Are you planning a trip to Oahu and trying to figure out how to get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor? Find out the easiest ways to get to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki using shuttle services, car rentals, taxis, buses, and more. Scroll for all the Waikiki transportation options!
This post about how to get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor on Oahu was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
TL;DR: Drive if you have a car ($7 parking). No car? Book a tour with tickets included. Super budget? TheBus is $3. Skip taxis, use Uber ($30-35). Leave before 6am or after 8:30am. Arizona Memorial tickets sell out in minutes 8 weeks early on Recreation.gov.
Look, I’ve taken my boys to Pearl Harbor probably 15 times. Maybe more. I’ve tried basically every way to get there from Waikiki.
Some ways worked great. Some were complete disasters.
Let me save you from making the same mistakes we did.
Quick stat: Pearl Harbor gets over 1.8 million visitors annually, making it Hawaii’s most-visited tourist attraction.
Quick Answer
Pearl Harbor is about 10 miles from Waikiki. Drive time is 25-30 minutes without traffic, or over an hour if you hit it wrong.
What I actually recommend:
- Got a rental car? Just drive. It’s so much easier.
- No car? Book a tour that includes transportation AND Arizona Memorial tickets.
- Super tight budget? TheBus is $3, but leave yourself extra time.
- Skip taxis. Just use Uber.
Timing matters: Leave before 6am or after 8:30am to miss traffic. We always leave by 6:30am because Pearl Harbor at 7:30am is completely different than Pearl Harbor at 10am. Cooler, fewer people, easier parking, way more peaceful.
My Biggest Pearl Harbor Fail (Learn From This)
First time we took the boys to Pearl Harbor, they were maybe 6 and 8. We were SO excited to show them everything.
The USS Arizona Memorial. The USS Missouri battleship. The submarine. The aviation museum. All of it.
Bad idea.
By hour two, they were hot. By hour three, they were hungry and complaining. By hour four, nobody wanted to look at anything anymore and we were all miserable. My youngest actually sat down on the ground and refused to walk any further.
Our mistake was trying to see EVERYTHING. It just took way longer than they had energy for.
Now we pick one or two things max. Arizona Memorial, maybe the Missouri if everyone’s in a good mood. We spend 2-3 hours total. That’s what kids actually have bandwidth for.
Everyone’s happy. Nobody’s melting down. You can always come back another day.
The Shuttle Disaster (Why I Don’t Recommend It)
Years ago, before we figured out our system, we booked one of those Pearl Harbor shuttles from Waikiki.
I thought we were getting a guided tour. Nope. It was just transportation.
We spent the ENTIRE time stressing. Constantly checking our watches. Trying to figure out what we had time to see, what we should skip. We felt so rushed.
The shuttle left at a specific time whether we were ready or not. We ended up practically running back to make sure we didn’t miss it.
Would not do again. If you’re taking a shuttle, make sure you know EXACTLY what you’re getting. How long do you have at Pearl Harbor? 2 hours? 4 hours? Is someone showing you around or just dropping you off?
It matters.
Traffic Reality Check
Honolulu has rush hour. But here’s the good news.
When you’re going from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor in the morning, you’re actually going against traffic.
Rush hours:
- Morning 6:00-8:30am: Everyone’s driving INTO Honolulu from the west
- Afternoon 3:30-6:30pm: Everyone’s driving OUT to the west
You’re heading west in the morning. Everyone else is going east. So even at 7am, you should be fine.
Still, leave early if you can. The difference between arriving at 7:30am versus 10am is massive. Cooler weather, way fewer people, easier parking, totally different vibe.
The Ticket Situation Nobody Warns You About
Getting TO Pearl Harbor is easy.
Getting INTO the USS Arizona Memorial? That’s the hard part.
Those tickets are free (plus a $1 booking fee), but you have to grab them exactly 8 weeks in advance on Recreation.gov at 3pm Hawaii time. They sell out in minutes. Sometimes seconds.
This changed in 2023: No more same-day tickets at the visitor center.
We learned this the hard way once. Showed up without tickets, expecting to get them there. Nope. We could walk around the free exhibits at the visitor center, but couldn’t actually get on the boat to the memorial.
Not fun explaining to disappointed kids why we drove all the way there and can’t do the main thing.
