You will need to book the trip with a local company. They are well advertised. They pick you up from a pre determined spot in a local shopping area and then take you in their 4 X4 truck. You cannot hike up this road. Ordinary car will not go to the top because it is very steep and the last half mile is covered in ice. It is hard ice at the top so it is very slippery. The top is at 14,000 ft or so ASL so it is quit difficult. You can get breathless and might experience some head ache. Drink plenty of water. But don't let this worry you, if you are sensible, don't run when you are at the top, you will be ok. The sun set views at the top are breath taking (really, and no pun intended!!). There are 14 different observatories (if I remember correctly), all at the very top. You can not go inside them as they are for professional scientists. You do your start gazing at about 8000 ft ASL. The guide will carry a huge telescope and will set it up. This is great fun to watch the night sky. Choose a night which is dark, like nearer to the no-moon night. The spectacle of night sky is amazing. This will be one of your best nights. And yes, must carry many layers of warm clothing: it does get very very cold. Enjoy.

NO!!! If you want to look through a telescope go to the astronomical observatory on Mauna KEA. Mauna Loa is a different mountain with an atmospheric observatory and no telescopes.

There a good views from both mountains if it is a clear day but both are so different. From Mauna Loa you can see the observatories twinkling in the sunshine on Mauna Kea. You can only drive up to 11,000ft on Mauna Loa and only as far as the visitor centre on Mauna Kea unless you have a 4x4. So many things to think about. Volcanic tubes and Lava fields on Mauna Loa. Try searching more on the internet to get more perspective and comments

Again,you guys are talking about wrong mountain. You all drove to Mauna Kea. This post is about Mauna Loa. I actually just made it up to Mauna Loa yesterday, it was several hours trip. Anyone can drive up to Kea, but Loa is different story,i will make new post.

There are tours by appointment only. We did not do a tour. There are plenty of state park volunteers who are very knowledgeable. There are telescopes set up to see planets and stars. It varies during the year.

You would have to check their website. We just drove up to see the view at 11,000ft. You may be thinking of Mauna Kea where the telescopes are. That is open everyday I think. During the day you can take a tour of the Keck Twin telescopes. The rangers will take you in. Stop at the visitor center to find out when they are going in. Everyone has to be off the top 1/2 hour after sun set but there is a parking lot at 12,000 ft to star watch and the visitor center is open late. You will see a cloud running across the center of the sky. That is the Milkyway Galaxy. They set up telescopes to view stars and planets with. It is at 9,500 ft. Dress warm it goes down to the 30s You must have 4wd to go to top. Need more info just ask. I have been to the big island and Maui 5 times.