Deciding where to stay in Maui on a budget will be a big decision when you are watching your wallet. One of the biggest expenses for your Maui vacation will be your accommodations.
Many Maui hotels average 500-800 dollars per night. I know that sounds daunting especially when you’re traveling Maui on a budget. That’s why I wanted to write a post about the cheapest places to stay in Maui so you can still enjoy a dream trip to Hawaii even though you’re paying attention to your expenses.
I am the queen of budget travel and as much as I love the splurge, I also know when to stick to budget because I will NEVER let money or lack there of determine if I travel somewhere. Plus I live on Maui and this is the exact advice I give friends that want to travel Maui but don’t stay with me.
All of the affordable places to stay in Maui listed in this post average 200-300 dollars per night. I know that sounds crazy expensive but that’s just the reality of Hawaii and the recent pandemic did not help the price of accommodations. One of the cheapest places to stay in Maui will be a bed in a dormitory if you’re willing to sacrifice a little privacy.
Obviously staying with me is the cheapest place to stay in Maui but I know that we all don’t have that option…sorry.
I put together a list of the best places to stay in Maui on a budget because there are tons of ways to travel Hawaii without having to spend your whole life savings and today I’m gonna let you in on some of those secrets.
For full transparency, I have sprinkled some affiliate links in this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases that gives me a small commission at no extra cost to you if you decided to make a purchase. As always, I would never recommend a product or service that I didn't truely believe in. All proceeds go to keep Jess traveling and coffee ☕️. I thank you in advance.
But first, are you in a hurry? Below I have listed the best cheap places to stay in Maui and the reason to stay for easy booking if you don’t have time to read the whole article or need a cheap hotel in Maui to book tonight.
- Hotel Lahaina – Located in downtown Lahaina, walking distance to whale watching tours, front street, bars, restaurants and surf breaks.
- Kaanapali Beach Studio – Located on Kaanapali beach, close to restaurants, boat tours, snorkeling and bars.
- Kaanapali Ocean Inn – Location and amenities of a resort.
- Tiki Beach Hostel – Cheap place to stay for the solo adventurer.
- North Kaanapali Beach Rental – Can’t beat the price. Accommodates up to 6 people.
- Haleakala Shores – Beach access in South Maui.
- Ccean View Kihei Vacation Rental – Ocean Views, Free Parking.
- Maalaea Vacation Rental – Central location to explore all of Maui.
- Private Poolside Villa – Seclusion and Amazing Hosts.
- Maui Seaside Hotel – Where to stay in Maui on a budget if you only have a few days.
- Maui Beach Hotel – Close to the airport.
- Maui Tropics Cottage – Easy access to the Road to Hana
- Kuau Plaza – Peaceful North Shore retreat.
- Fisher’s Hana Hale – Seclusion and beauty of East Maui
Maui Areas
Before we dive into the cheapest places to stay on Maui, let’s go over the different areas to stay in Maui. Most travelers stay in the leeward side of the island in West Maui or South Maui. This is the best location of Maui to stay if you want to be close to lots of activities, beaches and restaurants.
I always recommend staying all over the island as you explore Maui. Each area of Maui is unique and has its own personality. This lets you experience more of Maui and spend less time in the car.
West Maui Accommodations on a Budget
Hotel Lahaina
- Location: Lahaina
- Highlights: Walking distance to whale watching tours, front street, bars, restaurants and surf breaks.
Hotel Lahaina is a great place to stay if you want to be in the center of the action. Located in the heart of Lahaina Town, seconds away from Front Street which is full of lots of things to do and some of the best breakfast on Maui.
The best part about this Maui budget hotel is that you get access to the amenities of its sister hotel at the Royal Lahaina. The Royal Lahaina is less than 10 minutes up the road and sits on a beautiful part of airport beach on the backside of black rock.
The pool at this cheap hotel in Lahaina is small but there’s a bar and plenty of cabanas and chair to relax on by the pool and in the grassy area.
