Is it worth going to Maui for just a few days? Absolutely! Find out the coolest family itinerary for spending 3 days in Maui with kids. Keep scrolling down for all the info!
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Guest post by Amanda Patsey
Visiting Hawaii has been on my bucket list since I was a kid, so I was so excited to visit with the family for our first time in the state! I carefully crafted an itinerary for spending 3 days in Maui, and it was a lot of work, but I made it!
After some research and debating back and forth, we settled on spending our week-long vacation splitting our time between Maui and Kauai.
We received countless tips and advice from fellow travel friends, and everyone seemed to agree that Maui was a great island to visit for our family’s first trip to Hawaii.
A family trip to Maui is truly a fantastic option for first-time visitors because there’s so much to do for all ages.
Below, I share the perfect itinerary for 3 days in Maui with kids. It shows you how to visit Maui in 3 days and have a blast with your family! This Maui travel itinerary includes beaches, scenic drives, fun excursions, and places to eat that kids and parents will both love.
Staying longer? Check out my 5 days in Maui itinerary!
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Maui Itinerary, complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Where to Stay on Maui with Kids
Maui has gorgeous areas all around the island, and I am positive you can absolutely not go wrong no matter where you choose to stay.
We, however, chose to stay in Kaanapali in West Maui for a few different reasons.
One reason was that we wanted to stay in a Hyatt property, and the Hyatt Regency in Maui is definitely known as one of the best resorts in Maui.
It was located directly on the beach in Kaanapali and had great features for the kids and parents.
The hotel is feet from the beach and has a great pool right on the beach.
The Hyatt Regency in Maui also has a luau on-site, which is perfect for families with toddlers. It’s a great bonus when traveling to Maui with a toddler, especially since it means less driving and more family time!
Kaanapali is home to many other resorts and has a great area with restaurants and shopping.
But I will have to say the highlight of Kaanapali is, hands down, the beach. This was the ultimate family-friendly beach in Maui, with gentle waves and warm water.
It was also not crowded in the least on this West Coast beach, which we always appreciate!
Renting a Car in Maui
Personally, we think it is 100% necessary for a family visiting Maui to rent a car unless, of course, you plan on never leaving the resort.
When the company Sixt is an option, we almost always choose them for our car rentals. Lucky for us, Maui has a Sixt car rental location right near the airport!
We arrived late at night but got a quick shuttle ride to Sixt, where we rented a VW Atlas for a great price for our short time on Maui.
We definitely wanted an SUV or van for this trip since we knew we would spend at least one full day in the car to drive the Road to Hana.
Renting a car also gave us the flexibility to explore both South Maui and East Maui without relying on group tours or public transportation.
Itinerary for 3 Days in Maui for Families
Many people will wonder, “Is 3 days in Maui enough?” For our family, it was on this Hawaiian island! Whether you plan to visit Maui with a toddler or older kids, 3-day Hawaii trips are great.
If you are wondering what to do in Maui for 3 days, this Maui itinerary 3 days is perfect for you!
Day 1
On our first morning in Maui, we woke up bright and early (thanks to that time zone change) and were ready to get out and explore.
We are big fans of saving some money when traveling, and we rarely eat breakfast out when we are on a trip.
So, in order to save a bit, we ventured out to find a grocery store to stock up on breakfast foods and snacks for our 3 days in Maui.
A Safeway was located less than 10 minutes south of our hotel, which was perfect for us to load up on snacks and drinks for the family. We picked fresh tropical fruit, local pastries, and other items we consider part of our Maui essentials for a smooth trip with kids.
We planned to keep our first day relatively low-key, which is never easy for our family.
After grabbing breakfast, we decided to get out and see the island in daylight since we had arrived after dark the night before.
Nakalele Blowhole
Located about 45 minutes to an hour north of the Hyatt Regency in Maui is the Nakalele Blowhole.
We figured this was a great way to get out and explore while still staying close to the hotel so we could continue having a chill day.
The road up to the blowhole was an adventure in itself, as it hugged the coastline the entire time.
We were so excited to see the amazing views from the road and also once we arrived at the blowhole parking area.
