The stunning Salt Pond Beach is located near the town of Hanapepe on Kauai’s southwestern point and is the perfect campsite location for families, couples or groups of friends. The beach offers tide pools, two bays, calm waves and a large beach making it suitable for anyone to have an enjoyable time.
From stunning sunsets to golden sand with calm waters, this idyllic camping location offers something for everyone and is a must visit is you are planning a camping trip around Hawaii.
This guide covers everything you need to know about camping at Salt Pond Beach which includes information about the facilities, nearby activities, and information about the beach and campsite area.
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Basic Info
Location: South Shore Of Kauai, about a 30 minute drive from the airport
Reservations Required: Yes, reserve online https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Parks/Permitting/Camping#section-5
Scenery: Beachfront
Facilities: Restrooms, Outdoor Showers, Picnic Benches, Charging Stations
Getting There And Transportation Options
We found that renting a car was the best way to explore Kauai and allowed us to make the most of our time here. We made our way from the east of the island and drove along Kuhio highway until we reached Kaumauli’i highway, the beach was a 40-minute drive west of the airport.
If you were to travel to salt pond beach park from the west you would make your way to Waimea Canyon Drive and follow that road until you reach Kaumauli’i highway. Continue to drive east until you reach Lele Road on your right-hand side, this road will merge with Lolokai Road and you will find the beach at the end of this road.
We rented our car from Airbnb and it included all our camping essentials. There are many different hosts to choose from on Airbnb which rent out cars equipped with all your essential camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags, beach chairs, cooking equipment and more! Just be sure to read through reviews first to be sure you’re renting a car with intact equipment and clean gear.
Reservations And Campsite Selection
We had a very pleasant stay at Salt Pond Beach Park during our Kauai adventure. The campground was situated on a flat, spacious area of grass located directly next to the beach and was sparsely populated allowing for a quiet and restful stay.
Palm trees are plentiful which will afford you some shade during the day and there are convenient facilities by the beach which include bathrooms, showers, picnic tables and free parking. The designated camping spot is located directly next to the beach on a flat, wide patch of grass making for a perfect way to spend one of your nights in Kauai.
Facilities included bathrooms, an outdoor shower, and power sockets where we could charge our devices. We rented a car and drove to the campground where we found parking plentiful close to the beach.
Bookings are required online ahead of time at https://www.kauai.gov/Government/Departments-Agencies/Parks/Permitting/Camping#section-5
Plan in advance and make your reservations ahead of time as they fill up quickly especially in the busier months on June-August.
The Beach Area
The calm and clear water at the beach along with on duty lifeguards makes this a perfect place to swim and snorkel. There are also numerous tide pools found nearby where we were also able to enjoy the local marine life and at times you can spot a Hawaiian monk seal resting on the beach. This was a great beach to enjoy a good book, sunbathe and take in the sunset in the evening.
Nearby Activites And Exploration
Napali Coast Boat Excursions: Salt Pond Lake is about a 15 minute drive from the Marina where many of the Napali Coast boat excrusions depart from. This is a must-do excursion while you are in Kauai. While there are so many boat excursions to choose from, we recommend booking a zodiac boat tour! These tours typically hold about 14 people and offer and adventure like not other. Explore sea caves, spot spinner dolphins swimming alongside the boat, and zip along the Na’Pali Coast. This was the highlight of our trip to Kauai and we would recommend it to anyone visiting the Island!
Highlights
- Small group tour with a maximum of 14 people
- Friendly, knowledgeable guides
- Snorkel with tropical fish and sea turtles and spot spinner dolphins from the boat!
Polihale State Park: Located just a short drive west of Salt Pond Lake, Polihale State Park is a popular beach area known for it’s snorkeling and amazing sunsets. While you’re there, you need to check out the famous Puka Dogs located right across the street where they serve hot dogs with a Hawaiian twist.
Explore Hanapepe: This historic town is known for it’s local shops, amazing restaurants, and artwork. It’s located just over a mile from the campsite.
Facilities
Restrooms: This campsite has male and female restrooms
Showers: There are no indoor showers at this campsite, but several outdoor showers bordering the beach.
Chargers: There are 4 different complete with picnic table and several outlets where you can plug in and charge your devices.
Cellular Service: The Salt Pond Lake is within service area for the majority of carriers. We had no issues with cell service with our t-mobile and Verizon carriers.
Nearby Restaurants and Food Options
The historic town of Hanapepe is located just over a mile from the campsite and features so many good restaurants and food trucks. A few that we recommend you check out are:
- Japanese Grandma’s Cafe: a popular eatery known for their sushi and bento boxes
- Unko’s Kitchen: this local spot serves breakfast and brunch and is the perfect spot to try popular Hawaiian dishes such as Loco Moco.
- Bobbie’s: The perfect spot to grab some Hawaiian plate lunch at a great price. Some of their popular dishes include Huli Huli chicken, chicken katsu, and slow roasted pork.
We’d Like To Hear From You!
We hope this guide to camping at Salt Pond Beach in Kauai provided you with some useful information and tips. It’s a beautiful campground that we would recommend to anyone visiting Kauai.
Have you been camping at Salt Pond Lake in Kauai? What was your experience, and do you have any other recommendations or tips for camping in Kauai?
