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Maui ATV tours with kids

Age rules decide a family booking more than anything else. A 7-year-old can ride above Kapalua, a licensed 16-year-old can drive on the Wailuku side, and a 6-year-old fits on only one zipline.

Two adults and two children in helmets sitting in an off-road side-by-side, looking out over a blue bay and a distant island
On the Lahaina tour, children from 7 ride as passengers.

Booking choice: The Lahaina ATV Adventure, from $203 per person. Check dates Tour details

West Maui's two ATV tours have very different rules for children. The Lahaina ATV Adventure lets children ride from age 7 in a shared four-seat side-by-side. The West Maui Mountains ATV ride is built around ATVs you pilot yourself, so the driving age is 16.

Below are the rules for each, the family pricing, and the ziplines and horseback rides that take younger children.

The quick answer

On the Lahaina ATV Adventure, children aged 7 to 17 ride as passengers, up to two per driver, and that driver must be 25 or older; there are no booster seats. On the West Maui Mountains ATV ride the minimum age to drive is 16 and drivers need a valid licence; for under-16s the listing mentions a guide-driven 6-seater, so ask the operator first. Ziplines start at 10 (Ka'anapali), 8 (Haleakala) or 6 (Maui Jungle Zipline), and both horseback rides at 7.

Can kids go on the Lahaina ATV tour?

Yes, from age 7, as passengers: children aged 7 to 17 ride with an adult driver, up to two children per driver.

Every child needs their own ticket, seat belts stay on at all times, and there are no booster seats. One parent wrote that their kids got to plant a tree during the tour, something many reviewers mention.

Kids aged 7 or over? Check dates for the four-seat side-by-sides above Kapalua.

Check dates for the Lahaina ATV Adventure

How old do you have to be to drive?

18 with a valid driver's licence on the Lahaina tour, and 25 or older to drive anyone under 18; 16 with a valid licence on the West Maui Mountains ride.

This catches out families with a young adult driver: on the Lahaina tour, a 22-year-old can drive friends but not a younger sibling. Teens of 16 and 17 can drive their own quad on the West Maui Mountains ride, which one parent recommended "if you have responsible teens".

A line of quad bikes on a red-dirt ranch track between tall grass
Teens of 16 and 17 can drive their own quad on the West Maui Mountains ride.

What about children under 16 at West Maui Mountains?

Not on your own quad: the minimum age to drive is 16. The listing mentions a guide-driven option for younger riders, which the operator's own page does not.

The Viator listing says "Minimum age is 16 years to Drive" and adds "6-Seater UTV driven by our guide available for riders under 16 years", yet its ticket options start at 16. Maui Mountain Activities' own ATV page says "Minimum age is 16yrs and all minors must be accompanied by an adult" and does not mention a 6-seater. To bring a child under 16, ask the operator before you book; otherwise choose the Lahaina tour, which takes children from 7. Guests also mention a small animal farm at the ranch with peacocks, piglets and deer; one family wrote they would have been happy just hanging out with the animals.

West Maui Mountains ATV Adventure

Teens who want to pilot their own ATV: 8 guests at most, with water, soda and juice included.

★ 4.9 · 1.5 hours · from $229

Explore the West Maui Mountains ATV ride Tour details

Is an ATV tour safe for children?

The operators build in rules for it: seat belts at all times, helmets for everyone, guides who set the pace, and no passing.

On the Lahaina tour, driving off the existing trails ends the tour. It is still a bumpy ride with switch-backs and river-bed crossings, and it is not for anyone with neck, back or knee problems. Think about how your child copes with long, bumpy car rides before you book.

Two side-by-sides in tall green grass at golden hour, with a pond and trees beyond
Guides lead and set the pace; there is no passing.

What does a family pay?

Direct, two adults and two children in one vehicle come to $703 on the Lahaina operator's rate card; on Viator it is four tickets, adults from $203, with child prices shown at checkout.

The operator's rate card adds $149 for each extra child and $189 for each extra adult. Viator adds free cancellation up to 24 hours before, against the operator's 48-hour, no-refund rule. The full breakdown is in the Lahaina ATV price guide.

