Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
37.8 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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.
Kā‘anapali, HI
Vie Studio
Makawao, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Kā‘anapali to Makawao is 37.8 miles and takes about 1h 5m via Honoapiilani Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within the Hawaii region, offering a straightforward drive across the island. It's a relatively short route, making it easy to fit into a flexible schedule. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so expect a relaxed pace. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a quick transition between two distinct areas of the island without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Honoapiilani Highway | 14.2 mi | 24m |
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Kuihelani Highway | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Lahaina Bypass | 5 mi | 9m |
| Makawao Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Hana Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Kula Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Ka‘anapali Parkway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kā‘anapali, HI and Makawao, HI.
Start on this road
Enter roundabout onto Ka‘anapali Parkway
Continue on Ka‘anapali Parkway
Turn right onto HI-30
Turn left onto Keawe Street
Continue on HI 3000
Continue on HI-30
Turn right onto HI 380
Continue on HI 380
Turn right onto HI 36
Turn right onto HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Turn left onto HI-365
Turn left onto HI 390
Turn left onto Ukiu Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Kā‘anapali, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto Ka‘anapali Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left onto Keawe Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto HI 36 / Hana Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto HI 37 / Haleakala Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto HI-365 / Makawao Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.39 one way
$16.78 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.92 | $8.80 | $17.61 |
| premium | $6.14 | $9.13 | $18.27 |
| diesel | $7.27 | $10.81 | $21.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Kā‘anapali on Saturday
Local time
5:49 AM
HST
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Makawao on Saturday
Local time
5:49 AM
HST
Current temp
66°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 drive features a 2% highway share, meaning most of your time will be spent on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 14.2 miles on Honoapiilani Highway. You'll transition away from highway driving relatively quickly, settling into a rhythm on local roads. Expect typical surface road conditions with moderate traffic flow as you navigate between towns.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Ka‘anapali Parkway.
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 37.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (Ka‘anapali Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.3 miles (Keawe Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 26.8 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,903 ft
Total Descent
323 ft
Highest Point
1,593 ft
~37.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,584 ft
Makawao is a town on the island of Maui in the state of Hawai'i, United States of America. Pronounced MAH-kah-wow and meaning "Eye of the Forest," Makawao is one of four towns (the others are Ha'iku, Pukalani and Kula) that make up the semi-ambiguous region known as "Upcountry." As Makawao marks the start of a vast expanse of jungle-like rainforests that wrap around the north and east sides of Maui, it is naturally wet and cool. Average temperatures are generally 5 to 10 degrees below those at sea-levels or in Kahului. Makawao is known for its cowboy culture, incredibly eclectic mix of residents, uniquely laid-back and liberal character and delicious local eateries.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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