Kaanapali Beach Studio
- Location: Kaanapali
- Highlights: Located on Kaanapali beach, close to restaurants, boat tours, snorkeling and bars.
If your main objective is to score some major beach time, then opt for a stay at this Kaanapali Beach Studio. Located on Kaanapali Beach, this stay puts you in prime location to enjoy all that Kaanapali has to offer. I’m talking whale watching tours, some of the best snorkeling on the island, must eat ocean side restaurants and fun bars with live music.
The beachfront resort is a one bedroom studio that can sleep up 2 people. The condo is 50 feet from the beach. You’re so close you can watch whales from your lanai if you’re traveling here during the winter time.
With use of great amenities like the pool, hot tub and outdoor grills, I can guess you won’t be disappointed spending your evenings here. Plan on staying here for more than 1 night as the cleaning fee doesn’t change if you’re there for a day or for a week.
Kaanapali is a great area to base yourself on West Maui as your in prime location for exploring West Maui.
Ka’anapali Ocean Inn
- Location: Kaanapali
- Highlights: Location and amenities of a resort.
If you’re looking for cheap hotels on Maui, the Kaanapali Ocean Inn is a good option. First the location is perfect right on Kaanapali beach which is one of the best beaches in Maui.
The reception of this Ka’anapali Beach hotel is open 24 hours. Nearby activities include snorkeling, cliff jumping, swimming and surf if there’s a swell. Check out 20 awesome things to do in Kaanapali for more inspiration.
You are also close to several of the best restaurants in Kaanapali. My favorite is the Monkeypod Kitchen. They have an excellent happy hour and reverse happy hour.
Strolling along the boardwalk in the mornings will be one of your favorite things. Plus you’re nearby tons of shopping inside Whalers Village. Since you’re on a budget you’ll be doing a lot of window shopping as most of the shopping is high end.
🐳 West Maui Travel Guides:
Tiki Beach Hostel
- Location: Lahaina
- Highlights: Cheap place to stay for the solo adventurer.
If you’re traveling solo, on a extremely tight budget, don’t have a car and/or are looking for cheapest way to stay in Maui, then the Tiki Beach Hostel is an option. The hostel is one of the cheapest places to stay on Maui coming in at 39 dollars a night. Don’t expect much as its a bed in a dormitory setting.
The great benefit of this place is the location. If you’re on a backpacker budget then you may not have a rental car. By the way I highly recommend a rental car. There’s so much to see and do on Maui that you can only get to via your own transportation.
You can reach Lahaina town from the hostel on foot which is full of delicious restaurants, art galleries, boutique shops and fun bars. It’s also right on the beach.
If you’re main objective on this Maui vacation is to learn to surf then you’ll be in a prime spot. Breakwall is an awesome beginners surf spot that’s a stones throw away. There are several surf shops nearby to book a lesson.
North Kaanapali Beach Rental
- Location: North Kaanapali
- Highlights: Can’t beat the price. Accommodates up to 6 people.
If you are traveling with a family this North Kaanapali Beach Rental is exactly what you need. While the place is dated, you can not beat the price as this is one of the most affordable hotels in Maui.
Located on the North end of Kaanapali Beach, this Maui beach resort offers you all the amenities of a major beach resort at half the price. The one bedroom, two bath beach rental can accommodate up to 6 people.
South Maui Cheap Hotels & Vacation Rentals
Haleakala Shores
- Location: Kihei
- Highlights: Beach access in South Maui
If you’re looking for a quiet and affordable beachfront rental then you’ll love Haleakala Shores . This is one of the most affordable vacation rentals in Maui. Located in South Maui the Haleakala Shores is walking distance to some of Maui’s best beaches including Kam III. Don’t forget to pack your reef safe sunscreen!
This Maui vacation rental has amenities including a swimming pool, washing machine and air conditioning. In order to get the most out of your money stay here for 3 or 4 nights. Plus there’s tons of things to do in Kihei that will keep you busy and on the go your whole vacation.
