get to Lanai for your day trip: on the ferry or as part of a snorkeling trip. 

You can fly from Maui and the other Hawaii Islands (details are below), but flights can be unreliable, and the times don’t always work out well for a day trip to Lanai.

• A Day Snorkel Trip to Lanai: Several different sailing companies offer full-day snorkel trips to Lanai. These trips are more expensive than a DIY trip on the ferry, but everything is planned and included. The upside of this option is that you get to sail the waters off Lanai and snorkel. The downside is that only the Sail Trilogy goes ashore on Hulopoe Beach for a time on Lanai.
• Ferry to Lanai: If you’d like more freedom and time to explore the island, hopping aboard a 75-minute ferry ride might be your best choice. The ferry leaves from Ma’alaea Harbor in Central Maui and makes multiple trips daily. Once off the ferry, you’ll have time to explore and do everything you want to do on Lanai. 

See our video below for more information on deciding if a day trip to Lanai is worth it!

If you don’t have time in your Maui itinerary to visit Lanai for the day, consider taking a snorkel trip to Lanai. Explore the coastline and find yourself in crystal-clear, warm water surrounded by marine life. Yeah, it is pretty good out there.

• All 6 Lanai Snorkel Tours: our reviews and discount codes

Our two recommended Lanai snorkel tour companies are Sail Maui and Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel.

Save 10% on your booking with the promo code below for Sail Maui!

Sail Maui’s Lanai Coast Snorkel – depart from Ma’alaea Harbor for a 5-hour snorkel and sailing tour of Lanai’s epic coastline. Dive into secluded snorkel spots, see spinner dolphins, and snack on fresh banana bread and a deli lunch. An open bar is included. 

Ultimate Whale Watch and Snorkel’s Dolphin Encounter and Snorkel  – depart from West Maui on a power raft for a comfortable and active adventure with spinner dolphins and snorkeling. They offer a 3-hour and 4-hour tour. The 4-hour tour includes two snorkel spots.

We did the 4-hour tour, their most popular, and loved the time out on the water.

These snorkel companies both made our list of the 8 best snorkeling tours on Maui. Find all of our Hawaiian Islands vetted and recommended tours and activities before you book with those other guys!

We also have exclusive Hawaii Vacation Guide Coupon Codes for Maui tours.

How Many Days Do You Need on Lanai?

How many days you need on Lanai entirely depends on the experience you want to have. You can squeeze a quick day trip to snorkel and enjoy the beach. 

Or, you can enjoy a more extended stay on this quiet island. If you’re interested in snorkeling, exploring the island in a 4×4, sailing, horseback riding, and hiking, plan to spend at least two to three days on the island to give yourself enough time.

Lanai is small and inaccessible, but with adventures, snorkeling, hikes, and relaxing, you can spend multiple days here.

My coworker on Oahu spent your honeymoon at the Four Seasons Lanai. She enjoyed the luxury vacation and the activities provided through the resort.

How Do You Get to Lanai?

If you’re on the mainland and want to get to Lanai, the journey will take a while. There are no direct flights from the mainland to Lanai. To get to Lanai, you have three options:

• Fly: You can catch a short flight to Lanai from Honolulu airport on Oahu or Kahului airport on Maui. Airlines that fly to Lanai include Lanai Air and Mokulele Airlines.
• Ferry: From Lahaina, you can catch an Expeditions Lanai Ferry, which makes the 75-minute journey multiple times per day. 
• Sail: If you’re looking to snorkel and see Lanai’s coast, hop on a sailing and snorkeling tour.

How Do You Get Around Lanai?

Lanai is small, and there is no public transportation. The best way to explore the island is with a rental car or a local shuttle/taxi. 

If you’re staying at one of the Four Seasons resorts, they’ll have cars available that will shuttle you to various destinations on the island. There are also island tours that will show you all of the main points of interest. 

In our free Lanai Wayfinder Itinerary, we share the three main shuttle companies that pick up from Manele Small Boat Harbor, Lanai City, and Lanai Cat Sanctuary. We update their telephone numbers and prices there!

 You won’t need a rental car for the entire trip — just on the days you want to get out and explore. Rent a 4×4 to make the most of driving around the island. 

Can You Stay on Lanai?

You’ll find excellent accommodations on Lanai, from luxury hotels to vacation rentals. There are three hotels on Lanai: 

• Hotel Lanai: a small boutique hotel with 11 rooms, and was renovated around 2019. Located in Lanai City, this is the least expensive hotel on the island, though it’s not a budget or rustic accommodation by any means. 
• Four Seasons Lanai: The only hotel located steps from the beach in Lanai, the Four Seasons offers luxury accommodations on Hulopoe Bay, a marine preserve. 
• Sensei Lanai: The Four Seasons offers the Sensei Lanai, a wellness-focused offering. A guided stay gives you spa access, a wellness counselor, and the opportunity to have a nutrition consultation.

If these aren’t the right options for your stay, you can choose from some vacation rentals on Airbnb or Vrbo. 

Final Thoughts On: Is Lanai Worth a Day Trip?

If you can’t tell, we support a day trip to Lanai. The island is 98% owned by billionaire Larry Ellison of Oracle. That makes it a private and exclusive place to visit.

For folks like us who like to take the ferry over, it feels like we have our piece of paradise in Hawaii. The locals of Lanai City are friendly and eager to share tips on things to do and places to visit on the island.

Lanai City is full of art galleries and charming restaurants. They are building a bowling alley, too!

If we convinced you that a day trip to Lanai is worth it, we highly recommend downloading our free Lanai Wayfinder Itinerary. It will give you all the details you need on visiting Lanai for the day. Mahalo!

Have a wonderful day trip to Lanai because you can make it worth it!