Hosmer Grove Campground

The Recreation.gov website does not give much detail and is not user friendly. I read a lot of reviews on this campground to gather the info I needed and to know what to expect. Our main focus was to stay overnight and drive up early for the sunrise. We had a rented Jeep with pop up tent. Camping at Hosmer Grove served it's purpose for that. If we were trying to actually camp, as in set up a camp and stay awhile and spend our time there, this is not the place. The "campground" is just a grassy area with picnic tables and you set up a tent in your small designated area. Zero privacy. Nothing to separate you from your neighbors. If you are camping in a vehicle, you park in the small parking lot and your neighbors are parked right next to you. Zero privacy. Coming from Alaska, this is not what I consider a campground, but rather, a safe place to park for the night for an easier and closer commute to the summit for sunrise. So, depends on what you are going for. As said, it served it's purpose for us but I would not consider actually camping here. As a PSA, to anyone camping, or going to the summit for the sunrise, our first night/morning was 47 degrees and the wind was howling. IT WAS VERY COLD. We came prepared, but it is no joke, when you read the warnings about dressing appropriately, take it seriously and bring hats, gloves, winter coats, warm pants, hand warmers, etc... our second night/morning was 57 degrees and felt a lot better, but still wore all of our gear. I saw so many people at the summit freezing and trying to wrap up in blankets and cover their ears with their hands. Not enjoyable. Go prepared.

Great campground, only thing is car cannot park on the spot you book. So if you're planning on sleeping in your car, it would have to be on the parking lot.

As this camp ground services as a main point for the sunset I would have expected better access for car campers and roof top tents. Every parking space was full with roof top campers on our visit and only 2 tents pitched. As the parking lot is on a slope, most vehicles were unable to find flat ground. This campsite has a lot of wasted space and could use a refresh. There is a lot of potential.

Super small area to camp in a tight area with surrounded by other campers. Super glad all the campers decided to be quiet the night I spent there; if there are some that had conversations late in the night it would keep everyone up. I had site number 2 and I wasn't really certain where to put down my tent; just chose a small plot that was the flattest in the area. Cute Hawaiian rare geese live here, with a house. Pit toilet was super clean and appreciated the soap and sink outside it. Very basic campground, and only gets a lower rating because I think the sites are too tight and there are no trees in the camping area (you are surrounded by them, but none in the small campground). Stars at night are incredible!

We spent 2 nights here, planning for a sunrise, a long (13+ mile) day hike in the park, and ending with a sunset before retiring back to our campsite. This six-site, un-level, grassy clearing is used as expected: campers noisily show up after dark and depart before sunrise (anywhere from 2:45 am to 5:00 am).
And, after dark, Hosmer Grove becomes a lawless free for all. In the dark, it somehow became hard for campers to find their sites with the brown placards spread amongst the grass. We helped out a few to navigate the site layout in the dark while we were awake. I believe tent pads would really help to both provide a level surface and make it clearer for campers to find their spots. One of the nights we had someone set up their tent a foot from our tent nowhere near another site.
Second, it seems about half of the campers are rooftop tent camping. We had some rooftop campers ask if they could pull their car into their site (we told them no, but switched parking spots with them so they could have a flatter spot to park in the lot). The second night someone was parked on the pavement near the grass, not in a parking spot, making actual parking in spots difficult for other campers. I did not notice any signage in the parking lot directing the rooftop crowd on proper etiquette or expectations (especially given everyone arriving after check-in hours). In addition, the car and possibly tent campers will run their vehicles the better part of the night (not sure if they are cold or just charging their phones while they watch Netflix).
I don’t think anyone is expecting a scenic and private camping experience here, but hoping some of this feedback at least makes it tolerable for all as we share this space, which is in a great spot to access the summit in Haleakala NP.

Beautiful cozy location! Chilly at night but worth it for the nene and other native birds.

Easy access, few camping spots, nice location which can be cold and windy, acceptable restrooms, access to drinking water, nice protected seating.

We really enjoyed the atmosphere at the campground. Quiet and peaceful. If you have a campervan, get there early because only a couple of the parking spots are flat. We were pleased to find flush toilets, a sink with soap, and a filtered water refill station.

Was a very nice place juste love it

Nice campsite, loved hiking the crater. Sunrise was unreal and into the crater was just as amazing! So glad we were camped close by and the sunrise was included in our stay. Only subtracted one star because the bathrooms were stinky, but that’s kinda expected. Also, as mentioned by others, we camped November 19/20 and it was very cold getting up at 5-5:30 to go for sunrise. We were prepared with warm sleeping bags (rated to -9) for our overnights and down jackets, gloves and hat for sunrise. We were so happy to have the warm gear at this time of year and that elevation.