Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
18.2 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
‘Aiea, HI
Studio Lichtfang
Keolu Hills, HI
Mike Norris
‘Aiea, HI to Keolu Hills, HI is 18.2 miles and takes about 31 minutes via John A. Burns Freeway, Kalaniana’ole Highway, and HI 78, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the state of Hawaii, offering a quick connection between two points. With a mostly highway profile, you can expect a straightforward drive without many complex turns. It’s a convenient option if you’re looking to cover a small distance efficiently, making it ideal for a single-day excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John A. Burns Freeway | 10.2 mi | 14m |
| Kalaniana’ole Highway | 3 mi | 5m |
| HI 78 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Kamehameha Highway | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Keolu Drive | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| Hele Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Honomanu Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kalanianaole Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between ‘Aiea, HI and Keolu Hills, HI.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Moanalua Road
Turn left onto Honomanu Street
Turn left onto HI 99
Take the ramp onto HI 78
Take the exit
Merge onto I H3
Take the exit
Turn right onto HI 83
Turn left onto HI 61
Continue on HI 61
Continue on HI 72
Turn left onto Keolu Drive
Turn right onto Hele Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 16.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Honomanu Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto HI 99 / Kamehameha Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp onto HI 78 toward I H201 East, I H1 East: Honolulu
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I H3 East: Kaneohe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Keolu Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.08 one way
$8.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.03 | $4.32 | $8.64 |
| premium | $6.22 | $4.46 | $8.91 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $4.50 | $8.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in ‘Aiea on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
HST
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Keolu Hills on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
HST
Current temp
74°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 64% of the 18.2 miles on freeways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 10.2 miles on the John A. Burns Freeway before transitioning to other roads. Expect frequent exits and entrances as you navigate the highway sections. The shift from highway to surface roads will become apparent as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John A. Burns Freeway and Kalaniana’ole Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Honomanu Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.2 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Honomanu Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles (HI 99 / Kamehameha Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles (HI 78): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,593 ft
Total Descent
1,648 ft
Highest Point
1,631 ft
~7.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,599 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between ‘Aiea, HI and Keolu Hills, HI, road signs point toward I H3 East: Kaneohe and Kaneohe.
I H3 East: Kaneohe
Kaneohe
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 18.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (64%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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