# Do you need a car on Kauai with kids?

Written 2026-10-10 by Play Day. Yes, nearly always. Kauai has one road, no real transit and the beaches are spread along it. The exceptions: the Poipu resorts where a family can go three days without the keys, and the Kalapaki hotels next to the airport. Where to stay if you'd rather not drive much.

Kauai is beaches, animals and wild chickens that turn up everywhere.

You need a car on Kauai. One highway runs past the beaches, the canyon and the north shore, and there's no real transit. The exception is a resort stay in Poipu, where the beach, the pools, a few restaurants and the shopping village are on foot, and a family with a toddler can go days without driving. For car seats, the rental companies rent them, and so do local baby-gear services that deliver to the airport.

## Poipu, where you can park it for days

The beach, the Shops at Kukui'ula and a dozen restaurants are all on foot or a short shuttle.

### [Sheraton Kauai Resort](https://ourplayday.com/places/sheraton-kauai-resort-kauai)

Area: Poipu

The sand is a few steps away, and Poipu Beach Park, with its protected toddler pool, is a walk along the shore. There are two pools, and it's the most car-free address on the island.

- Pool: Yes

### [Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu](https://ourplayday.com/places/koloa-landing-resort-at-poipu-kauai)

Area: Poipu

The biggest pool complex on the island is here, with waterslides and a splash area. The villa kitchen means no drive to dinner, the ocean is across the road, and a family can do three days here and only drive to the airport.

- Suites: Yes
- Kitchenette: Yes
- Pool: Yes
- Splash pad: Yes
- Laundry: Yes

### [Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa](https://ourplayday.com/places/grand-hyatt-kauai-resort-spa-kauai)

Area: Poipu

There's a lagoon with a sandy beach, gardens to push a stroller through and restaurants on site, so there's little reason to leave. The shopping village is a shuttle away.

- Pool: Yes

### [Kiahuna Plantation Resort by Outrigger](https://ourplayday.com/places/kiahuna-plantation-resort-kauai-by-outrigger-kauai)

Area: Poipu

Condos on Kiahuna Beach, with the Poipu Shopping Village across the road for groceries and dinner, and the waterslide pool is at the athletic club. It's the closest thing to a beach house you can stay at without a car.

- Suites: Yes
- Kitchenette: Yes
- Pool: No
- Laundry: Yes
- Airport shuttle: No

## Kalapaki, next to the airport

Ten minutes from the plane, with a sheltered bay and Lihue's shops a short drive.

### [The Royal Sonesta Kauai Resort Lihue](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-royal-sonesta-kauai-resort-lihue-kauai)

Area: Kalapaki Beach

On a protected bay where kids boogie-board and wade, with a huge pool and a separate shallow kids' pool with its own slide. Restaurants are on site and at the harbor next door, and the car is for the days you go to Waimea Canyon or the north shore.

- Suites: Yes
- Pool: Yes
- Airport shuttle: Yes

### [Marriott's Kauai Beach Club](https://ourplayday.com/places/marriott-s-kauai-beach-club-kauai)

Area: Kalapaki Beach

Roomier vacation-club villas that share the Kalapaki grounds with the Royal Sonesta, and a kids' pool of their own.

- Suites: Yes
- Kitchenette: Yes
- Pool: Yes
- Airport shuttle: Yes

## Everywhere else, you drive

Kapaa and Princeville are lovely and the beaches are a drive from the door.

### [Waipouli Beach Resort and Spa by Outrigger](https://ourplayday.com/places/waipouli-beach-resort-spa-kauai-by-outrigger-kauai)

Area: Kapaa

With flume slides in the river pool and a supermarket next door, a lazy day here needs no car, and Kapaa's bike path is the only car-free outing.

- Suites: Yes
- Kitchenette: Yes
- Pool: Yes
- Airport shuttle: No

### [The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-westin-princeville-ocean-resort-villas-kauai)

Area: Princeville

Hanalei and Anini beaches are ten minutes by car. The north shore is the drive-everywhere side, and the drive is the prettiest on the island.

- Suites: Yes
- Kitchenette: Yes
- Pool: Yes
- Laundry: Yes
- Airport shuttle: No

### [1 Hotel Hanalei Bay](https://ourplayday.com/places/1-hotel-hanalei-bay-kauai)

Area: Princeville

Seedlings, the nature-based kids' program, gives kids their own plan for part of the day, and a path leads down to the beach. Hanalei town is a five-minute drive. You could spend a day without leaving the resort, but you'll want the car for the rest of the island.

- Kitchenette: Yes
- Pool: Yes

Page: https://ourplayday.com/guides/united-states/hawaii/kauai/do-you-need-a-car-with-kids