Yip Camp and Eco-Retreat Center

Thomas’ land/cottage is the perfect place for a remote, comfortable night close to Volcano National Park. He is a very gracious host and willing to assist you in any way necessary. I definitely would recommend this to anyone looking for a cheap, yet comfortable place to stay.

Alexander C.

1 review

Recommends

· April 2026

With kids ·

The tree frog serenade must be heard to be believed. If you're looking for an inexpensive and beautiful place to stay near Volcanoes, Yip Camp is great -- has a marine toilet, an enclosed shower with hot water, and Thomas keeps fresh batteries in numerous lanterns for you to use. They're in the middle of a fern and 'ohia tree forest. Thomas and Yip the dog are friendly and courteous. Don't be put off by the drive on a dirt road -- there are plenty of those in Big Island upcountry!

Nathaniel D.

2 reviews

Mixed feelings

· March 2026

Enjoyed our stay!

18 ft campervan ·

Fern Forest RV Site 2

We really enjoyed our stay at Thomas and Yip's lovely property! Thomas was a gracious host and we especially appreciated the warm shower and non porto potty toilet. We stayed one night and it was the perfect stop between Volcano NP and Hilo. (Note: I thought I was reviewing a different Hipcamp from our trip, and hit the "mixed feelings" button at the start of this review. I don't know how to undo that, but wanted to note that I do not have mixed feelings.)

Nikki D.

3 reviews

Recommends

· March 2026

Yip yip Hurray!

With kids ·

This is a special place, accessible, private and well maintained. The yip cottage with a hot shower is fun and well appointed. Even with other campers on site there was plenty of room and privacy. The cool night temperatures made it restful. Mahalo, Tom for the great conversations and hosting. I enjoyed the stay!

Brian R.

5 reviews

Recommends

· March 2026

20 ft campervan ·

Our 2 night stay at Yip Camp Eco Retreat was perfect. Close to Volcano Natl Park for a full day of exploring the craters, lava tubes, ocean road vistas. Site was private with toilet and shower available. Tom was a helpful, affable host. Would definitely stay again. .

Rosanne B.

4 reviews

Recommends

· March 2026

17 ft campervan ·

Fern Forest RV Site 2

Nice rural property. Thomas the host is a very nice accommodating guy. He kindly offered his larger tent with good rain protection to the person in my party who only had a small backpacking tent that was already wet from rain the day before. Rustic place but fine. Only a few miles from Volcano National Park.

John G.

5 reviews

Recommends

· March 2026

Tent ·

Thomas is a wonderful host. I booked a site on his land rather urgently after finding out that the National Park was closed. He’s only a 20 minute drive from there, so I was able to get up and go the next day. He’s very friendly, welcoming, and engaging. If you’re looking for a place to stay in the area, I can’t recommend this site enough. Thank you.

Nathan H.

2 reviews

Recommends

· March 2026

The cabin is incredibly cute and very comfortable. Thomas is a super friendly host and a nice guy. I would recommend doing the initial approach to the place in daylight as they are rural roads but all in all it's an amazing place to stay

Kent G.

2 reviews

Recommends

· February 2026

Yip Camp 2026

Yip Camp is easily accessible, located on the big island of Hawaii. This property is just a few miles from Volcano National Park off a cinder forest road. It’s a beautiful place, with chickens and roosters roaming the grounds, very green lush and peaceful. We stayed in the tiny “cottage”. It was exactly what we expected. Rustic, & charming. A dry place to lay our heads after a long day of exploring the island. It has a queen sized bed, a loft with a bed, a table, lanterns, a tabletop burner, pans etc. There is an outdoor toilet and shower with lots of hot water. A table and chairs to sit on outside. There was also a place to have a campfire and a picnic table. Thomas was an excellent host, very friendly and offered ideas of places to visit, explore and dine. Yet he gave us plenty of privacy. He was very easy to get a hold of the day we flew in & returned phone calls promptly. I intended to camp in a tent, but I’m happy I booked the cottage as it rained every day the entire week. Even though it was wet the roads were always accessible. My husband and I had a great experience and would recommend Thomas property Yip Camp to others who were looking for an adventure and a bit of the outdoors and the country over staying in Hilo or Kona.

Gidget N.

4 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· February 2026

Great Hospitality

17 ft campervan ·

We really enjoyed our short stay at Yip Camp after a few days in Volcano National Park. We are so grateful for Thomas's hospitality :)

Debrah M.

3 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· February 2026

6 ft campervan · Group trip ·

The host Tom is a very nice person, we got very well welcomed. As it was raining and we had a tent, he let us sleeping for free into one of his set. There is an outside shower and toilets with hot water. The site is very close to the Volcano National Park.

Bastien M.

2 reviews

Recommends

· February 2026

This was such a fun stay! The cabin was full of character and Thomas was so welcoming and laid-back. We loved our encounters with the namesake host and property security (Yip). The cabin is close to a couple other camping sites on the land but it still feels private. The cabin itself was super comfortable - warm bed, hot shower, and cool loft which came in handy for drying our perpetually damp clothes. The rainforest around the site is lush and dense. No stars as it was dumping the whole weekend but the sounds of the rain pattering on the roof and the symphony of coquis made for the perfect lullaby. We had a 4x4 so getting to the cabin was no problem but I'd definitely drive slow on the approach road as it's very dark at night and puddles/potholes seem to spawn in a few hours! Mahalo again, Thomas! We hope to see you again.

