Hawaiian Acres to Hilo is 16.6 miles and takes about 38 minutes via Mamalahoa Highway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive connects two locations within the Hawaii region, offering a straightforward local transit experience. Given its brief duration, this route is best suited for a quick trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. You'll be navigating primarily local roads, so expect to be attentive to your surroundings. It's a simple hop between points, perfect for when you need to get from one place to another without a long commitment.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Mamalahoa Highway
4.1 mi
5m
Kanoelehua Avenue
3.7 mi
5m
Volcano Road
2.8 mi
4m
Kamehameha Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
8 Road
1.5 mi
5m
Opeapea Road
1 mi
4m
D Road
0.4 mi
3m
C Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Mamalahoa Highway
— 4.1 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawaiian Acres, HI and Hilo, HI.
1
Start on D Road
0.4 mi·3 min·D Road
2
Turn left onto Opeapea Road
1.0 mi·4 min·Opeapea Road
3
Turn right onto C Road
0.3 mi·1 min·C Road
4
Turn left onto 8 Road
1.5 mi·5 min·8 Road
5
Continue on A Road
0.3 mi·1 min·A Road
6
Turn left onto Kuauli Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Kuauli Road
7
Turn right onto HI 11
2.8 mi·4 min·Volcano Road
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on HI 11
4.1 mi·5 min·Mamalahoa Highway
9
Continue on 11
3.7 mi·5 min·Kanoelehua Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto 19
1.7 mi·3 min·Kamehameha Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on Wailuku Drive
496 ft·23 sec·Wailuku Drive
12
Turn right onto Puueo Street
0.3 mi·57 sec·Puueo Street
13
Turn left onto Lehua Street
330 ft·14 sec·Lehua Street
14
Arrive at destination
Lehua Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 14.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~3m in|Opeapea Road
Turn left onto Opeapea Road
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip|~7m in|C Road
Turn right onto C Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.6 mi into trip|~16m in|Kuauli Road
Turn left onto Kuauli Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.9 mi into trip|~17m in|HI 11 / Volcano Road
Turn right onto HI 11 / Volcano Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
14.5 mi into trip|~32m in|19 / Kamehameha Avenue
Turn left onto 19 / Kamehameha Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.49 one way
$6.97 round trip
$5.33/gal25.4 MPG avg6 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.61
$3.67
$7.33
premium
$5.80
$3.79
$7.58
diesel
$5.60
$3.66
$7.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
5
0
$1.74
$0.80
Efficient EV
4.2
0
$1.45
$0.66
EV Truck/SUV
6.6
0
$2.32
$1.06
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Aug 16, 2026
Origin
Hawaiian Acres, HI
Night
in Hawaiian Acres on Tuesday
Local time
10:43 PM
HST
Current temp
72°F
Tropical Storm Conditions Possible With Hurricane Conditions Also Possible
S 7 mph100% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued August 16 at 2:50AM HST until August 16 at 4:00AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued August 16 at 2:07AM HST until August 16 at 5:00AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Destination
Hilo, HI
Night
in Hilo on Tuesday
Local time
10:43 PM
HST
Current temp
73°F
Tropical Storm Conditions Possible With Hurricane Conditions Also Possible
S 8 mph96% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued August 16 at 2:50AM HST until August 16 at 4:00AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued August 16 at 2:07AM HST until August 16 at 5:00AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
38m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with no highway driving to speak of. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 4.1 miles on Mamalahoa Highway. You'll be navigating a series of local roads, so it's important to be prepared for frequent turns and changes in direction. The drive progresses by taking you through local areas rather than vast open landscapes, requiring constant awareness of your immediate surroundings. It’s a route where staying alert to traffic signals and intersections is key.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.1 mi on Mamalahoa Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Opeapea Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 16.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (Opeapea Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (C Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (Kuauli Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,015 ft8 ft
Total Climb
72 ft
Total Descent
1,006 ft
Highest Point
1,015 ft
Elevation Range
1,006 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Hilo is a town on the Big Island of Hawaii. The county seat and largest city in Hawaii County, Hilo is one of the best starting points to explore the eastern half of the island, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Top landmarks
•Hilo Masonic Lodge Hall-Bishop Trust Building — historic Place in Hawaii County, Hawaii
•Palace Theatre — movie theater in Hilo, Hawaii, United States
•Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii — astronomy and culture education center located in Hilo, Hawaii, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 16.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.1 miles on Mamalahoa Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Opeapea Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (C Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (Kuauli Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hilo, HI before heading back.