Pearl Harbor basics for 2026:
- Open 7am-5pm daily
- Parking $7/day (fills up by 9am)
- No bags allowed (except clear stadium bags)
- Must arrive 1 hour before your reservation time
Ticket tips: Create your Recreation.gov account now. Be logged in at 2:55pm Hawaii time. Have your date ready. Click exactly at 3pm. Move FAST.
Or just book a tour that includes tickets. Way less stressful.
What About the New Skyline Rail?
Good question! Oahu’s new Skyline rail opened in October 2025, and technically it has a Pearl Harbor station.
But here’s the thing.
That Makalapa station serves the military base, not the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center where tourists go. The closest Skyline station to the actual visitor center is Halawa (Aloha Stadium), which is an 11-minute walk.
And Skyline doesn’t even go to Waikiki yet. It only runs from East Kapolei to Middle Street. So you’d have to take TheBus from Waikiki to get to a Skyline station, then take Skyline, then walk.
That’s way more complicated than just taking TheBus directly or driving.
Maybe someday when they extend Skyline further, but not in 2026. For now, skip it.
6 Ways to Actually Get There (From Best to Worst)
1. Drive Yourself
This is what we do every single time.
I like having a car. I like having our water bottles in the car. I like being able to stop for shave ice on the way home if the boys were good. I like not being on anyone else’s schedule.
Just plug “Pearl Harbor Visitor Center” into Google Maps or Waze. You’ll take H-1 West, exit 15A to Arizona Memorial Place. Super straightforward.
Parking is $7 for the day. Get there early (before 9am) for good spots.
We always rent through Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they consistently have the best rates. I’ve compared.
Good: Freedom, flexibility, can bring whatever you want
Not good: Car rental hassle, parking fills up
2. Uber or Lyft
Super simple. Open the app, someone picks you up.
What it costs right now (January 2026):
- Uber: $26-41 one way (usually around $30-35)
- Lyft: Usually $5-10 more than Uber
Check both apps. Prices change based on time and demand.
My sister did this last year. Two Uber rides there and back cost her about $65 total. Way cheaper than renting a car for just one day.
Good: No driving, someone picks you up
Not good: Need to coordinate return pickup time
3. Book a Tour
Tours handle EVERYTHING. Transportation, Arizona Memorial tickets, sometimes other stuff too.
This is your move if you forgot to book Arizona Memorial tickets 8 weeks out and they’re sold out. Tours have their own ticket allocation.
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and Honolulu City Tour Waikiki pickup, city sightseeing, Arizona Memorial tickets included. 6-7 hours total.
Pearl Harbor + USS Missouri + City Tour Same thing plus the Missouri battleship. My boys loved exploring that ship. You can go inside and walk around all the different levels.
Good: Everything handled, tickets guaranteed, guide explains stuff
Not good: Fixed schedule, costs more, you’re with a group
4. TheBus
Oahu’s public bus. Super cheap.
Current fare: $3 cash per ride (they just raised it from $2.50)
Or get a HOLO card – same $3 fare with free transfers within 2.5 hours.
Routes 20 and 42 go from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor. Catch them on Kuhio Avenue. Takes about an hour. Sometimes more.
Reality check: It’s cheap. That’s the main selling point.
The bus doesn’t run on time. We’ve waited 15 minutes for a bus that was supposed to come 10 minutes ago. If you have an 8am Pearl Harbor reservation, you cannot miss your time slot.
Also no big bags on TheBus, which is fine because Pearl Harbor doesn’t allow bags anyway.
Good: Only $3
Not good: Slow, unreliable, takes over an hour
5. Shuttle Service
Roberts Hawaii and other companies do round-trip Waikiki to Pearl Harbor for about $25-30 per person.
Check with your hotel too. Lots of Waikiki hotels have shuttles or partner with shuttle companies.
Just make absolutely sure you know what you’re getting. Is it just transportation or an actual tour? How long are you at Pearl Harbor? When does the shuttle leave to go back?
Don’t be like us and assume it’s something it’s not.
Good: Affordable, round-trip included
Not good: Fixed schedule, might stop at multiple hotels
6. Taxi
Don’t.
Taxis cost $45-70 from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor. Uber is cheaper and easier.