Kihei Vacation Rental
- Location: Kihei
- Highlights: Ocean Views, Free Parking
This ocean view Kihei vacation rental has its own entrance and is in a great area. Centrally located in Kihei close to all the things to do in Kihei, this place is walkable to multiple beaches including Kam II and the cove. The cove is an excellent beginners surf spot and there are several surf shops nearby to book a lesson.
It’s also walking distance to many of Kihei’s best restaurants and the triangle. The triangle is an area in Kihei that contains several bars which can be a fun night out during your Hawaiian vacation.
Staying here grants you access to the pool, you get free parking and there’s A/C which is a must in Kihei especially in the summer.
Oceanfront Condo at Ma’alaea
- Location: Maalaea
- Highlights: Central location to explore all of Maui
If you’re staying on Maui for shorter time then staying in Maalaea is a great central location to be able to explore the North shore and West and South Maui. It’s also only 20 minutes away from the airport.
This Maui vacaion rental has phenomenal ocean views, access to a pool and next to Maalaea Harbor perfect for those whale watching excursions. This place is walkable to restaurants, shops and the Maui Ocean Center (one of the best things to do in Maui when it rains).
The Lahaina Pali Trail, one of Maui’s best hikes is also close by.
🍍 South Maui Travel Guides
Where to Stay in Maui on a Budget in Central Maui
Private Poolside Villa
- Location: Waihee
- Highlights: Seclusion and Amazing Hosts
If you’re looking for affordable accommodation in Maui and don’t care what part of the island you stay, then I highly recommend staying at Taryn’s Place. Not only is she a personal friend but her and Sean’s place is beautiful!
Situated only minutes away from Wailuku town, this is a great home base if you’re on a shorter time frame and are only visiting Maui for 5 days or are hopping around the island. This stay is located close to some amazing locations on Maui including I’ao Valley and the Waihee Ridge Trail.
The villa is has everything you would want in an airbnb. Pool, wifi, BBQ area, A/C, privacy, parking (it’s sparse on Maui) and views. Stay at this private poolside villa for cheap accommodation on Maui without having to sacrifice luxury.
Maui Seaside Hotel
- Location: Kahului
- Highlights: Close Proximity to explore all parts of Maui and the airport
The Maui Seaside Hotel is where to stay in Maui on a budget if you only have a few days to explore Maui and want to be close to the Kahului Airport. This hotel is beachfront and close to all Kahului has to offer – grocery stores, shopping mall, cruise port and restaurants.
If you have a red eye flight, they have a designated “hospitality room” which you can use post-checkout to change, freshen up, or even grab a quick shower before you head to the airport.
Maui Beach Hotel
- Location: Kahului
- Highlights: Close to Airport
The Maui Beach Hotel is located next door to the Maui Seaside Hotel. This is a good place to stay if you want to be close to the Kahului Airport. Don’t expect too many frills. If you rent a car and plan on exploring all of the island, this will put you in a good central location.
North Shore Cheap Places to Stay in Maui
Maui Tropics Cottage
- Location: Paia
- Highlights: Easy access to the Road to Hana
The Maui Tropics Cottage is located on the North shore of Maui. Although not as “busy” compared to staying in West Maui or South Maui, this is a great place to stay to explore nearby areas like Paia town or the infamous Jaws. Plus it is also a perfect jumping off point for driving the road to Hana.
The cottage is bright and airy and features a kitchen and outdoor patio area. I love that it has a kitchen because staying at a place that has its own kitchen is a great way to keep the prices down while you travel Maui. It sleeps four but I think its perfect for a couple. It has all your basic amenities including wifi and parking.
If you’re looking for cheap places to stay in Maui before you head to Hana for a few days this is a great option. I mean at under $200 a night it’s a steal in Hawaii prices.
Kuau Plaza
- Location: Paia
- Highlights: Peaceful North Shore retreat
This is another cheap stay in Maui on the North shore. The Kuau Plaza is a charming vacation rental that has a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, BBQ and all your modern amenities you would expect to have in an apartment.
