Volcano National Park is a great place to spend time beyond the crowds at the lava pool, so I recommend staying overnight. You can stay at lodging right in the park, I think. You'll want at least five hours to explore the park (mostly doable by car), more if you want to go on scenic walks.

It's cool to see the lava pool glow at night, but it can get really crowded and you might not get a great view. I went back the following morning at sunrise, and there were maybe two other people there (photographers) and a couple of park rangers. I had a great conversation with the park rangers about the volcanoes, and it was a completely different experience from the evening crowds. Watching the sun rise over the caldera is one of those bucket list items you must do.

Then, there are easy walking trails around the national park that should be doable with children. More serious hikes if you can get some time sans kiddos to explore.

Op here reviving this thread. Meant to pick up a book over the weekend and didn’t - maybe today.

In the meantime, if we want to try to see the flow at night, do we drive to Hilo / stay there and get settled in, then drive to the park for the pm and evening and then drive back to Hilo? That seems like maybe a lot of driving in one day. So maybe drive to Volcano and stay there and drive to Hilo the next day to check it out? Any thoughts how to stay in Hilo, see park at night, and limit the driving.

Also, in terms of my earlier comments re vog, while none of us have asthma I will have a baby with me so her lungs are smaller / more vulnerable.

NP. Anyone here stay at Volcano House? We are booked there for two nights in June. The pics make the volcano glow at night look amazing. I’m hoping it’s that cool at night but I guess we will see. We are staying additional nights further north after a week in Oahu as well but this is our plan for Volcanoes National Park.