Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
34.5 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good 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.
Kekaha, HI
Avinash Kumar
Kapa‘a, HI
William Chen
Kekaha to Kapaʻa is 34.5 miles and takes about 57 minutes via Kaumualiʻi Highway and HI 56, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Hawaii, traversing mostly surface roads. You'll experience a straightforward drive connecting two points on the island. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a spontaneous day trip or as a connection between destinations without requiring an overnight stay. Plan for a brief, efficient transit between these Hawaiian locales.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 25.8 mi | 39m |
| HI 56 | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Kuhio Highway | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Kala Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Mahiko Place | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kauwila Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kekaha, HI and Kapa‘a, HI.
Start on Mahiko Place
Turn left onto Kala Road
At end of road, turn left onto HI 50
Continue on HI 56
Turn left onto HI 56
Turn left onto Kauwila Street
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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.3 miles from Kekaha, 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.
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 34.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Kala Road
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto HI 50 / Kaumualiʻi Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto HI 56
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Kauwila Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.24 one way
$14.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.61 | $7.62 | $15.24 |
| premium | $5.80 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $7.60 | $15.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
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
Evening in Kekaha on Tuesday
Local time
5:45 PM
HST
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Kapa‘a on Tuesday
Local time
5:45 PM
HST
Current temp
86°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 34.5-mile drive involves 17% highway driving, with the longest stretch on Kaumualiʻi Highway extending for 25.8 miles. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you proceed. Expect a predominantly surface road experience for most of this transit. The route is characterized by a mix of speeds, shifting from quicker highway segments to more local road conditions.
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 0.1 miles in near Kala Road.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Kekaha, HI to Kapa‘a, HI is easy. At 57m with 17% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Kala Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (HI 50 / Kaumualiʻi Highway): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (HI 56): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
823 ft
Total Descent
825 ft
Highest Point
604 ft
~15 mi in
Elevation Range
595 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 34.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). 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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