Planning for four? Viator tickets cancel free up to 24 hours before.

Check dates for the Lahaina ATV Adventure

Which ziplines take younger children?

The Maui Jungle Zipline from 6, the Haleakala zipline from 8 and the Ka'anapali zipline from 10.

All three weigh guests at check-in, and at the Maui Jungle Zipline anyone outside its weight range is turned away without a refund. The Ka'anapali and Haleakala ziplines need under-16s to be with an adult. Only the Ka'anapali zipline is in West Maui; the Haleakala zipline is Upcountry in Kula, and the Maui Jungle Zipline is in Haiku, near the start of the Hana Highway.

ZiplineWhereMin ageWeight rangeFrom
Ka'anapali ziplineKa'anapali1080 to 260 lb$237
Haleakala ziplineKula860 to 260 lb$178
Maui Jungle ZiplineHaiku650 to 250 lb$177
Guests on a wooden zipline platform on a red-dirt hillside above the coast
The Ka'anapali zipline takes children from 10.

Can kids go horseback riding instead?

Yes, from 7 on both ranch rides: the West Maui Mountains horseback ride and Circle M Ranch.

Mind the weight limits for the adults: 215 lb on the West Maui Mountains ride and 230 lb at Circle M Ranch, where guests are weighed and anyone over the limit is turned away without a refund. One parent wrote that the Circle M staff "took care of my 8yo making sure she was safe and having fun".

Riders in single file on horseback along a shaded, tree-lined trail
Both ranch rides take children from 7.

Horse lovers in the family? Circle M Ranch rides with paniolo guides from age 7.

Check dates for the Circle M Ranch horseback ride

What if your children are under 7?

None of the ATV or horseback tours here take them, and only the Maui Jungle Zipline takes 6-year-olds; for younger children, the Ka'anapali sunset dinner sail has a child rate from age 3.

The sail is two hours on the water from Ka'anapali Beach with dinner on board, and kids and teens pay less than adults. See West Maui adventure tours compared for every option side by side.

Ka'anapali Beach Sunset Dinner Sail

Too young for the trails? The sunset dinner sail has youth and child rates and dinner on board.

★ 4.7 · 2 hours · from $168

Explore the Ka'anapali sunset dinner sail Tour details

Frequently asked questions

Can a 6-year-old go on a Maui ATV tour?

Not on an ATV tour. The Lahaina tour starts at 7, and the West Maui Mountains ride sets a minimum age of 16 to drive, with a guide-driven 6-seater mentioned for under-16s that you should ask the operator about. Of the tours here, only the Maui Jungle Zipline takes 6-year-olds.

Can a 16-year-old drive on the Lahaina ATV tour?

No. Drivers must be 18 with a valid licence. A licensed 16- or 17-year-old can drive their own quad on the West Maui Mountains ride.

Do children need their own ticket?

Yes. On the Lahaina tour every passenger, adult or child, needs a ticket.

Are booster seats provided?

No. The Lahaina operator does not provide booster seats.

Ready to book

Choose your ride

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.

Lahaina ATV Adventure: Small-Group UTV Tour

Lahaina ATV Adventure: Small-Group UTV Tour

★ 4.8 · 2 hours

  • Guided two-hour off-road tour in a four-seat side-by-side (UTV)
  • Helmets and goggles (required for everyone)
  • Two stops so drivers can switch and take photos
From$203per personCheck dates
West Maui Mountains ATV Adventure

West Maui Mountains ATV Adventure

★ 4.9 · 1.5 hours

  • Guided 1.5-hour ride on your own ATV, maximum 8 guests
  • Helmets provided; water, soda and juice included
  • Viator tickets from age 16; under-18s ride with an adult
From$229per personCheck dates
Maui Jungle Zipline Tour

Maui Jungle Zipline Tour

★ 4.9 · 2 hours

Jungle ziplines if you are driving to Hana

From$177per personCheck dates

Plan your date before you go

Two hours of red-dirt trails above Kapalua in a four-seat side-by-side, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check dates for the Lahaina ATV Adventure