Ness M.

6 reviews

Recommends

· February 2026

Tent ·

I camped in the back field where it was nice, private and spacious. Thomas was very communicative and kind, and was able to show me around upon arrival. It was a peaceful place to stay, even with the rooster coos from time to time.

Caitlin T.

4 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

Tent ·

Cool spot and a generous host. Recommend! (Earplugs essential for the frogs and roosters. ;)

Emily R.

2 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

Beautiful location away from crowds

18 ft campervan ·

We had a great time at Thomas' property which had a beautiful ambiance and a relaxed vibe. Thomas treated us great and was friendly and gave us great suggestions for places to see.

Jonathan G.

6 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

We stayed in the little cabin - so cute & comfy! All amenities listed & a welcoming host.

S. Dhyana I.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2026

Jungle paradise.

Tent ·

The site is so beautiful. Flowers abound. Be sure to meet with the host first. He has helpful info, and is a delight.

Katherine W.

3 reviews

Recommends

· January 2026

Recharge

10 ft pop-up camper ·

Great star watching spot, warm showers, and fire pit to chill. Take in the energy

Travis E.

6 reviews

Recommends

· December 2025

Camping to build community

15 ft pop-up camper ·

8 by 8 tent two cots, amenities

Thomas is a delight, his place has a fantastic vibe. Very close to volcano, and many beaches. Has a secluded area for star watching. We greatly enjoyed him , his place and the wonderful dogYip, be sure to ask to meet Lary ....the guardian of the lot. We made a friend and a great time spent.

Travis E.

6 reviews

Recommends

· December 2025

A true treasure

Tom and his idealic paradise made us feel safe, warm and fully considered. The space, his presence, yip (his pup), and the overall energy at yipcamp is calm and energizing. To find this gem is no mistake. Thanks for everything Tom! You da man!

Jeremy N.

4 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· December 2025

Amazing experience

With kids ·

We loved every part of our stay. From the start, the communication was excellent and friendly, to the night of our stay we enjoyed the adorable cabin. In the morning our boys were even treated to getting feed the local pets:) We would absolutely stay again.

Keri E.

2 reviews

Recommends

· December 2025

Tent ·

We had a great time at Yipcamp with Tom, Yip, and the chickens. Tom was very hospitable, friendly and communicative. The amenities were there, the toilet flushed and the shower got nice and hot! The land at Yipcamp is beautiful. I would recommend it to anyone, and it being close to all the stuff in the Volcano park was perfect. We’d definitely stay again, thank you Tom and Yip!

Sarah H.

5 reviews

Recommends

· December 2025

Thomas was incredibly accommodating as we booked this cabin last minute so that we could spend more time on the east side of the Big Island without having to drive back to Kona. He was there to greet us in the evening when we arrived after a day at the park, and was there to send us off as we continued on our journey in the morning. This cabin provides more of a camping feel as the property is off the grid, but you'll find all the essentials such as a full sized bed, linens, warm shower and a toilet. If you're like me and attract mosquitos, bringing a mosquito net may be useful as well.

Kevin A.

2 reviews

Recommends

· December 2025

Rain forest tiny house!!!!

With kids ·

Thomas’s house was a very unique side of Hawaii we were hoping for, if your looking for a backwoods rainforest tiny house stay this place is it. Thx again

Matthew E.

3 reviews

Recommends

· November 2025

Tom was absolutely wonderful—so accommodating, even when we booked his cottage at the last minute! He made us coffee in the morning, gave us a lovely tour of the property, and was such a joy to chat with. He even sent us home with fresh fruit and flowers! The cottage itself was cozy and comfortable, and I was especially happy to find the shower had nice hot water. Highly recommend!

Abby C.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2025

16 ft car ·

Fern Forest RV Site 2

Staying at Thomas’s place was absolutely wonderful! From the moment we arrived, Thomas was incredibly kind, welcoming, and attentive, a truly wonderful host. The camp itself is quiet and peaceful, surrounded by the beauty and stillness of the Big Island. It’s definitely rustic, simple, and close to nature, but that’s exactly what makes it so special. You can really disconnect, slow down, and enjoy the essentials. Waking up to birdsong and falling asleep under the stars, accompanied by the gentle chorus of coqui frogs, felt absolutely magical.

Camilla S.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2025

Tent · With kids ·

Spent a lovely two nights at Yip Camp! Thomas was welcoming, made sure we had everything we needed, and offered some good local recs. Nice place to land while exploring the volcano, and so close to nature !

Anastasiya B.

5 reviews

Recommends

· October 2025

8 by 8 tent two cots, amenities

Thomas was great! Just what we needed for crash pad while driving around the island. Highly recommend!

Danielle B.

2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

Beautiful little site. Close to the national park and a bunch of cute stuff. Thomas was super nice and welcoming

Jack S.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2025

Cute cottage

With pets ·