Kalaoa to Kurtistown is 77.9 miles and takes about 1h 50m via Daniel K. Inouye Highway, Mamalahoa Highway, and Puainako Street, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the island of Hawaii, taking you across varied terrain. It's a straightforward trip that covers a good chunk of the island. Plan for this to be a single-day excursion, as the duration is quite manageable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39 miles from Kalaoa, HI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Daniel K. Inouye Highway
45.4 mi
59m
Mamalahoa Highway
22.7 mi
33m
Puainako Street
4.4 mi
6m
Kanoelehua Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
West Puainako Street
1.6 mi
3m
Volcano Road
1.3 mi
1m
Kua Aina Road
0.3 mi
1m
Mahilani Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Daniel K. Inouye Highway
— 45.4 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kalaoa, HI and Kurtistown, HI.
1
Start on Mahilani Drive
0.2 mi·54 sec·Mahilani Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto 190
19 mi·27 min·Mamalahoa Highway
3
Turn slight right
262 ft·6 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto 200
45 mi·59 min·Daniel K. Inouye Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on 200
4.4 mi·6 min·Puainako Street
Use the straight lane.
6
At end of road, turn right onto 2000
223 ft·11 sec·Komohana Street
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left onto 2000
1.6 mi·3 min·West Puainako Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto Kanoelehua Avenue
1.9 mi·2 min·Kanoelehua Avenue
9
Continue on 11
4.0 mi·5 min·Mamalahoa Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on HI 11
1.3 mi·1 min·Volcano Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Kua Aina Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Kua Aina Road
12
Turn right
347 ft·25 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 50m duration, this route is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and take advantage of the flexibility this shorter drive offers. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you transition off the main highway segments. Since there are no specific recommended stops, you can be spontaneous. The longest stretch without a major road change is 45.4 miles on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, so plan accordingly for any needs before or after that section.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39 miles from Kalaoa, HI, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kurtistown, HI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kalaoa, HI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kalaoa, HI
This is one driving day of about 77.9 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Kalaoa, HI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Daniel K. Inouye Highway for about 45.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 77.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|190 / Mamalahoa Highway
At end of road, turn left onto 190 / Mamalahoa Highway
Navigation decision point
3
18.8 mi into trip|~28m in
Turn slight right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|2000 / Komohana Street
At end of road, turn right onto 2000 / Komohana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|2000 / West Puainako Street
Turn left onto 2000 / West Puainako Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|Kua Aina Road
Turn right onto Kua Aina Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.23 one way
$30.46 round trip
$4.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.28
$16.19
$32.37
premium
$5.46
$16.73
$33.46
diesel
$4.80
$14.71
$29.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.4
0
$8.18
$3.74
Efficient EV
19.5
0
$6.82
$3.12
EV Truck/SUV
31.2
0
$10.91
$4.99
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Jul 15, 2026
Origin
Kalaoa, HI
Afternoon
in Kalaoa on Saturday
Local time
3:27 PM
HST
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
NE 3 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 14 at 3:41PM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Destination
Kurtistown, HI
Afternoon
in Kurtistown on Saturday
Local time
3:27 PM
HST
Current temp
66°F
Chance Rain Showers
WSW 3 mph66% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 14 at 3:41PM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2 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
1h 50m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Along the western coastline of the Island of Hawaiʻi lies the hot, rugged lava of Kaloko-Honokōhau. This seemingly barren and harsh landscape does not appear to be suitable for human existence, and ye...
Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhon...
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique geological, biological, and cherished cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,680 feet, the park encompasses t...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
$30
near mile 48.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive begins on surface roads, transitioning to Daniel K. Inouye Highway for a substantial 45.4-mile stretch. After this segment, you'll return to surface roads like Mamalahoa Highway and Puainako Street for the remainder of the trip. With no highway share, expect a consistent pace across varied local roads.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.4 mi on Daniel K. Inouye Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 190 / Mamalahoa Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 50m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (190 / Mamalahoa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 68.7 miles (2000 / Komohana Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.4 miles on Daniel K. Inouye 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 0.2 miles (190 / Mamalahoa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 18.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 68.7 miles (2000 / Komohana Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kurtistown, HI before heading back.
