United StatesHawaii Round Top Drive
Round Top Drive Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

8.1
PDI
4.9 mi
DISTANCE
1,507 ft
GAINED
5.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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INTRO

This climb, along with Tantalus Drive, are the best bike climbs ins the Honolulu and Waikiki area. Ride through a tropical rain forest setting, under tree canopies and tunnels created by banyan trees with some of the greatest views of Honolulu anywhere.   Be sure to experience the Tantalus Drive climb which starts at the same location but by going left at the fork versus right for Round Top.

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via our interactive Profile Tool.
Roadway: 2 lane road with double yellow center stripe and no shoulder in good condition. The first half of the climb is on city streets giving way to rural residential and the second half of the climb is in rain forest surroundings.

Traffic: Mild.

Parking: If school is no in session, park at the Hanahauoli School on Makiki Heights Drive to the left as you start the climb. Otherwise, there are parking spots along Makiki Street near the start of the climb - Map; Street View. 
Provisions: None on the climb but plenty nearby. 
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
This climb can be done as a loop or out-and-back with Round Top Drive - Map - Out and back is 19.6 miles gaining 3,035'. Note that for the out-and-back you really are doing 1 loop back to the start then reversing your loop which takes you back to the start again. In other words, both climbs start at the same location.

Use the “Routes in Area” button on the menu bar above to see other bike climbs in this area. And see our Hawaii climb page for all top bike climbs in the Hawaiian Islands. 

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CLIMB SUMMARY

Bicycle ride Round Top Drive - views of Diamond Head and Honolulu

Cycling Round Top Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii

Ride 4.9 miles to elevation 1,607’ gaining 1,526’ at 5.7%

View west to Diamond Head from mile 2.3

This top Oahu bike climb begins at the eastern edge of Honolulu and shares its start with its sister Climb,Tantalus Drive. The Tantalus and Round Top Drive cycling climbs are the most scenic climbs by bike in the Honolulu area.  

You will not have to guess about the start - prominent in the Arche Baker Mini Park tucked between the start of the Tantalus and Round Top bike climbs is a spectacular earpod tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) that is included on Hawaii’s Exceptional Tree Map[1]

Cycling Tantalus Drive - earpod tree at the start

Start - historically noted earpod tree.

Bicycle ride Round Top Drive - earpod tree plaque at start of climb

Bike climb up Round Top Drive - sign at start of climb

We merge onto Tantalus from Makiki Heights Drive and ride past large estate homes for a quarter mile until we are out of the Honolulu suburbs and into a fairly rural setting featuring tree tunnels and banyan trees.

Climbing Round Top Drive - Puu Ualakaa State Park

State Park at mile 2.5

Climbing by bike Tantalus Drive - hairpin

~12 hairpins along the climb.

Bicycle ride up Round Top Drive - view of Honolulu and Diamond Head from viewpoint.

One of the best viewpoints of Honolulu and Diamond Head at mile 1.8.

The climb ends at Kalawahine Trail which is a 5.7 mile out-back hike through lush tropical trees and foliage.

Biking up Round Top Drive - Kalawahine Trail sign at the end

Caution if you hike here - reportedly very muddy.

Roadway surface and traffic:  There is light traffic along the climb, but all cars we encountered were respectful and moving at the speed limit - 25-30 mph.  The road is generally in good condition with just a couple rough spots to be wary of on the descent.

[1] “For the past two years, The Outdoor Circle has traveled across the State collecting information about the Exceptional Trees of Hawai‘i. By obtaining a tree's: GPS coordinates, diameter, height, condition and photo, we have been able to compile an extensive database for these important specimens. In using this data, we have been able to generate the estimated environmental and economic benefits of these trees, in the hopes of educating the public of the immense benefits that all trees have not only on the environment, but also our daily lives.”  Exceptional Tree Map Home Page.