Best sunrise ever. At one point is daylight and nighttime at the same time and when driving back it feels like the freeway is in the clouds. Stunning! You do need a permit to access during the sunrise so book it with time since the day permits sell out within a minute.

I found it difficult to locate information on the logistics of visiting this place, specifically for the Sunrise Tour. Yes, I booked the reservation on recreation.gov 60 days in advance and had no problem getting a single vehicle admission ticket.
What about how long it takes to get there, when to arrive, and a availability of parking? Couldn’t really find any hard answers on any of these questions online.
Sooo... we left promptly at 0300AM from the Kaanapali area, expecting it to take anywhere from a little over two hours up to three hours to get to the summit.
Admittedly, there is little traffic at 3 AM, so I drove fast and made it to the Haleakala Hwy 37 cutoff in 30 min, and subsequently to the National Park Entrance by 0415!
It was reported on multiple sites that it takes one hour to drive from the park entrance to the Summit parking lot and viewing area. When we got there the park ranger told us it was approximately a 30 minute drive. That was true, as we made it to the Summit parking lot at 4:45 AM.
Note it is a very windy drive with multiple switchbacks so if you’re prone to motion sickness, take precautions. Also it is pitch black out there so be prepared.
The summit parking lot has about 42 parking bays but they also allow parallel parking along the inner perimeter of the lot so I would estimate there’s room for approximately 60 to 65 vehicles. As sunrise was at approximately 6:25 AM, they recommend arriving at least one hour early for a best chance at parking at the summit parking lot. This is a true assessment, as the parking lot filled up by approximately 530AM.
It is very cold and windy and sometimes wet out, so dress warmly. It was about 40 to 42° when we were there. It’s 45 steps up to the Summit Viewing Area. Plan on being at the Viewing Area at least 30 minutes before sunrise time to get a good viewing spot. Pull out your compass and make sure you find a viewing spot facing due East.
Then all you have to do is wait for the magic to happen. Believe me, it is truly awe-inspiring , spectacular and a near-spiritual experience! Also do not leave before the time of sunrise. It may look very cloudy, with no views of the sun, but, come sunrise, here it comes and the views are magnificent!
I would highly recommend this experience while visiting the island of Maui!

Mt Haleakala is an amazing natural beauty. We we going to go for sunrise, but could not get tickets. We drove up late morning and had a great trip that way. Beautiful clear skies. You could see for miles. As we were wrapping up our time there the clouds started coming in. Pretty amazing. Cooler temps at the top. Very hot down in town. Pack a cooler if you want lunch up there. Great photo opportunities.