We weren’t sure what to expect from this natural wonder in Maui, so we simply entered the location into Google Maps and drove there.
There is a small parking lot, and when we arrived at around 9 a.m., there were only 2 other cars.
While there wasn’t an official trail leading down to the blowhole, you can choose to see the blowhole from as close as you’d like.
However, there are warning signs everywhere to avoid getting too close to it, as it can be dangerous if you aren’t careful.
After climbing around the rocks at the Nakalele Blowhole and taking in the amazing views, we decided to head back to Kaanapali.
Kaanapali Beach
We then spent a few hours at Kaanapali Beach. There are places where you can rent gear for kids to use on this Maui beach, including snorkeling gear and SUP boards!
We mostly just brought towels and got right in that ocean! The beaches in Kaanapali are simply perfect for a family visiting Maui with kids.
It is one of the best Maui toddler activities and one of the most incredible beaches on Maui. We loved how it was within walking distance from our hotel, which made it easy for midday breaks.
Eat at Leilani’s
Once we were beached out or just really hungry, we walked to Whaler’s Village, which is only about a 15-minute beachside walk from the Hyatt Regency in Maui.
We chose to eat at Leilani’s because they offered outdoor seating with wonderful views.
The food and drinks were great, and it was here that we had our first mai tais ever!
Leilani’s also offers a great children’s menu, which is always key when traveling with picky eaters!
Hotel Pools
The afternoon was spent at the hotel pools at the Hyatt Regency.
I will be honest: We rarely hang out at hotel pools, but this one could not be skipped.
So we were sure to spend an entire afternoon swimming and lounging poolside.
On this trip, I realized how important and valuable it is to work in some relaxing pool days, even on the first day of your Maui vacation.
Eat at Merriman’s
For dinner on our first day in Maui with the kids, we weren’t terribly hungry after having a late lunch, and we decided to eat at Merriman’s.
We chose this restaurant for its happy hour and amazing views. You can also sit outside, right on the water!
Remember how I told you at lunch that I had my first Mai Tai ever? At Merriman’s, I had my second, and it was also the best Mai Tai I had our entire time in Hawaii.
This restaurant was perfect for visiting with kids in Maui because it was casual for happy hour and sitting outside, and it had some amazing food that was kid-friendly as well!
Day 2
On the second day in Maui, we felt rested and refreshed after our relaxing first day, and this was the plan since we had a big day ahead of us.
Again, up early due to that time change and a good night’s rest, but this time, it was crucial to be up early because we were off on an epic road trip.
Remember those snacks we bought the first day? Well, we made sure they were easy things to eat in the car with minimal mess and fuss. Think bananas, yogurt tubes, cereal, and muffins!
There are also options to grab something at the Hyatt Regency.
Road to Hana
This was the day we finally checked off a massive bucket list item – we were driving the Road to Hana in East Maui!
This was one of the things I did extensive research on before going.
As I mentioned earlier, we rented a comfortable SUV for our trip to make the drive to Hana as pleasant as possible.
Our VW Atlas car rental from Sixt was perfect for the drive and gave us all plenty of room to get comfy since we were planning to be in the car all day.
The Road to Hana is by far an all-day event, and if you choose to stay in Hana and then drive back the following day, you could possibly extend it into a second day.
However, we chose to drive to Hana on the East Coast and back all in one day, and it was totally realistic and worth it.
If you don’t feel like driving it yourself, some companies will also drive you in a tour group. This wasn’t exactly for us, and we wanted to do it on our own terms and have the flexibility.
In addition to researching my best stops ahead of time, I also used The Shaka Guide app, which I highly recommend even if you know exactly where you plan to stop.
I will give you an overview of this amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience in Maui below, but for a more detailed itinerary, check out my post: The Road to Hana with Kids.
The Road to Hana starts in Paia, about 45 minutes from Kaanapali, Maui.
It is here that the Shaka Guide app will start providing guidance and where the mile markers for the Road to Hana begin.
The different sights to see are referenced based on their mile marker.
