Hawaii 200 on the Big Island

[MarkF]

I'm going to Hawaii soon, and was wondering if HI 200 (Saddle Road), which has had a lot of improvements recently, is a good route to use from Kona to the volcano park.  Have the sections where only the middle has good pavement been bypassed?  How steep are the grades, and are there scary one lane sections with blind curves like you find on the Piilani Hwy past Hana in Maui?  Are most car rental companies ok with using this route now?

[oscar]

Hawaii 200 is now one of the state's best roads.  Almost all of it is new.  The only unbypassed remnant of the old road is about five miles on the west side of Hilo, between mile 11 and mile 6 (junction with the HI 2000 south Hilo bypass), which is still being worked on.  That was one of the less sucky parts of the old road, though still kind of wavy and curvy like the better segments of east Maui's Piilani Highway you've photographed. 

Fog remains an issue, from cool air rolling down from Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa colliding with moist air rolling in from the coast.  But it's easier to deal with now that the road has better reflectorization,  Also, there still are no gas stations or other traveler services between Kailua-Kona and Hilo.

See this thread from last September, with some photos of the new highway.

I expect that the rental car companies have lightened up on traveling HI 200.  When I was last there in October, my rental contract had no Saddle Road restrictions.

[MarkF]

Thanks.  I just got back from a trip to the Big Island and Oahu.  As you say, HI 200 is now one of the better roads in the state. It was three lanes for all but the last 15 miles or so, and a very easy drive.  Very little traffic.  I'll post pictures soon. 

One thing I hadn't seen for a while (at least outside of Hawaii) is those three lanes are in what I think is called a suicide configuration, with the middle lane for passing in either direction. 

[bing101]

Its a good scenic road I been there once.

[Alps]

Thanks.  I just got back from a trip to the Big Island and Oahu.  As you say, HI 200 is now one of the better roads in the state. It was three lanes for all but the last 15 miles or so, and a very easy drive.  Very little traffic.  I'll post pictures soon. 

One thing I hadn't seen for a while (at least outside of Hawaii) is those three lanes are in what I think is called a suicide configuration, with the middle lane for passing in either direction. 

I would have to think it's striped with a white line for one side (preferred passing) and dashed yellow for the other (yield to oncoming traffic).

[roadfro]

^ I would be extremely confused by that marking...

[MarkF]

Here's a couple of pictures showing the striping on HI200, this is near the west end, a few miles from HI190.

[roadfro]

One thing I hadn't seen for a while (at least outside of Hawaii) is those three lanes are in what I think is called a suicide configuration, with the middle lane for passing in either direction.

Here's a couple of pictures showing the striping on HI200, this is near the west end, a few miles from HI190.

That's not quite a suicide lane, at least not as I understood them. I believe a suicide lane was marked more like a two-way left turn lane that either lane could use for passing.

I think this marking procedure is a tad more common, but still rare. I don't know that I would mark the curve in the second picture that way though...sight distance doesn't seem too good for a safe passing maneuver there.

[doorknob60]

One thing I hadn't seen for a while (at least outside of Hawaii) is those three lanes are in what I think is called a suicide configuration, with the middle lane for passing in either direction.

Here's a couple of pictures showing the striping on HI200, this is near the west end, a few miles from HI190.

That's not quite a suicide lane, at least not as I understood them. I believe a suicide lane was marked more like a two-way left turn lane that either lane could use for passing.

I think this marking procedure is a tad more common, but still rare. I don't know that I would mark the curve in the second picture that way though...sight distance doesn't seem too good for a safe passing maneuver there.

Yeah, I understood a "suicide lane" to be one where neither direction of traffic has the right of way in the passing lane. Markings like shown in those pictures are very common in Oregon and Idaho, in my experience. I can't recall if I've seen it in other states.

[MarkF]

I have posted more photos of HI200 in the Photos, Videos, and More section: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=12603.msg304979#msg304979

[mgk920]

WisDOT has similar passing lanes on many of its major two-lane highways, too.  Added lanes like that are also common for climbing situations.

Mike

[OCGuy81]

Cool!  I can't wait to drive this road next time I go there.  I've made several trips to the Big Island, but never have taken the Saddle Road.

It'd save a lot of time between Kailua-Kona and Hilo...though part of me does enjoy the scenery of the 19 or 11 route around the island.