Maui is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth, without a doubt. While there are tons of different tours to explore the second-largest Hawaiian island, seeing it from the perspective of an ATV is one of our favorites.

From sprawling national parks and volcanos to world-famous beaches and hiking trails, you’ll get to see it up-close-and-personal in a way that regular motor vehicles can’t offer.

There are many ATV tours around, though, so we’ve gone ahead and answered the question: what is the best Maui ATV tour that is well worth your time and money. Let’s get started!

Best ATV Tours in Maui

	Lahaina ATV Adventure	ATV Adventure in West Maui Mountains
Departure:	Napilihau St, Lahaina	2644 Kahekili Hwy, Wailuku
Start:	9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM	8:15 AM, 12:15 PM
Duration:	2 hours	1.5 hours
Includes:	All safety equipment including helmets and goggles	Beverages including water, soda and juice are provided, helmets and goggles
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Maui ATV Tour Reviews

1. Lahaina ATV Adventure

First up, we bring you the Lahaina ATV Adventure – Maui Tour. While it may be just 2 hours long, they sure pack in a lot of fun and adventure into it! This private excursion is perfect for couples, friend groups, or entire families due to its inclusive nature that is great for all ages and backgrounds.

Start off by meeting up with your expert guide who will offer everyone a safety briefing and get all participants outfitted in proper safety gear.

The 4-seater UTV vehicles are perfect for larger groups or if you just don’t feel like being the one who’s driving. You’re sure to make some seriously exciting memories zooming around either the beachside East Side trail or the West Side Adventure!

The West Side includes a fascinating cruise through the beautiful Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve, where you’ll see places not accessible by standard vehicles.

No matter which nature view trip you select, your guide will tell you all about its history and modern-day situation, which makes it all that more interesting.

Also, be prepared to get muddy and messy no matter the trip you decide on! Helmets and goggles are provided so your face will stay clean, but your clothes should be easily washable and easy to move around in.

Trust us when we say from the top-notch guest service to the postcard-perfect views, you’re going to want to do this one again and again.

All the guides are friendly locals who are well-versed in the area and are excited to share their knowledge with you. Feel free to ask them any questions you may have!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. ATV Adventure in West Maui Mountains

Do you have a busy schedule but want to fit in some time for a fun tour around Maui’s rugged terrain? Then the ATV Adventure in West Maui Mountains is just the ticket! Lasting just 1.5 hours and coming with various start time options, it’s never been easier to fit it in to a packed day.

While it may be somewhat brief, you’ll have an absolute blast zooming around the mountains on your ATV! If you’ve never driven one before, there’s no need to be nervous as your guide will be patient and show you how to safely operate one.

Along with a safety briefing, they’ll also make sure your safety equipment is put on properly and give time for some practice runs before you set off on your excursion.

We loved that they provided us with complimentary waters, sodas, and juices to ensure everyone was well-hydrated and feeling good.

Head up to the top of the valley where you’ll be able to see gorgeous waterfalls splashing in the distance, or ride down the mountainside to the picturesque Hawaiian coastline.

As you zoom around, your guide will offer an educational and entertaining commentary about the areas as you pass them.

You’ll get to see so many places that most tourists don’t get to see, as they’re not accessible by standard vehicle. You get to see plenty of cool hidden gems only accessible off the beaten path, through the tropical forest, led by your local tour guide.

There are plenty of opportunities to go fast if that’s your thing, as well as time for photo ops!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

A Real Guide to Maui ATV Tours and What They Actually Are

Two hours into the ride above Kapalua Airport, you stop on a ridge at about 2,000 feet and look down at the Pacific, with Lanai and Molokai sitting in the channel to the west. The trail is red dirt and mud, the Polaris RZR has a half-inch of pineapple-dust on the dash, and the only sound is the wind.

This is what a Maui ATV tour actually is. Not the crater, not the resort, not Hana.

It is private ranch and watershed land you cannot otherwise get into, and there are two operators currently doing it right.