The location is perfect and walkable to several of the North shores top attractions including the iconic Mama’s Fish House. The Kuau general store is walking distance (which is always handy especially when you are cooking your own meals). Hookipa Beach park is a short drive away which is an amazing spot to watch the wind surfers float around on the waves.
Paia town is also a short drive away which is filled with cute boutique shops and delicious restaurants. A few of my favorites are Flatbread Pizza Company and Paia Fish Market.
East Maui | Cheap Maui Hotels
Fisher’s Hana Hale
- Location: Hana
- Highlights: Seclusion and beauty of East Maui
If you are looking for cheap places to stay in Hana, the Fisher’s Hana Hale is easy on the wallet and puts you in the perfect location to explore Hana. The Fisher’s Hana Hale is walking distance to Hana Bay, Hana town and the infamous Red Sand Beach.
This Airbnb in Hana, Maui sleeps up to 4 people. It comes with a fully equipped kitchen which may be the best part as finding places to eat in Hana is sometimes challenging. You must plan ahead as most restaurants & food trucks close early (5 pm) in Hana so having a kitchen to prepare your own meals after a long day of adventuring is ideal.
If you are only looking for where to stay in Hana, Maui for one night, then the Fisher’s Hana Hale is the way to go. Costing only $150 a night you can’t beat the price, location and amenities.
Camping on Maui on a Budget
I couldn’t write a where to stay in Maui on a budget without mentioning camping. Camping is obviously going to be your cheapest option. There are a few campgrounds worth checking out plus they are in prime locations perfect for those sunrise catching mornings.
⛺️ Read Next: Camping on Lana’i
Suite Vans Maui
Van life is all the rage right now and what better way to explore Maui than in a home on wheels. The Suite Van Maui is a fully equipped van that comes with everything you need including a kitchen, a shower and a toilet!
The best part about this tiny home on wheels is how eco friendly it is. The van is solar powered and has a water filtration system on board to minimize the use of plastic bottles. The van also comes equipped cookware, beach towels, beach chairs and even a portable grill on request. Did I mention it also has WiFI?!
If you’re short on time but want to get as much exploring in as possible the Suite Van Maui is the way to go. It’s easy to drive, even on the iconic road to Hana, the back side road to Hana or on the West Maui loop. Maui has several scenic campgrounds all over the island including Camp Olowalu and Waianapanapa State Park perfect parking over night (reservations required).
Camp Olowalu
Camp Olowalu is a diamond in the rough. Olowalu is located on West, Maui about 10 minutes before you get to Lahaina town. This is a great place to stay if you’re traveling with a large group and don’t mind skimping on some luxuries.
There are many different ways you can stay at Camp Olowalu depending on your budget. This ranges from I’m broke AF to hot showers and a private bathroom.
I recommend staying in the tentalow. Just imagine if a tent and a bungalow had a child…voila, the tentalow. These accommodations provide 2 twin beds (that can be pushed together) with a soft mattress, a trunk to lock up valuables, solar powered lights, a personal sink and private outdoor shower. Plus each tentalow has a lanai and chairs to relax on.
Bathrooms are assigned 1 to 2 tentalows per “stall“. It’s not en-suite but if you’re only staying here 1 or 2 nights so it shouldn’t really matter. It’s also located directly on the beach and a great location to be able to explore West Maui and still be able to grab dinner in Lahaina Town at night without having to drive far.
Wai’anapanapa State Park
Wai’anapanapa State Park is located about 10 minutes before Hana town. You can rent out a campsite if you have your own gear or you can rent out a cabin at Waianapanapa.
Its a beautiful location perched above the gorgeous black sand beach. There are trails, caves and blowholes to explore that will consume your day.
This is also only 30 minutes away from the Kipahulu entrance to Haleakala National Park which contains the legendary Waimoku Falls.
Haleakala Wilderness Cabins
For an experience that is out of this world then camp inside a dormant volcano at one of the Haleakala cabins. There are 3 historic wilderness cabins within the crater inside the summit district of Haleakala NP.
