Backpacker tents pitched on a Kauai beach campground at golden hour, palms silhouetted against the sunset
Back home
Camping on Kauai

Sleep under the stars.

Three permit systems, eight campgrounds, two gear rental shops, and one famously hard-to-book trail. Here's the whole playbook.

Three permit systems

Kauai's campgrounds are split across three different agencies — each with its own website, pricing, and lottery. Mix these up and you'll show up to a locked gate.

State parks

Hawaii DLNR — Division of State Parks

Covers Kalalau, Kōkeʻe, Polihale. Permits open exactly 30 days in advance at midnight HST. Kalalau is brutal — sells out in minutes. Kōkeʻe is easy.

County parks

Kauai County Parks & Recreation

Covers ʻAnini, Anahola, Salt Pond. $25/night non-resident, $3/night HI resident, kids under 18 free. Each park has a weekly maintenance closure.

Day-use only

Hāʻena State Park — gohaena.com

Not camping! This is the day-use parking/entry for Keʻe Beach and the Kalalau trailhead. Camping in Kalalau requires the DLNR permit above — gohaena is a separate booking on top.

Before you book — three Kauai realities

  • Leptospirosis is in every freshwater stream. Filter or boil all water. Don't swim with open cuts.
  • Flash floods kill hikers every year. Check live advisories before any stream crossing.
  • Pack out everything. No exceptions. The rangers and locals notice. Bring an extra trash bag.

Every campground

Tap a marker to jump to its card.

State park
Nāpali / North Shore

Kalalau Beach (Nāpali Coast)

11-mile hike past Crawler's Ledge. Most coveted permit in Hawaii. Pack-out everything, filter all water.

$35/night non-resident · $15/night HI resident
Permits drop 30 days out, midnight HST. Sells out in minutes.
State park
West side / Kōkeʻe

Kōkeʻe State Park

Cool mountain air at 3,600 ft. Tent sites + cabins. Easiest state permit to land. Trail access to Pihea, Awaʻawapuhi, Alakaʻi.

$20/night non-resident · $12/night HI resident
State park
West side

Polihale State Park

Wild 17-mile stretch of beach against the Nāpali cliffs. Spectacular sunsets. No swimming — brutal shorebreak.

$20/night non-resident · $12/night HI resident
5 miles of unpaved road — 4WD recommended in wet weather.
County park
North Shore

ʻAnini Beach Park

Calm reef-protected lagoon — safest swimming on the north shore. Family-friendly. Popular: book early.

$25/night non-resident · $3/night HI resident · kids under 18 free
Closed Wed 10am – Thu 12pm for maintenance.
County park
East side

Anahola Beach Park

Quieter local-favorite beach. Reef offshore. Respect the community — this is a residential area.

$25/night non-resident · $3/night HI resident
Closed Thu 10am – Fri 12pm for maintenance.
County park
South / West side

Salt Pond Beach Park

Protected swimming cove great for kids. Active Hawaiian salt-making nearby — never touch the salt beds.

$25/night non-resident · $3/night HI resident

Gear rental on island

Flying with a tent and sleeping bag is a hassle. Two local outfitters rent everything you need — both deliver Kalalau-ready setups.

Pitch A Tent Kauai

The go-to for Nāpali / Kalalau. Backpacking sets (tent, pack, bag, pad, stove, poles), 24/7 vending machine with fuel/meals/Sawyer filters, Garmin inReach Mini rentals, trailhead transport.

Backpacking
Kalalau sets
InReach
Shuttle

Kayak Kauai (Kapaʻa)

Broader rental shop — car camping + backpacking gear, kayaks, paddleboards. Weekday pickup only (after-hours by arrangement). Good if you also want water gear.

Car camping
Backpacking
Kayaks
Weekday only

Kauai-specific gear notes

Bring (no matter where)

  • Rainfly that actually works — north shore gets soaked any time of year
  • Sturdy trash bags (pack out 100%)
  • Headlamp + spare batteries
  • Reef-safe sunscreen (chemical sunscreens are illegal in HI)
  • Bug spray — mosquitoes thrive after rain
  • Cash for permit checks and last-minute supplies

Skip / leave at home

  • Open-flame stoves at most county parks (check permit rules)
  • Drones in state parks (require separate permit)
  • Glass containers on beaches
  • Anything you can't carry out — there are no dumpsters at Nāpali

Going to Kalalau?

Kalalau gets its own page — trail-by-mile breakdown, the gohaena.com playbook, live news, video previews, and the Kalalau-specific gear list. Read it before you book.