Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
33.1 mi
53 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
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.
Kalaoa, HI
Alexey Demidov
Waimea, HI
Sean Thomas
Kalaoa to Waimea is 33.1 miles and takes about 50 minutes via Mamalahoa Highway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Hawaii region, offering a straightforward connection between two points on the Big Island. You'll be traveling primarily on surface roads, so expect a more local feel compared to highway driving. It's a short enough trip to easily fit into your day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This is a practical option for getting from one part of the island to another without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mamalahoa Highway | 32.5 mi | 48m |
| Mahilani Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kawaihae Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lindsey Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kalaoa, HI and Waimea, HI.
Start on Mahilani Drive
At end of road, turn left onto 190
Turn left onto HI 19
Turn slight left onto HI 19
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.5 miles from Kalaoa, 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.
3 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 33 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto 190 / Mamalahoa Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto HI 19 / Lindsey Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.35 one way
$14.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.92 | $7.71 | $15.42 |
| premium | $6.14 | $8.00 | $16.00 |
| diesel | $7.27 | $9.47 | $18.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.63 | $2.12 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Kalaoa on Saturday
Local time
5:49 AM
HST
Current temp
80°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Waimea on Saturday
Local time
5:49 AM
HST
Current temp
77°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 covers 33.1 miles with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire duration. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 32.5 miles on Mamalahoa Highway. Since it's almost entirely surface roads, you can anticipate navigating through local traffic and potentially encountering varied speed limits. Given the profile of mostly surface roads, expect a driving experience that feels more connected to the communities you pass through.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 190 / Mamalahoa Highway.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kalaoa, HI to Waimea, HI is easy. At 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (190 / Mamalahoa Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles (HI 19 / Lindsey Road): Navigation decision point; at 33 miles: Navigation decision point.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,451 ft
Total Descent
386 ft
Highest Point
2,657 ft
~33.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,064 ft
Waimea is a town on the Big Island in Hawaii, a state of the United States of America.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 33.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
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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