Things To Do On North Shore Kauai: How to Visit Breathtaking Ke’e Beach

One of the most epic things to do on North Shore Kauai is to visit Ke’e Beach at Ha’ena State Park. We recommend checking out this beach during the evening for amazing lighting and sunset photos.

This is also a great beach to get photos of the coast and even go snorkeling! Get the details below on how to visit this amazing beach and how to secure reservations so you don’t miss out.

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Things to Know

• Slow Your Roll! This means take it easy, drive slow, enjoy the sights, and take your time. The road to Ha’ena State Park and Ke’e Beach is narrow and winding.
• Bring plenty of sunscreen! If you are swimming in the ocean, make sure it’s reef-safe! 🐠 Please protect Hawaii’s amazing ecosystems!
• Bring bug spray and be prepared for mosquitoes. Our favorite is Bens30.

🌺 Whenever you visit Kauai, please practice mālama by showing care and respect for others, supporting local businesses, and protecting the environment by refraining from littering. Keep Kauai pristine and pick up any trash you encounter. Take the time to learn about Hawaiian culture and spread kindness by paying it forward.

How To Secure Reservations & Use the Go Ha’ena Shuttle

Reservations to visit Ke’e Beach and Ha’ena State Park are REQUIRED! There are a few different options that you can use to visit this amazing destination. If there is one thing to note, get your reservations as soon as the time window opens up, as they sell out within seconds!

Visit Go Haena to secure reservations. Dates for reservations open 30 days prior at midnight Hawaiian Time. For example, 6/30 opens 5/31, 7/1 opens 6/1, and so on. Here are the available options:

• Go Ha’ena Shuttle and Entry: $40.00 (ages 16+), $25.00 (ages 4-15), Free (ages 0-3)
  • Waipa Park & Ride: Drive and park for free in Hanalei at the main shuttle stop.
    Princeville: Walk from nearby Princeville resorts. No parking at the shuttle stop.
    • The final return shuttle timing is seasonal, and all return rides are first come, first served.
• Parking and Entry: $10.00/car per time slot and $5.00 entry per person.
  • Limited parking – these reservations are hard to get and sell out FAST, usually within 1-2 minutes. You may enter the parking lot anytime after your timeslot begins. However, you must leave before your timeslot ends.
  • All visitors named on the reservation must arrive together in one vehicle and you can’t take multiple trips to pick up more people.
• Entry Only With Resident, Walk, or Bike: $5.00/person for Hawaiian residents and those who are not parking. Residents of Hawaii do not need a pass.

Timeslots for entry include the following. Reserve multiple time slots to stay longer.

• Morning: 6:30 am – 12:30 pm
• Afternoon: 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm
• Evening: 4:30 pm – Sunset

Visit Go Ha’ena for more information on the reservation system. Visiting Ke’e Beach is one of our favorite things to do on North Shore Kauai!

Getting to Ke’e Beach

As you may have guessed, Ke’e Beach is located within Ha’ena State Park on the North Shore of Kauai near Princeville and Hanalei. If you are lucky enough to get a parking spot and entry, there is only one road that leads to Ke’e Beach: Highway 560, the Kuhio Highway.

From Princeville/Hanalei, the drive will take you about 25-30 minutes. The views of the lush green mountains and ocean along this drive are breathtaking, so take it slow. You’ll totally get some Jurassic Park vibes here! There are a few one-lane bridges that you will cross as well as some sharp turns. Check out more information on one-lane bridge etiquette to make your trip more enjoyable.

If you are heading out on the shuttle or with a resident, enjoy the ride and the sights!

Ke’e Beach

Time to hit the beach! From the parking lot, walk past the taro fields and through the forest trail to reach the beach. Ke’e Beach at Ha’ena State Park is protected by a nice coral reef, so you can definitely do some snorkeling and swimming here. If you are out in the water, be safe! The rocks can be slippery and the coral is sharp.

If you’d rather just relax on the beach, bring a beach chair or towel and a good book. Listen to the waves and escape into nature’s calming sounds.

➡️ Looking for other fun tours to do in Kauai? Visit Viator to find out more about helicopter tours and snorkeling excursions.

As we noted above, this is an absolutely stunning location to watch the sunset and capture some amazing photos of Kauai’s North Shore and part of the Nāpali Coast. To get some epic photos, walk to the right (when facing the beach), down along the tree line, and turn around. The views here are so amazing! You might even see some green sea turtles here, so always be on the lookout.

Depending on what season you visit, conditions may change. During the summer months, the water is usually calm and clear. If you head here during the winter, dangerous conditions may be present, including strong currents and massive surf. The best time to visit is in the summer.

Should you have the need, showers and restrooms are located near Ke’e Beach as well. Additionally, there are often lifeguards on duty here for your safety.

Wait, What About The Kalalau Trail?

Yes! The Kalalau Trail also begins here at this very location, and you’ll need to secure reservations to hike the trail the same way you did to visit Ke’e Beach. It’s not a separate reservation, so book the same way you did to visit Ke’e Beach. Of course, this is absolutely the one hike you can’t miss while visiting Kauai. We’ll talk about this trail more in a later post, so stay tuned.

🌳 Get all the details you need about hiking the Kalalau Trail as a day trip here!

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Lastly, if you visit Ke’e Beach during the morning or afternoon, another activity you can do nearby is to explore the Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Nestled in one of Kauai’s most biodiverse valleys, Limahuli Garden and Preserve serves as a Pu’uhonua (Place of Refuge) that celebrates the deep bond between nature and humanity.

Hike through a native forest and experience Kauai as it appeared before the arrival of the first Hawaiians. Discover the plants they brought and enjoy a tranquil walk through ancient taro terraces. The loop trail here is about 1 mile with lots of steps!

Limahuli Garden is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:30 am – 4 pm. The last check-in is at 2:15 pm and advanced reservations are recommended. Self-guided and guided tours are available.

Final Thoughts

Hands down, this is one of the best things to do on North Shore Kauai! Ke’e Beach at sunset is absolutely stunning. Visiting in the evening will still give you some time to go snorkeling or swimming before the sun sets.

We were lucky enough to get parking entry reservations for our evening visit here and are truly grateful for being able to visit one of the most stunning spots in Kauai! Getting up at the crack of dawn to get reservations sometimes has its perks, right?!

While we didn’t get to visit the Limahuli Garden and Preserve as it was not open, we think this is a great place to stop at if time allows during your North Shore excursion.