The only way to get to any of the cabins is by foot and hiking in on Sliding Sands Trail. Haleakala Cabin rentals cost $75 per night and reservations open up 6 months in advance.
🌋 More Haleakala NP Guides:
Haleakala National Park
There are first come first serve campsites inside the Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park. The campgrounds have central restrooms and each site contains a picnic table and grills.
I would recommend getting here as early as possible so you can snag a site with shade. It is Maui and can get very hot on a sunny summer day.
From here you can walk to Oheo pools and to the start of the Pipiwai trail which takes you past ancient banyan trees, through a bamboo forest and ends at a 400 foot waterfall.
MAUI TRAVEL TIPS
📍Plan your Trip:
- The Ultimate guide to Maui
- 10 Tips to Know Before you Travel to Maui
- 21 Mistakes to Avoid on your First Trip to Hawaii
🗺 How long to travel Maui? 1-2 Week Maui Itinerary
☔️ Best Time to Visit: Best Time to Visit Maui
💰 Average Daily Budget:
- How to Travel Maui on a Budget
- 28 Things to do on Maui on a Budget
- 10 Budget Friendly Maui Adventures
⛺️ Maui accommodation Guides
- Best Area to Stay on Maui
- West Maui vs. South Maui – Where to Stay
- Best Airbnbs in Maui
- Where to Stay in Hana, HI
- Top Honeymoon Resorts in Maui
- 10 Best Honeymoon Resorts in Hawaii
- The Coolest & Most Unique Airbnbs to Stay in Hawaii
🪂 Highlights
- Driving the Road to Hana
- Sunrise over Haleakala
- Exploring Exotic Beaches
- Waianapanapa State Park
- Haleakala National Park
- Whale Watch
- Hike the Pipiwai Trail
- Snorkel Molokini
- Drive the West Maui Loop
- Lahaina Town
- Learn to Surf
🧳 What to Pack: What to Pack for Maui
🎥 Watch our Maui Series on YouTube
📧 Get on my Email list to see what I’m up to and all the best travel content!
There you have it. A list of the cheapest places to stay in Maui, Hawaii. Your dream trip is just a booking away!
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Jess,
Hi I am coming to Maui with my two boys (19 and 14) and want a nice experience in a few different places, I want to keep the lodging costs as low as possible. Can this be done?
Aloha Paul, Maui is an expensive destination. It is possible to keep costs low when looking for places to stay in Maui on a budget. Expect to pay around $150 a night. Stick to vacation rentals with parking included.
Any couch surfing availability to stay with you for a lone traveler??
Howdy Eric! Unfortunately my living room is currently a home office! I’ll keep an eye out for cheap places to stay in Maui on a budget!
Hi! We are looking at late February, early March (we have a good reason for being so late with our planning but that story is just too long to explain here 😉 ) next year. But the prices on all of these listings are CRAZY high compared to “your” prices. We are a family of 4 (kids aged 11 and 15), and I can´t seem to find ANYTHING under 450 USD and up per night (and up A LOT! from there). We were hoping to spend around USD 200 per night, max. Preferably self-catering. Is this just not possible on any other island than the Big Island? Any tips would be highly appreciated, many thanks in advance! 🙂 🙂
Aloha Sylvia and thanks for the comment. Yes unfortunately prices have sky rocketed after the lockdown and doesn’t seem like its ever going to get back to normal. My only suggestion would be to look on VRBO or Airbnb for a cheaper vacation rental. Look for places to stay in Kihei as that’s cheaper than West Maui.
Hi Jess! (Also my sister’s name) I love your post – and need you in my life! Lol. Really desperate for a place for my husband and I to stay for Christmas. Most of these locations are not available on our travel dates – any chance you would be willing to speak with us/advise?
Aloha Erica! Christmas is the busiest and most expensive time to visit the Hawaiian islands. Try Lahaina Shores – its a decent resort that walkable to restaurants, harbor, surf and shops in Lahaina. Good Luck.