Here is a bit of our own PERSONAL OPINIONS regarding campgrounds.  Remember; an opinion is an opinion is an opinion, and yours may well be different.

There is a handy map on the County website that puts these places is perspective. (Follow the link )

County campgrounds require permits, which are easily bought online. Better to do this online, than WASTE your time doing it in Hilo after you arrive. State parks, however, must be obtained in person. (However, they are not likely to check and I wouldn't bother with them.)

Our favorite State park is Namokani Paio, in Volcano, it is free, beautiful, and it's on a first come, first serve site. (No permit needed) Even if all the pull in sites are full, there's always lots of parking for you, and a large multi use pavillion. (Bathroom, but No showers) We think it is the very best campground we have, though it can get chilly, as it is high elevation.  For $3.00 per day, you can get a key to showers for 24 hours. I believe you get this at the Volcano Lodge.

On the Kona side, the County campgrounds we like are HO’OKENA to the south (good showers.) and SPENCERS to the north (great showers, however, temporarily down for a while, as of Nov. 07.) You WILL be asked to show your permit at these, and may well be turned away if no have!  (but we've squeeked by ourselves before;  it's all about being sweet to the "Ranger", and what mood he's in that day! Of course, you are a self contained unit, and do not require tent space, which helps.)  Spencer's has a gate that is closed at night; this keeps the young partying crowd away, hence is quieter than Ho'okena in that respect. However, it is such a popular place, that there are loads of people making their own sounds.

Ho’okena has a new permit system. The County site will take you there, OR GO TO www.hookena.org/camping. Hookena can be noisy with locals on holidays and weekends: we advise it only for weekdays. Upon arrival, stay to the left; park in the dirt parking lot. You can literally back up on the beach!  We will advise, however, that more guests are reporting Ho'okena's unpleasant noise level.... it seems to be even more popular hangout for drunk locals and young men with their booming car stereos, not only on weekend nights anymore. Alas.

MAHUKONA  is alright. It is usually quite empty, and much more quiet than Spencers.  Excellent for whale watching during Nov - Feb. There are outdoor-rinse off- showers, as well as private, indoor showers that can best be described as, "icky'. We experienced lots of flies in the summer months. Great place if you love cats, as there is a "sanctuary" in the woods there.

In the South; PUNALU'U is a nice black sand beach, windy, no showers, nice pavilions, and excellent because of the sea turtles there. It is a quite campground, although tour buses frequent it during the day.

On the Hilo side, we recommend LAUPAHOEHOE. Only outside rinse-off showers. But has a nice big grassy field and you are on the ocean. There is no swimming however, because this is a rocky place with crashing waves. There are lots of ponds/pools you can splash/wade in. Skip rocks, and wander.

Along the Hamakua coast, we love KALOPA State Park. It is a very long climb up, and is a very cool place to get away from the heat! (Obviously there is NO beach attraction here!) This place is lush, cool and green, and offers excellent nature walks from brief to overnighters.  No showers, unless you rent cabins from the State.  Nice bathrooms.

Stay away from; Kolekole, and Makenzie.  Kolekole is a great day trip if you like to hike up a river system. Makenzie is also nice in the day; beware of car theft here, and of being swept off the cliff by rouge waves. Whittington isn’t so great either. (All Theses tend to be places where locals like to be drunk.)

On the South East, in Puna, you will now find that ISSAC HALE has finished it’s renovation. Quite nice now, and with all night security patrol. You can watch the surfers in the morning. It will still be noisy in the daytime, as they are still under construction for a new road nearby.

There are lots of GREAT DAY USE places, but close their gate at night, so no camping is allowed. We totally do not recommend just parking it anywhere. You could be on someone’s property, and get hassled. Sorry to say, but gone are the days of living in the woods / on the beach. You can’t even park for the night at the old Kona airport. You would think so, as it is perfect, but I myself, have been ushered out in the night by police.

Our campgrounds here do not offer water or electric hookups.

Happy Camping!