Driving the Saddle Road in Hawaii with a rental car ...?

I went in the Big Island last year but I read that the Saddle Road was not recommended for the rental cars. I return next week. I want to know if the rental car companies (mine being Budget) are really serious about not using that road.


Have you done it with a rental car? Would you do it again?Driving the Saddle Road in Hawaii with a rental car ...?
The only reason the rental car companies don't want you to drive the Saddle is because if your car breaks down on that road, they won't come to get you. I've driven the Saddle several times as I used to live on the Big Island. It's not that bad. Most people drive down the middle of the road to avoid potholes, so obviously that can be dangerous if another car is heading in your direction! It's not a heavily trafficked road though. I think it's pretty spectacular to stop off the side of the road about halfway between Waikoloa and Hilo because you're directly between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, but honestly, it's a pretty boring drive otherwise. I recommend driving from the Kona side to Hilo through Waimea in the morning. You can stop at Tex in Honoka'a for fresh malasadas and coffee and then see the beautiful Hamakua coast as you drive south into Hilo. Much prettier than the Saddle, a bit safer, and no danger of your rental car company ditching you if you do have a breakdown.Driving the Saddle Road in Hawaii with a rental car ...?
r- ecommended doesn't mean ';can't';! ';budgut'; may have a new line of off-road vehicles!!
It is a state highway. A rental car can not go down a state highway??





You can drive it but the rental car companies will NOT cover any towing or other service call. You are on your own. If it dies you are solely responsible for getting it back to Kona or Hilo.





While it can be scenic, I do not recommend it. From the article below:





';Motorists will find safe driving on a modern roadbed for 6.5 miles in the federal-state-country project, compared with the rest of the 48-mile route, where the sides of the road have so many badly filled potholes that everyone drives down the center, then swerves to the edge for oncoming cars.';





Read the comments in the West Hawaii article too.
I was on the Big Island last April and drove up to Mauna Kea on Saddle Road from the Kona side. I rented an SUV from Hertz and asked them repeatedly about driving up there and they mentioned nothing at all in terms of trying to dissuade us.





As for my experience, the road itself was a bit bumpy but there were plenty of ';regular'; cars driving on it. If you're planning to go only to the Visitor's Center, you'll be fine. If you want to drive to the top, you'll need something with 4WD as it is steep and it becomes a dirt road. Also, the ranger there may not allow you to continue up past the Visitor's Center.





Hope you have a safe a great trip!





(Oh, by the way, yes, I would do it again with Hertz and an SUV).