There are no signs for most of the highlights along this route, so you have to know where to stop in advance. The Shaka Guide is perfect for helping with this.
We left Kaanapali at 7:00 AM and weren’t back for a good 12 hours.
It is important to get on the road early to maximize your time on the journey and avoid being too late and missing out on parking spots at crucial stops!
If you are planning a family trip to Maui for three days, make sure to save one day for the Road to Hana. This long day trip is so much fun for your Hawaii vacation!
Overall, we made 12 stops on the Road to Hana, and here are some of our favorites:
- Twin Falls
- Ka Huka Smoke Shack
- Ke’anae Penisula
- Wailua Iki Falls
- Lava Tube Caves
- Nahiku Marketplace
- Wai’anapanapa State Park
By 6 p.m., we were back in Paia, which has many different dinner options. Paia Fish Market is an excellent dinner choice before returning to Kaanapali!
Day 3
For our last full day on Maui, we decided to do something new and out of our comfort zone.
After some research and suggestions from friends, we booked our first snorkeling experience with a company in Maui called Four Winds II.
Snorkeling Tour
This boating company had incredible reviews for snorkeling at Molokini Crater. They were also known to be family-friendly, which was important to us.
We weren’t sure if we could take a 4 and 7-year-old snorkeling, but we were wrong, as Four Winds Maui was prepared for kids and beginner-level snorkelers, making it one of the best things to do with kids on Maui!
We had to be at the dock by 7:00 a.m., and the boat was scheduled to disembark at 7:30 a.m.
It was only about a 30-minute driving time from Kaanapali, and honestly, these early mornings weren’t that hard, as we were still adjusting to the time zone change.
We still had plenty of breakfast snacks and brought those, but Four Winds Maui offered a light breakfast on the boat.
Once the boat set off for Molokini Crater, the crew came around, handing out snorkeling gear and explaining the process of snorkeling.
When I tell you Four Winds II is perfect for beginners, I mean it because we honestly had no idea what we were doing or what to expect.
But the crew made it all seem totally doable, and once we were at the crater, we were all excited to get in the water and explore!
We spent the entire allowed time in the water snorkeling at Molokini Crater until they told us to come back to board the boat and head back to Maui.
We saw some incredible views of the ocean floor and even some sea turtles!
Lunch was also served on Four Winds and consisted of a few options that were all buffet style and kid-friendly!
The ride to and from Molokini was just as exciting as snorkeling itself because we saw tons of humpback whales, and the views were simply stunning! Whale watching is best during the winter months in Hawaii.
Following the snorkeling excursion, you can check out some more Maui beaches in the area, which is perfect, especially since you are already in bathing suits.
Check out our Complete Guide to Whale Watching in Maui to learn how to fit it into your itinerary!
Enjoy the Best Beaches in Maui
South of where the Four Winds II docks are, you can find a ton of fantastic sandy beaches in Maui. You can go beach hopping or just stay at one to enjoy.
Some of the best places and beautiful beaches in Maui for families include:
- Maalaea Beach
- Mai Poina Beach Park
- Kalepolepo Beach Park
- Waipuilani Park
- Kamaole Beach Park
- Maluaka Beach
- Wailea Beach
- Kaihalulu Beach (a gorgeous red sand beach)
Many of these beach areas offer snorkeling gear you can rent to continue using your new snorkeling skills.
Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice
You will also find countless restaurants in the area, as well as the best place for shave ice in Maui: Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice.
This specific shave ice place was our favorite in Maui, and they have multiple locations, including one at the Hyatt Regency! A Maui family itinerary is not complete without some shave ice!
We had spent most of the day in the water snorkeling and hanging at the beach, so we eventually drove back to the hotel to shower and clean up for dinner.
Mama’s Fish House
If you are visiting Maui, there is one place you must make sure you visit for a meal. Mama’s Fish House is one of the best places I’ve ever been to and was definitely my favorite for a memorable meal in Maui.
Whether you go for lunch or dinner, you will not be disappointed.
The location is not the most convenient when staying in Kaanapali because it is actually near the Kahului Airport in Central Maui, but I am telling you it is worth the drive.
