Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
16m
Distance
8.2 mi
13 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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
Lihue, HI
cottonbro CG studio
Traveling between Kapa‘a and Lihue is a quick, 8.2-mile journey that typically takes about 16 minutes to complete. Because of the short distance, this trip is easily managed in a single day, leaving you plenty of time to explore either town. You will primarily navigate via Kuhio Highway, transitioning onto local roads like Oxford Street and Fujii Street as you arrive. With a fuel budget of just $2, it is an incredibly economical way to traverse this part of Hawaii. This drive is best viewed as a simple local connection rather than a complex road trip, providing a straightforward link between these two Kauai hubs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kuhio Highway | 7.9 mi | 15m |
| Oxford Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Fujii Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kauwila Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kapa‘a, HI and Lihue, HI.
Start on Kauwila Street
Turn right onto HI 56
Continue on HI 56
Turn right onto Oxford Street
Turn left onto Fujii Street
Arrive at destination
3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.1 — 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 right onto Oxford Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Fujii Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$1.60 one way
$3.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.28 | $1.70 | $3.41 |
| premium | $5.46 | $1.76 | $3.52 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $1.55 | $3.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.86 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.72 | $0.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.15 | $0.52 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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
Afternoon in Kapa‘a on Saturday
Local time
3:33 PM
HST
Current temp
84°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Afternoon in Lihue on Saturday
Local time
3:33 PM
HST
Current temp
83°F
Chance 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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition off the main highway. You will spend the vast majority of your time on Kuhio Highway, which accounts for the longest stretch of 7.9 miles. Since the highway share is 0%, the route relies entirely on local thoroughfares rather than high-speed interstates. The personality of this drive is functional and urban, requiring you to navigate turns through smaller streets like Fujii and Oxford. It lacks the monotony of a long-distance highway grind, offering a more hands-on experience behind the wheel.
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 Lihue, HI is easy. At 16m 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 7.9 miles (Oxford Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (Fujii Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
303 ft
Total Descent
82 ft
Highest Point
230 ft
~8.2 mi in
Elevation Range
222 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 04:30-21:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-15:00
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Kapaa, HI
Hours: Mo-Su 11:00-21:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Kapaʻa, HI
Hours: Th 06:00-13:00; Fr-We 06:00-19:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Hours: Tu-Su 11:00-20:30
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: chicken
Visit websiteRestaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Kapaa, HI
Camp_site
Early in the drive, right off the route
Attraction
Early in the drive, right off the route
HI
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Lihue, HI
Visit websiteAttraction
Early in the drive, right off the route
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
Lihue, HI
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:00; Sa 09:00-14:00
Visit websiteMuseum
Near the end, short detour
HI
Visit websiteMonument
Near the end, right off the route
Yes
Early in the drive, short detour
Hotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
Kapaa, HI
Visit websiteCamp_site
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
Hotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Kauai is the most northwestern of Hawaii's major islands and is the 4th largest by size and population. Nicknamed the Garden Island, it is covered with lush greenery and tropical plants, watered regularly by abundant rainfall. As the oldest of the islands, it has been changed the most by the forces of erosion, and this has resulted in natural wonders such as Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast. As a consequence of its age, Kauai also has more miles of sandy coastline than the other Hawaiian islands.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 16m. Total distance: 8.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m 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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