Airports near Kauai
LIH・HNL
What airports are closest to Kauai?
Travelers arriving on the island of Kauai will find that Lihue Airport (LIH) is the primary gateway, situated just 22.8968 km from the city center. Reaching the heart of the city from this location is efficient, with taxi services offering the fastest connection in approximately 15 minutes. In contrast, those landing at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) are located in the neighboring city of Honolulu on the island of O'ahu, which is 186.6169 km away. Travelers utilizing this airport must typically account for an additional interisland flight to reach their final destination on Kauai, which can take significantly longer, often exceeding 2 hours when including transfers and flight time. Choosing the correct airport is essential for a smooth arrival, with Lihue Airport providing the most direct access to the island's diverse resorts and scenic attractions. Search for flights to Kauai and book hotels in Kauai, or scroll down for more details.
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Airports near Kauai: LIH and HNL.
Airports Near Kauai: Key Information
Number of airports in Kauai
1
Closest airport to the city center
Lihue Airport (LIH)
Distance
22.9 km
Fastest arrival time
15 minutes - 25 minutes
Airport with the cheapest transport
Lihue Airport (LIH)
Compare domestic and international airports near Kauai.
Lihue Airport
Distance: 22.9 km
Transport option
Est. duration
Est. fare
Features/best for
The Kauai Bus
Cheapest
30 minutes - 45 minutes
USD 2-4
Budget
SpeediShuttle
25 minutes - 40 minutes
USD 30-50
Balanced
Kauai Taxi Service
Fastest
15 minutes - 25 minutes
USD 25-40
Comfort
Airport Rental Car
20 minutes - 30 minutes
USD 60-150
Comfort
Honolulu International Airport
Distance: 186.6 km
Transport option
Est. duration
Est. fare
Features/best for
TheBus
Cheapest
1 hour - 1 hour 30 minutes
USD 3
Budget
Honolulu Taxi
Fastest
20 minutes - 35 minutes
USD 35-50
Balanced
Airport Shuttle
30 minutes - 50 minutes
USD 20-35
Comfort
Compare 2 airports near Kauai
Airport Guide
Compare 2 airports near Kauai
For most travelers, Lihue Airport (LIH) is the clear and most practical choice for visiting Kauai, as it is located on the island itself and offers the shortest transit times to the city center. While Lihue Airport handles both interisland and some domestic mainland traffic, those landing at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) will find themselves in a different city entirely, specifically Honolulu on the island of O'ahu. Honolulu International Airport is a major international gateway, often requiring an additional short interisland flight to reach Kauai, which adds both travel time and cost to the trip. Travelers prioritizing speed and convenience should fly directly to Lihue Airport to avoid the interisland transfer. If you arrive at Lihue Airport, rental cars and taxis are highly recommended for the flexibility they provide when exploring the island's diverse landscapes. For those arriving via Honolulu, public transit and shuttle services are efficient for moving within O'ahu, but they do not connect you to Kauai. Always verify your flight's final arrival destination, as interisland connections are necessary when starting from Honolulu.
Flights to Kauai
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Hotels near Kauai airport
Breakfast
118 Reviews
Kauai|21.56km from city center
Let’s talk about the good things first: we booked a sea view room, we could see the sea, the hotel’s swimming pool was also good, there was a Hawaiian hula performance, the hotel’s restaurant was also good, and there were no such negative reviews from other guests. However, there were 2 serious problems: one was that there were ants in the room and I was bitten while wearing slippers. Later I found that there were ants on the bed as well. The second one was even more serious. A machine started up every few minutes in the middle of the night and made a very loud sound. It continued for a few minutes and then stopped. It kept doing this over and over again. It was so noisy that I couldn't sleep.FromUS$280
Great124 Reviews
Kauai|20.82km from city center
There's a laundry room! Washing and drying costs $4 each, it smells amazing, I even washed all of Honolulu's dirty clothes!
There's a Coconut Markerplace shopping area nearby, a five-minute walk, no need to cross the street. It has a medium-sized supermarket selling hot ready-made meals; the food is decent, no tipping is required, and they accept UnionPay, which is great.