What a Maui ATV Tour Is Not

Most first-time visitors hear “ATV” and assume Haleakala summit or the Road to Hana. Neither.

Haleakala National Park does not allow ATVs, full stop. The summit is a paved drive, the crater is a hike.

The Road to Hana is a paved highway. The operators running ATV tours sit on private land in the West Maui mountains or on cattle ranches in upcountry and Kaupo.

You are not riding through tropical waterfalls. You are riding on old pineapple plantation roads, ranch trails, and watershed access roads with ocean views.

If you wanted a waterfall ATV experience, that is the Big Island, not Maui. If you wanted a beach buggy on sand, that is illegal here.

Maui ATVs are about elevation, ocean views, and getting into terrain a rental car cannot reach.

When to Go

ATV tours run year-round, rain or shine. The operators do not cancel for weather and they tell you that up front.

Summer (May through September) is dry season. The trails are dusty, the views are clearest, and you finish the ride coated in fine red dirt.

Bring sunglasses you do not mind ruining.

Winter (October through April) is wet season. The same trails become red mud, river crossings actually have water, and you finish soaked and filthy in a different way.

The afternoon tours often hit a rain band.

Mornings beat afternoons in both seasons. The trade winds pick up after lunch, the dust gets worse on the dry course, and the rain bands roll in earlier than the forecast says.

Book ahead. The two main operators are small and they sell out a week or two in advance during peak season, which is mid-December through April and mid-June through August.

The Operators Worth Booking

Two are currently running with real reviews and real safety records. There were three before the August 2023 Lahaina fires.

Maui Off Road Adventures (West Maui)

Maui Off Road Adventures is at 4900 Honoapiilani Highway in Lahaina, across from the Napili Shopping Center. The course sits above Kapalua Airport on 1,400 acres of old pineapple plantation now being restored to native Hawaiian forest as part of the Puu Kukui Watershed Preserve.

You ride Polaris RZRs and Honda Talon 1000X-4s, both four-seater UTVs. Tours run 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. daily and last two hours.

Pricing is per vehicle, not per person, which makes it expensive for a solo rider and reasonable for a group of three or four. Expect roughly $375 for a solo driver, $216 for the primary driver with passengers paying $174 to $189 each, and a flat $495 per vehicle on some booking sites.

Minimum driver age is 18 with a valid license. Passengers start at age 7.

The tour plants a koa tree along the way as part of the watershed restoration.

This is the higher-elevation, ocean-view option, and the views of Molokai and Lanai are the reason people book it. They also run a second course at Kaupo Ranch on the Hana side at the southeast end of the island, 8,000 acres, drier, more cattle, more cliffs, fewer trees.

Maui Mountain Activities (Central Maui)

Maui Mountain Activities is at 3040 Kahekili Highway in Wailuku, about ten minutes north of Wailuku town. The 500-acre ranch runs from the West Maui foothills down to the oceanfront.

The trail actually reaches the coast, which Maui Off Road Adventures does not. You get a mix of forest, ranch land, and a beachfront stretch.

Tours are 90 minutes. They run both single-rider ATVs and side-by-side UTVs, which matters because a single ATV is a different ride than driving a UTV with passengers.

Schedule is 8:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., and 12:15 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Pricing is per person. Around $220 for a single ATV driver, $240 for a side-by-side driver, and $150 for a passenger.

Minimum driver age is 16 with a valid license. Minimum passenger age is 5.

This is the option for solo riders, families with younger kids, and anyone who actually wants to drive their own ATV rather than ride in a four-seater.

Which One to Pick

For groups of three or four staying on the west side (Kaanapali, Kapalua, Lahaina), Maui Off Road Adventures is closer and the per-vehicle pricing works in your favor.

For solo riders, two-person groups, or anyone staying central or south (Kahului, Wailuku, Kihei, Wailea), Maui Mountain Activities is closer and the per-person pricing is better for small groups. It is also the only option for ages 5 and 6 and the only one that lets a 16-year-old drive.

