🏝 Baldwin Beach Park, Maui: First Visit Ultimate Guide (2024)

Baldwin Beach Maui blog post cover image.  Text overlaying an image of a woman in a bikini walking towards the turquoise water on Baldwin Beach, with the West Maui Mountains under clouds in the background.

Baldwin Beach Park is widely considered the best beach on the North Shore of Maui. More than just a beach, this park offers basketball courts, BBQ pits, restrooms, showers, and even a covered picnic area right in the sand.

Pillowy-soft white sand and vibrant turquoise ocean water complete the tropical scenery, set against the majestic West Maui Mountain range in the distance.

Travelers considering a visit to the Maui North Shore or thinking of stopping in as they begin the Road to Hana will find everything they need to know about visiting in this complete guide to Baldwin Beach Park.

We have provided information on how to get there, services available, descriptions, photos, and more.

Baldwin Beach Park Overview

SERVICES

  • Nearest Town: Paia (voted a Top 10 town in Maui to visit!)
  • Parking: Large parking lot open from 7am-8pm.
  • Fees: None. Parking and entry at Baldwin Beach Park are free.
  • Public Bathrooms? Yes, large facilities.
  • Picnic Benches? Yes, covered picnic benches are available on the shore.
  • Showers? Yes.
  • Grills? Yes.
  • Lifeguard? Yes.

DESCRIPTION

Thriving palm trees decorate the park entrance and create those chill aloha vibes before your toes even touch the soft white sand. With its tropical blue and aqua water, pristine white sand shore, mountain views, and lush greenery, Baldwin Beach Park is definitely the best beach on the North Shore of Maui.

Add in the many amenities made available, including a shaded seating area for having a picnic on the beach, lifeguard, clean restrooms, showers, and recreational facilities and you have one of the best beaches in all of Hawaii!

The park is open daily from 7am-8pm. After this time, the parking is gated and vehicles can be ticketed or towed. Full facilities are available, including a lifeguard, as indicated above.

The beach itself is a wide open space running in both directions. If you walk all the way to the left (facing the ocean), you will eventually come to another popular destination known as Sprecklesville Beach.

Alternatively, if you head right you can walk to Paia Secret Beach and from there to Paia Beach.

How to Get to Baldwin Beach Park

A satellite view of the Maui North Shore.
The red pin in the satellite view above indicates the location of Baldwin Beach Park.

With Navigation: Your GPS will recognize this famous beach by name.

General Directions: Baldwin Beach Park is located off of Hana Hwy less than 1-mile west of Paia town. A large, unmissable sign and tall palm trees at the gate indicate the entry point.

When to Visit

Travel blogger Sophie Marland wearing a swimsuit walks the golden shoreline of Baldwin Beach as tropical aqua waves break and the West Maui Mountains loom in the distance.

The best time to visit Baldwin Beach Park is either in the morning when the beach is quiet and the water calm, or at sunset.

Depending on the time of year, the sun will go down behind or nearby the West Maui Mountains in the distance, creating a magical Maui sunset.

The park officially closes at 8pm and the gate will be locked eventually, though usually not at 8pm sharp. Any vehicles left inside may be ticketed or towed. Therefore, ensure you stay nearby if you want to enjoy the sunset and linger.

Baldwin Beach Park FAQs

Learn the answers to the most frequently asked questions for visiting this North Shore beach park by clicking the dropdown arrows below.

Is Baldwin Beach good for swimming and snorkeling?

Baldwin Beach is ok for short swims close to the shore as there is very little lava rock or coral reef to contend with. However, it is not good for snorkeling or lengthy swims as it is known for having powerful shore breaks and strong currents.

Even when the surf is gentle, the snorkeling at Baldwin Beach is a little underwhelming compared to other beaches on the Maui North Shore.

How much is parking at Baldwin Beach in Maui?

Parking is free at Baldwin Beach in Maui. Further, there is no charge for entry or use of services.

Is Baldwin Beach Maui worth visiting?

Baldwin Beach Park is a great place to visit whether you only have an hour on the way to Hana or a whole day of relaxation available. Plentiful services are provided and the scenery here is some of the most beautiful in all of Maui.

Baldwin Beach Park Photo Gallery

  • Sophie Marland stands on the beautiful golden sand of Baldwin Beach on the north shore of Maui.

The Baldwin Beach Park photo gallery above showcases the outstanding beauty of this north shore gem.

The tropical colors of the sand, trees, and water look like something straight out of a postcard. It is no wonder this incredible shoreline is often considered one of the best beaches of Hawaii.

More Maui Beaches & Travel Guides

A young female swimmer waits on the shore of Red Sand Beach in Maui.
Discover the best Secret Beaches of Maui, including the incredible Red Sand Beach seen above.

Before you go, you may want to skim some of the titles for other relevant Maui guides below to ensure you do not miss any epic beaches, sunset destinations, or noteworthy things to do during your visit to the Valley Isle!

Final Thoughts

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We hope you have found this guide to Baldwin Beach Park useful! Now we’d love to hear your thoughts!

Did we miss anything important? Are there any 2023 updates we need to make? Was it everything you hoped it would be?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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Photo of author
Written by
Adam Marland is a professional travel blogger and landscape photographer from Oregon. After over a decade of experience as a freelance travel photographer, Adam found national acclaim when he became the National Park Foundation's β€œChief Exploration Officer” in 2021.

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