No deposit is required, and there are free bicycles for rent. Turn right after exiting and walk along the beach; it's quite beautiful, but go early to avoid the scorching sun.
Each building has free water dispensers where you can get hot water, which is great for seniors.
The rooms aren't cleaned, but they do change the towels and trash cans. You'll be given a few towel cards upon check-in to exchange for pool towels at the front desk.
Free parking; the front desk will give you a small card upon check-in. Overall, highly recommended! I hope this helps everyone!Very Good108 Reviews
Kauai|20.92km from city center
It's not what it seems. It is a hotel that has very good things and others not so much.
When we arrived we were given a room with a double bed and a sofa bed. We had booked a twin room and were told this was Trip's problem. That they only guarantee the views. All the furniture is wooden and very old. The old sofa, with a thin mattress and perforated sheets...
Finally the next day we were changed to a room with two beds (and sea view) which was much better. However, the furniture was also old.
It is advertised here that the cleaning of the room is daily but it is not true. They clean only one day for stays of at least 5 nights. If you are staying less than a few days and you want the room to be made for you, 50 USD. If you want clean towels, 10USD.
The hotel does not have elevators, so you have to carry your bags up the stairs to the room (on the floor you are on).
Just arriving they charge you 147.45USD in taxes (amenity fee, ta tax, ge tax, county ta tax...).
Good: Prime location, in front of (private) beach, with restaurants, supermarkets and shops next door. The main road is right there. Swimming pool with hammocks and a bar (opens at 3pm).
There is a refrigerator, coffee maker and microwave in the room.FromUS$191
Very Good115 Reviews
Kauai|21.61km from city center
The hotel is located in the eastern center of Kauai. It is easy to find using Google Navigation. There are many restaurants just a 3-5 minute walk across from the hotel, including McDonald's, Subway, Panda Express, etc. There is also an ABC store and a discount store. The room is not very big, but the facilities are complete, including a refrigerator and coffee machine. Breakfast is available to take away, including Wheaties, cereals, milk, etc. Parking is also free. It feels very cost-effectiveFromUS$197
Very Good101 Reviews
Kauai|20.58km from city center
Hotel apartment, booked is a sea view room and the result is to see a little bit of the sea on the edge. A cleaning fee of $ 200 is required for check-in. Long-term stays can be shared equally between short-term and hotel. The environment is not as mature as the vacation community in Napali Beach. There are supermarkets such as Safeway a few kilometers away. The security is not clear. I saw three police entering and leaving when I checked in. I do n’t know what happened. I can only contact the police after work after work. There is a park by the beach, and few people have no atmosphereFamily friendly
Very Good117 Reviews
Kauai|20.38km from city center
It was raining when we got there so needless to say, we were ankle deep in water trying to get to our cottage.
The tub drained very slowly so again ankle deep in bath water taking a shower.
The swimming pool is small and it looked either dirty or moldy, I don’t know hard to tell, but I didn’t see anyone use it while I was there.
The staff were super nice, though so that was good!FromUS$229
Very Good100 Reviews
Kauai|21.58km from city center
Could've had vending machines available with water, soda and cookies. Other than that everything was wonderful.Amazing41 Reviews
Kauai|20.15km from city center
The Fern Grotto Inn is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city. The Fern Grotto Inn offers a pleasant stay in Kauai for those traveling for business or leisure. From the hotel, Lihue Airport is just 8km away. Seeing Kauai's sights from this hotel is easy with Beach Rope Swing, Kayak Kauai and Pu`uwai Outrigger Canoe Club all close by. After a long day of sightseeing, guests can retire to the comfort of the hotel. Guests of this Kauai hotel can make use of the parking facilities. When it comes to Kauai hotels, the Fern Grotto Inn is highly regarded for its excellent facilities. Good102 Reviews
Kauai|20.97km from city center
