Experiences · Pearl Harbor
How to Get to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki
Pearl Harbor is 11 miles from Waikiki. Here is every way to get there — bus, rideshare, rental car, and guided tour — with honest timing and cost for each.
Pearl Harbor is about 11 miles from central Waikiki, which sounds straightforward until you factor in morning traffic on H-1. The drive can take anywhere from 20 minutes on a quiet day to well over an hour during rush hour. Plan for it.
There are four realistic ways to get there: public bus, rental car, rideshare, and guided tour. Each has a different tradeoff between cost, flexibility, and time. Here is what you actually need to know for each one.
Before you go
Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: What to Know
A few things that will save you time and frustration on the day of your visit.
Arrive early. The USS Arizona Memorial boat tickets are timed-entry and distributed free on a first-come, first-served basis at the visitor center. They run out. Arriving by 7:30am gives you the best chance of getting on the boat. Arrive at 10am and you may be waiting until the afternoon or missing the boat entirely.
No large bags. The visitor center has a strict bag policy. Any bag larger than a small purse must be stored in paid lockers near the entrance. Leave large backpacks and luggage in your hotel room or your vehicle.
Free admission. Entry to the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites visitor center and the USS Arizona Memorial boat ride are free. The paid attractions — Battleship Missouri, Bowfin Submarine, Aviation Museum — require separate tickets. Budget extra time and money if you plan to visit more than the memorial.
Book tours in advance. If you want a guided tour, book before you arrive on Oahu. The most popular programs sell out weeks ahead, especially in peak season (June to August, December to January).
Ways to Get There
TheBus (Routes 20 or 42)
Honolulu’s public bus system runs two routes that go directly to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center: Route 20 and Route 42. Both depart from stops along Kalākaua Avenue in Waikiki. The ride takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. A single fare is $3.00, or $7.50 for a day pass if you plan to use the bus for other trips. Exact fare is required; drivers do not make change. The main tradeoff is time. An hour each way adds up when you factor in a full morning at the site. If you are on a tight schedule or visiting in peak summer heat, the extra time in transit is worth considering. That said, for budget travelers or anyone who prefers not to deal with driving or parking, TheBus is a practical and well-run option.
Rental Car
Driving gives you the most control over your schedule. Take H-1 westbound from Waikiki and exit at Exit 15A toward Halawa and Pearl Harbor. The visitor center has a large free parking lot. Under normal traffic the drive takes about 30 minutes. During morning rush hour, budget 45 to 60 minutes. Parking is free, which offsets part of the rental cost if you are already renting for other parts of your trip. If this is your only planned excursion and you do not otherwise need a car, the rental cost alone may not justify it. One practical note: the parking lot fills early. If you are targeting the 7:30am arrival window for memorial boat tickets, plan to leave Waikiki by 6:45am.
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Pick up at HNL airport and drive yourself to Pearl Harbor on your own schedule. Free parking at the visitor center.
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Uber or Lyft
A rideshare from central Waikiki to Pearl Harbor runs between $50 and $70 each way depending on time of day and surge pricing. The ride takes about 30 minutes. No parking to deal with, no driving in unfamiliar traffic, no navigating H-1. You get dropped at the entrance and request a pickup when you are ready to leave. The obvious drawback is cost. A round trip runs $100 to $140, which is competitive with a guided tour once you factor in that tours include transportation, admission to multiple attractions, and a guide. For two or more people splitting the fare, rideshare becomes more viable. Solo travelers will usually find the math tips toward a tour or the bus.
Guided Tour
A guided tour bundles hotel pickup, transportation, admission to the main attractions, and a knowledgeable guide into a single price. Half-day tours typically run $50 to $100 per person and cover the USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri. Full-day tours range from $100 to $250 and may include the Aviation Museum, Bowfin Submarine, and additional historical stops. Transportation is by air-conditioned minivan or coach with pickup at most Waikiki hotels. Most departures leave between 7:00 and 8:00am and return by midday. The guide handles all ticketing and queuing on arrival so you are not standing in line during the best part of the morning.
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Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial & Battleship Missouri
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