Hawaii · Where to stay

Where to stay in Kauai

Where to stay in Kauai mostly comes down to north shore or south shore. Poʻipū in the south is drier, with the most resorts. Princeville and Hanalei in the north have the most dramatic scenery and far more rain. Kapaʻa sits in between on the east coast, and Līhuʻe is the town by the airport. Here are all four, compared on the drive from the airport and the weather.

Updated November 15, 2026 · By Atlas Ranger Editorial · How we research · Booking links are affiliate links (disclosure)

Aerial view of a Hawaiian coastline with green mountains meeting clear turquoise water
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Where to stay in Kauai: the short answer

Kauai areas compared

Distances are by road from Līhuʻe Airport (LIH) to the centre of each area, from OpenStreetMap routing. Rainfall is NOAA's 1991–2020 annual normal where a nearby station has one.

AreaAirportShoreHotels
PoʻipūFirst visits, families, the drier side~26 km by roadLīhuʻe Airport (LIH)South, leewardIn the lee of the mountainsHotels
Princeville & HanaleiScenery, couples, summer trips~48 km by roadThe farthest area from LIHNorth, windwardPrinceville gauge: 75 in (1,909 mm) of rain a yearHotels
KapaʻaA central base, value, Wailua River~15 km by roadLīhuʻe Airport (LIH)East, windwardTrade-wind coast; check the surfHotels
LīhuʻeShort stays, value, Kalapaki Beach~6 km by roadThe closest area to LIHEastLīhuʻe gauge: 36 in (920 mm) of rain a yearHotels
01

Poʻipū (South Shore)

First visits, families, the drier side

Poʻipū is Kauai's main resort area, on the south shore near the old plantation town of Kōloa. Its beaches, including Poʻipū Beach Park, have sheltered swimming spots, and there is a sea turtle viewing point near the beach park. The south shore sits in the lee of the island's mountains, so it is generally drier than the north and east. It is also the best base for Waimea Canyon and the west side.

  • Airport ~26 km by road Līhuʻe Airport (LIH)
  • Shore South, leeward In the lee of the mountains

Why stay here

  • Calm swimming at Poʻipū Beach Park
  • The most resort hotels on the island
  • The closest base to Waimea Canyon

Worth knowing

  • A long drive to the north shore and Hanalei
  • Resort prices across most of the area
02

Princeville & Hanalei (North Shore)

Scenery, couples, summer trips

Princeville is a resort community on the cliffs above Hanalei Bay, with the small town of Hanalei below it and the road continuing west to Hāʻena and the start of the Nā Pali coast. It is the most dramatic part of Kauai, with green mountains running down to the sea. It is also much wetter: the Princeville Ranch gauge records about 75 inches (1,909 mm) of rain a year, about twice the total at Līhuʻe airport. Winter brings big surf to the north shore, so it suits summer swimming best.

  • Airport ~48 km by road The farthest area from LIH
  • Shore North, windward Princeville gauge: 75 in (1,909 mm) of rain a year

Why stay here

  • Hanalei Bay and the most dramatic scenery on Kauai
  • Closest to the Nā Pali coast and Hāʻena
  • Quiet, with a small-town feel in Hanalei

Worth knowing

  • The wettest area here, especially in winter
  • Winter surf can make swimming unsafe
  • The longest drive from the airport
03

Kapaʻa (Coconut Coast)

A central base, value, Wailua River

Kapaʻa and Wailua, on the east shore, are known as the Coconut Coast. It is the most central place to stay: roughly halfway between Poʻipū and Princeville, with Kapaʻa town's shops and restaurants and the Wailua River nearby. The hotels are mostly mid-range beachfront properties rather than big resorts, and the trade-wind coast can be breezy, with rough water at many beaches.

  • Airport ~15 km by road Līhuʻe Airport (LIH)
  • Shore East, windward Trade-wind coast; check the surf

Why stay here

  • Central for day trips to both the north and south shores
  • Kapaʻa town and the Wailua River nearby
  • More mid-range hotels than Poʻipū or Princeville

Worth knowing

  • Breezier, with rougher water at many beaches
  • Few large resorts
04

Līhuʻe

Short stays, value, Kalapaki Beach

Līhuʻe is Kauai's main town, home of the airport and the harbour at Nāwiliwili. The resort hotels around Kalapaki Beach, a sheltered bay by the harbour, sit only a few kilometres from the terminal, and the town has the island's widest choice of shops and supermarkets. It is a practical base for a short trip or a first and last night, and the Līhuʻe airport gauge records about 36 inches (920 mm) of rain a year.

  • Airport ~6 km by road The closest area to LIH
  • Shore East Līhuʻe gauge: 36 in (920 mm) of rain a year

Why stay here

  • Minutes from the airport
  • Kalapaki Beach, a sheltered bay by the harbour
  • Shops and supermarkets

Worth knowing

  • A working town more than a resort area
  • Cruise ships dock at Nāwiliwili harbour

When to book Kauai

Hawaii's best months are April to July and October to November, and May, September and October are among the cheapest. On Kauai the season matters most on the north shore: winter brings big surf and more rain there, while summer is usually the calmest time for Hanalei Bay.

The hotel links here are dated for May. See the best time to visit Hawaii for month-by-month weather, the worst time to visit Hawaii, and the Hawaii hurricane season. Visiting Maui too? Compare where to stay in Maui.

Questions people ask

What is the best area to stay in Kauai?

For most first trips, Poʻipū on the south shore: the most resort hotels, sheltered swimming and drier weather. Princeville and Hanalei suit summer trips and scenery, Kapaʻa suits anyone who wants to explore the whole island, and Līhuʻe suits short stays.

Is it better to stay on the north or south shore of Kauai?

The south shore (Poʻipū) is drier and has calmer winter swimming. The north shore (Princeville and Hanalei) has the most dramatic scenery but much more rain: about 75 inches (1,909 mm) a year at the Princeville Ranch gauge, against about 36 inches (920 mm) at Līhuʻe airport. Many visitors split a trip between the two.

Where is the driest place to stay on Kauai?

The south and west shores, in the lee of the mountains. Poʻipū is the main resort area on that side. The north shore around Princeville and Hanalei is the wettest of the areas in this guide.

Where should families stay on Kauai?

Poʻipū, where Poʻipū Beach Park has sheltered swimming spots and the resorts have pools. In summer, Hanalei Bay on the north shore is another option, but winter surf there can make swimming unsafe.

Do I need a car on Kauai?

Yes for most trips. The areas here are 6 to 48 km from Līhuʻe Airport by road, and Waimea Canyon, Hanalei and the beaches between them are all drives.

How this guide was put together

Road distances from Līhuʻe Airport come from OpenStreetMap routing to the centre of each area, read on November 15, 2026. Rainfall figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 annual normals for the Līhuʻe airport and Princeville Ranch stations. Hotel details (street address, walking distances, guest scores and review counts) come from each hotel's own Trip.com listing, read on November 15, 2026; walking minutes are the listing's distance at 80 metres a minute. Seasons come from the Hawaii month-by-month guide. Hotels are chosen on location, guest score and review count; adults-only, casino and party hotels are left out.

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