Location is great and the property is extremely clean and quiet. Our room was very outdated ( early 80's for furniture, carpet, bathroom) but clean and everything worked. It was spacious but bare minimum in kitchen for supplies, the coffee pot is super tiny. My only complaint is you can't extend your stay for late check out or additional day, that really impacts people on hikes and etc. We had to pack our stuff out (530am) and couldn't do late check out to come back to pack and shower. The young desk clerks stated policy for late check out was call morning of after 9am. That's ridiculous because most tourist are traveling across island exploring early. We asked at 815pm night before and staff couldn't give us late check out for next day, that's a deal breaker for us coming back to this property and was absolutely not willing to check or call management, for this reason I would avoid property if you have early tours or adventures. No one wants to pack out 5am without opportunity for late check out.FromUS$149
Very Good100 Reviews
Kauai|21.01km from city center
Very spacious and well maintained rooms. Right next to beach, restaurants and vista points. We enjoyed our stay here.5 star
35 Reviews
Kauai|21.55km from city center
The 2417 at Oceanfront Resort Lihue Kauai Beach Drive Private Condo is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city. The 2417 at Oceanfront Resort Lihue Kauai Beach Drive Private Condo is an ideal choice for travelers who want to take in the sights and sounds of Kauai. The hotel is conveniently located a short 4km drive from Lihue Airport. This hotel is located near many of Kauai's attractions including Nukoli'i Beach Park, Duke's Kayak Adventures and Wailua Golf Course. In their spare time, guests can explore the hotel's surroundings. This Kauai hotel offers parking on site. FromUS$46
Great110 Reviews
Kauai|23.29km from city center
Overall cost performance is good and can be recommended as a place to stay in Kauai!
Good place
The staff were all kind and the response was very good
You can have a unique experience of eating breakfast with cats, peacocks, chickens, etc.
There was a music event to play on the terrace at night by the day of the week, and enjoyed the atmosphere
Breakfast was simple but satisfied enough with yogurt and bagels
It is convenient to drink water and coffee at any time
I was worried.
(as of March 2026) due to the road blockade, access from the airport was a little inconvenient
Towels and sheets are not exchanged unless you ask for them.
I felt like house dust and mold in the cherry blossom room, sneezing and coughing
The sound of the air conditioner was quite loud and it was hard to sleep if it was on
Overall, although there are some details, the satisfaction is high considering the price, and I think it is a good inn to stay casually in Kauai.FromUS$188
0 Reviews
Kauai|20.38km from city center
The Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, HI is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city. Visitors to Kauai will find that the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, HI is a fantastic accommodation choice. Lihue Airport is located approximately 8km away from this hotel. There is no shortage of things to see in the area, with the Wild Kauai Chocolate, Evolve Love Artists Gallery of Kauai and Pu`uwai Outrigger Canoe Club all nearby. This hotel makes a great place to kick back and relax after a long day of sightseeing. FromUS$230
Very Good116 Reviews
Kauai|21.85km from city center
I stayed in the best room in this hotel. Everything else was fantastic but the bed was very dirty.
I think they didn't bother to change their sheets before we arrive. And I don't know how old the sheets were but there was a lot of dirt, particles, hair, and even a dead bug in it.
I was terrified to sleep on those. And I was too timid to ask the front desk to change them because a) I'm shy and b) I only found out about this in late night before I went to bed.
I wouldn't go back to this hotel. But the view was really nice.FromUS$152
Outstanding0 Reviews
Kauai|23.28km from city center
With a stay at this campground in Anahola, you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Coconut Marketplace and Anahola Beach Park. This campground is 13 mi (20.8 km) from Kauai Museum and 14.4 mi (23.2 km) from Anini Beach.A complimentary on-the-go breakfast is served daily from 9:00 AM to noon.The front desk is staffed during limited hours.Make yourself comfortable in your accommodation.FromUS$161
FAQs
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Which airport is the closest to Kauai?
The nearest airport to Kauai is Lihue Airport (LIH), about 22.9 km away.Honolulu International Airport (HNL) (186.6 km).
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How long does it take to get from Kauai to the airport?
Getting from Kauai to Lihue Airport (LIH) takes about 15 minutes - 25 minutes.
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How do I get to Kauai?
We recommend flying into Lihue Airport (LIH), which is approximately 22.9 km away. The fastest mode of transportation is Kauai Taxi Service, reaching downtown in about 15 minutes - 25 minutes.
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How many airports does Kauai have?
Kauai has 2 airports: Lihue Airport (LIH) and Honolulu International Airport (HNL).