Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
25.2 mi
41 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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.
Kapa‘a, HI
William Chen
Hanapēpē, HI
Mike Norris
Kapaʻa to Hanapēpē is 25.2 miles and takes about 42 minutes via Kaumualiʻi Highway and Kuhio Highway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Hawaii region, taking you across Kauai. It's a short, manageable drive, mostly on surface roads, connecting two distinct points on the island. Consider this a quick hop rather than an epic expedition, perfect for a relaxed day of island exploration.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 16.8 mi | 25m |
| Kuhio Highway | 8.3 mi | 16m |
| Kauwila Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kapa‘a, HI and Hanapēpē, HI.
Start on Kauwila Street
Turn right onto HI 56
Continue on HI 56
Continue on HI 50
Turn left
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.66 one way
$11.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.03 | $5.98 | $11.97 |
| premium | $6.22 | $6.17 | $12.34 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $6.23 | $12.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.65 | $1.21 |
| Efficient EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.21 | $1.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.53 | $1.61 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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 Kapa‘a on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
HST
Current temp
83°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in Hanapēpē on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
HST
Current temp
89°F
Isolated 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 is almost entirely on surface roads, with no highway miles to speak of. You'll spend the majority of your time navigating local routes, with the longest continuous stretch on Kaumualiʻi Highway measuring 16.8 miles. The transition from Kuhio Highway to Kaumualiʻi Highway will likely involve a change in the immediate surroundings as you move between areas.
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 early in the drive near HI 56 / Kuhio Highway.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kapa‘a, HI to Hanapēpē, HI is easy. At 42m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles: Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
731 ft
Total Descent
728 ft
Highest Point
654 ft
~16.2 mi in
Elevation Range
645 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 25.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m 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.
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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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