If you have a real off-road background and want to drive your own machine on a stretch of single-track, Maui Mountain Activities. If you want elevation, watershed forest, and the long Pacific view from above Kapalua, Maui Off Road Adventures.

Kahoma Ranch Is Closed

Kahoma Ranch ATV in Lahaina was a popular third option for years and is still showing up in older blog posts and on some booking sites. It has been closed since the August 2023 Lahaina wildfires.

Do not book it. The land sits in the burn zone and the operation has not reopened.

If a booking platform offers you a “Kahoma Ranch” tour, it is either an old listing or a different name being used for one of the two operators above. Confirm by checking the operator’s own website before paying.

What to Wear and Bring

You will get dirty. Both operators say this in writing and they are not exaggerating.

• Closed-toe shoes that you do not care about, ideally sneakers or hiking shoes. Sandals are refused at check-in.
• Sunglasses or the goggles the operator provides. Without one, you are eating dust for two hours.
• A bandana or buff for your face, especially in dry season.
• A full change of clothes for after. The operators do not have showers.
• A reef-safe sunscreen, applied before the ride. You will not get a chance to reapply.
• A small camera or phone with a wrist strap or zipped pocket. Loose phones get bounced out of unzipped pockets, especially in the rougher sections.

Bring less than you think. There is no real storage on the UTV beyond a small dash bin.

What It Costs and How to Plan

A two-hour tour for two adults runs roughly $375 to $495 total at Maui Off Road Adventures, depending on the pricing structure on the day. The same two adults at Maui Mountain Activities runs about $370 if one drives and one rides passenger, or $440 if both drive single ATVs.

Hotel pickup is not standard. Both operators want you to drive yourself to the course, which is part of why you should rent a car on Maui regardless of whether you book any tours.

If you are coming from Kaanapali or Kapalua, the West Maui course is 10 to 15 minutes. From Kihei or Wailea, the Central Maui course is 30 to 40 minutes.

The two operators are 45 minutes apart, so pick one based on where you are staying.

The Hawaii state excise tax of about 4.7 percent is added at booking and is not in the advertised price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Maui ATV tour worth it if I can ride an ATV at home?

For experienced riders, the tour itself is mid-level technical and not the draw. The draw is the land.

You are riding on a private 1,400-acre watershed preserve or a 500-acre oceanfront ranch you cannot otherwise get into. If you have ridden serious trails in the lower 48 and you are coming to Maui for the views and the access, yes.

If you are looking for technical singletrack to push your skills, look elsewhere.

Can a beginner who has never been on an ATV do this?

Yes, and most riders are first-timers. Both operators run a proficiency course at the start where the guide checks that you can actually drive before letting you onto the trail.

The side-by-side UTVs at Maui Off Road Adventures are the easiest entry, since they drive like a car with a steering wheel and pedals. Single-rider ATVs at Maui Mountain Activities take a few minutes more to get comfortable with.

Will I see Haleakala or do this on the volcano?

No. Maui ATV tours do not go up Haleakala.

The summit is a national park with paved access only and no off-road vehicles allowed. You will see Haleakala from a distance on the Central Maui tour.

If you want to be on the volcano, you drive your rental car up the summit road or hike into the crater.

How young can kids ride?

Five years old at Maui Mountain Activities, seven years old at Maui Off Road Adventures, and only as passengers. Drivers must be 16 or 18 respectively with a valid license.

For a family with kids under 7, Maui Mountain Activities is the only option on the island.

What happens if it rains?

The tour runs. Both operators ride rain or shine and tell you that at booking.

Rain makes the dry-season dust go away, which is a good thing, and turns parts of the trail into mud, which is the price you pay. If you would rather not get wet, you are on the wrong tour.

Should I book through the operator or a third-party booking site?

The operator. Both Maui Off Road Adventures and Maui Mountain Activities take direct bookings on their own websites, and you avoid the $20 to $40 per-booking aggregator fee.

The aggregators are not scams, just markup. If your hotel concierge offers to book it for you, they are usually using one of those aggregators and adding their own cut on top.