Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good 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
Waimea, HI
Sean Thomas
Kapaʻa to Waimea is 31.4 miles and takes about 51 minutes via Kaumualiʻi Highway and Kuhio Highway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Hawaii, connecting two points on the island of Kauai. You'll primarily be on surface roads for this relatively short, same-day trip. It's a straightforward drive that offers a good way to travel between these two areas without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 22.9 mi | 34m |
| Kuhio Highway | 8.3 mi | 16m |
| Ola Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tsuchiya Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kauwila Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kapa‘a, HI and Waimea, HI.
Start on Kauwila Street
Turn right onto HI 56
Continue on HI 56
Continue on HI 50
Turn right onto Ola Road
Turn left onto Tsuchiya Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.7 miles from Kapa‘a, 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 and 31.3 — 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 Ola Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Tsuchiya Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$6.14 one way
$12.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.28 | $6.52 | $13.05 |
| premium | $5.46 | $6.74 | $13.49 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $5.93 | $11.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
3:32 PM
HST
Current temp
73°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Afternoon in Waimea on Saturday
Local time
3:32 PM
HST
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
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.
You'll spend your entire drive on surface roads, as there's no highway portion to this route. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.9 miles on Kaumualiʻi Highway. Expect to navigate a mix of local roads like Ola Road as you make your way across the island. The driving pace will likely be influenced by local traffic conditions rather than high-speed highway cruising.
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 Waimea, HI is easy. At 51m 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 31.2 miles (Ola Road): Navigation decision point; at 31.3 miles (Tsuchiya Road): Navigation decision point.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,030 ft
Total Descent
1,001 ft
Highest Point
692 ft
~15.7 mi in
Elevation Range
683 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cafe
Early in the drive, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cafe
Later in the drive, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Su 04:30-21:00
Visit websiteFast_food
Later in the drive, right off the route
Cuisine: sandwich
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Waimea, HI
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Restaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Attraction
Early in the drive, right off the route
Attraction
Early in the drive, right off the route
Attraction
Early in the drive, right off the route
Lihue, HI
Visit websiteViewpoint
Later in the drive, right off the route
Camp_site
Near the start, right off the route
Yes
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Artwork
Later in the drive, right off the route
Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
Lihue, HI
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:00-16:00; Sa 09:00-14:00
Visit websiteMonument
Early in the drive, short detour
Yes
Near the start, short detour
Camp_site
Near the start, right off the route
Motel
Later in the drive, right off the route
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
Kapaa, HI
Visit websiteHotel
Near the start, short detour
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
Hotel
Near the start, short detour
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
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 51m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m 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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