If you have extra time before or after your flight, it’s a great spot to enjoy your final moments on the beautiful island of Maui.
Other Maui Activities for Kids
Our family spent only three full days on Maui, and I think we totally made the best of our short time there.
If you can extend your time there even longer, you will be able to do even more amazing things that the island offers.
Since it was our first visit on Maui with kids and we only had 3 days in Hawaii on the Maui island, we didn’t get to do all that this Hawaiian island offers.
But if you are fortunate enough to spend longer in Maui than just a three-day Hawaii trip or want to see some other ways to spend 3 days in Maui, here are some other fun things to do on the island. I know we will do many of these Maui activities for families when we visit again.
- Maui Ocean Center
- Helicopter Tours
- Attend a Luau for dinner
- Haleakala National Park
- Spend more time exploring Hana Town
- Hiking all over Maui
You might even explore Upcountry Maui, which offers a cooler climate, farm tours, and scenic lookouts—a great way to experience a different side of the Valley Isle.
Depending on your kids’ ages, you might need a different itinerary. A Maui itinerary for a toddler will look completely different than a travel itinerary for older kids.
Check out some of the best things to do in Maui with toddlers.
3 Days in Maui Itinerary for Kids FAQs
While Maui has long had the reputation as being a good honeymoon destination, it’s become increasingly kid-friendly over the years. There are plenty of things to do in Maui for kids! A family trip to Maui offers a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and quality time together.
There are so many things to do on Maui! Some of the top kid-friendly activities include zip lining, hiking, snorkeling, visiting the Maui Ocean Center, eating shave ice, exploring the Road to Hana, and learning how to surf. Families also love the many hiking trails and exploring the island’s lush gardens filled with tropical plants.
There are many great areas on Maui for families. If you are planning on exploring Maui, staying in Kihei is an affordable, centrally located option. Wailea is another option if you’re able to spend a bit more. Some families prefer vacation rentals for the extra space and kitchen access, especially if traveling with young kids.
I think it is worth it to spend 3 days in Maui! Three-day trips to Hawaii are very common, and you can do all the fun things to do in Maui for families in just three days, making your trip incredibly worthwhile and super memorable! Of course, if you want to explore more, you might want to consider spending more days in Maui.
3 Days in Maui Itinerary Summary
Now you have more of an idea of what to see in Maui in 3 days.
First, you’ll want to take a day to rest and relax, either at the best beach in Maui for families or at the pools at the Maui hotels you decide to stay at.
On another day of your 3 days trip in Maui, you might enjoy driving the Hana Highway to see the stunning Road to Hana stops.
From Ohe’o Gulch (often called the Seven Sacred Pools) within Haleakala National Park, along with bamboo forests, rainbow eucalyptus trees, tropical gardens, Waianapanapa State Park, and more, you will love exploring the Hana Coast. It is one of the best Maui excursions for families.
During your three days in Maui, try to do one tour for an adventure. That could be a whale watching tour, a snorkeling tour, or seeing the Haleakala National Park. Finish your trip with a luau to enjoy the Hawaiian culture.
Of course, if you plan to do Maui in three days, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch while on the Road to Hana and some nice restaurants in Maui, too.
All in all, this is the Hawaii itinerary with kids we did and loved. We hope you love it, too! Whether it’s your first visit or your next trip, this guide covers the highlights that make the island of Maui such a special place for families.
Looking for more Maui Travel Resources? Find out the best toddler activities in Maui, best kid-friendly Maui Resorts, top things to do in Maui with kids, Things to Do in Kahului, and best Maui luaus.
Bio:
Amanda Patsey is a family travel blogger who lives in the Northeast United States. Her blog aims to inspire other families and help them plan outdoor adventures with kids in tow.
She and her family often hit the road, exploring the United States. Amanda and her family mostly enjoy hiking, visiting national parks, finding all the best restaurants and breweries, and discovering all the fun things to do near their home.
Follow them on Instagram and Facebook to see what they are up to now.
P.S. Join our Hawaii Travel with Kids Facebook group to get connected with other families planning a trip to Hawaii!
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