Charley’s Taxi does a flat $45 rate which is better than most taxis, but still more than Uber.
Just use Uber.
What Time Should You Leave?
Early. Always early.
We leave Waikiki by 6:30am every single time.
Why we go early:
- Parking is easy (fills up by 9am)
- Way fewer people
- Cooler weather (Hawaii mornings are beautiful)
- Less humidity
- You have the whole rest of the day after
If you have an 8am Arizona Memorial reservation, leave by 6:45am. You need to arrive at Pearl Harbor by 7am (one hour before).
If you have a 10am or later slot, you can leave after 8:30am once rush hour clears.
But honestly? Just go early. It’s so much better.
Quick Answers
Can I walk from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor?
Technically yes. It’s 10 miles. Would take 3+ hours in Hawaii heat. Please don’t.
What does Uber cost?
$26-41 one way. Usually around $30-35.
Cheapest way?
TheBus. $3 cash. Takes an hour.
Does the Waikiki Trolley go?
Not anymore. Stopped in 2021.
What time should I leave for an 8am reservation?
6:45am from Waikiki.
Can I get Arizona Memorial tickets at the visitor center?
No. Not since 2023. Book on Recreation.gov 8 weeks early.
What Else Is at Pearl Harbor?
Arizona Memorial is free, but there are other paid things:
- USS Missouri – $35 adults, $18 kids. The battleship where Japan surrendered. Really cool.
- USS Bowfin Submarine – $18 adults, $10 kids. You can walk through it.
- Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum – $25 adults, $15 kids. Lots of WWII planes.
Passport to Pearl Harbor is $99.99 adults/$49.99 kids for all four over two days. Arizona Memorial tickets separate.
But remember. Don’t try to do everything. Pick one or two things. Especially with kids.
Where to Eat
There’s a small snack shop at the visitor center. USS Missouri has a food truck.
Honestly, we usually eat before we go or bring snacks (that we leave in the car since no bags).
My Actual Recommendation
If you’re renting a car for your Oahu trip anyway, just drive to Pearl Harbor. The flexibility is worth it.
Not renting a car? Book a tour with transportation and tickets. Yes, it costs more. But you’re on vacation. The stress you save matters.
Super tight budget? TheBus works. Just leave way early and have a backup plan.
Whatever you choose, go early. Early morning at Pearl Harbor is just better.
Want help planning your whole Oahu trip? My Oahu Travel Guide has complete day-by-day itineraries, kid-friendly activities, and all my insider tips from 40+ Hawaii trips as a professional tourist and Hawaii travel expert.
More Oahu Planning:
Questions? Find me on Instagram or listen to my Hawaii Travel Made Easy podcast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Hawaiian island has Pearl Harbor?
Pearl Harbor is on Oahu, about 10 miles west of Waikiki. It’s Hawaii’s most-visited attraction with over 1.8 million visitors annually.
How much does it cost to visit Pearl Harbor from Waikiki?
The USS Arizona Memorial is free (plus $1 booking fee). Transportation ranges from $3 (TheBus) to $30-35 (Uber) to $60-80 (tours with tickets included).
Can you do Pearl Harbor and other things in one day?
Yes, but don’t overdo it. We spend 2-3 hours at Pearl Harbor (just Arizona Memorial, maybe one other thing), then have the rest of the day free.
How early should I arrive at Pearl Harbor?
Arrive 1 hour before your Arizona Memorial reservation time. If your time slot is 8am, be there by 7am.
Is Pearl Harbor worth visiting with kids?
Absolutely, but keep it short. Pick one or two things. Don’t try to see everything in one visit. Kids usually have about 2-3 hours of bandwidth for historical sites.
What’s not allowed at Pearl Harbor?
Bags (except clear stadium bags), weapons, outside food, smoking. There’s paid bag storage near the entrance if needed.
Do I need to book Arizona Memorial tickets in advance?
Yes. Tickets go on sale 8 weeks in advance at 3pm Hawaii time on Recreation.gov and sell out immediately. No same-day tickets available at the visitor center.
Is the Skyline rail useful for Pearl Harbor?
Not yet. It doesn’t go to Waikiki, and the closest station to Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is an 11-minute walk from Halawa (Aloha Stadium) station.
