Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
33.7 mi
54 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.
Kēōkea, HI
Mike Norris
Wailea, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Kēōkea to Wailea is 33.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via Kula Highway, Piilani Highway, and Maui Veterans Highway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Hawaii, connecting two points in Maui. Since it's a relatively short trip with no highway driving, you'll mostly be on surface roads, offering a relaxed pace. It's a straightforward drive perfect for a single-day excursion, allowing plenty of time to explore your destination.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kula Highway | 11.2 mi | 19m |
| Piilani Highway | 6.6 mi | 14m |
| Maui Veterans Highway | 6.4 mi | 11m |
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Hana Highway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Kahului Airport Access Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Wailea Alanui Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Okolani Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Kēōkea, HI and Wailea, HI.
Start on HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Turn left onto HI 36
Turn left onto HI 3800
Turn left onto HI 311
Continue on HI 311
Continue on HI 31
Enter roundabout onto HI 31
Continue on HI 31
Turn right onto Okolani Drive
Turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive
Turn right
Continue
Turn left
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 33.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.9 miles from Kēōkea, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.8 and 33.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto HI 36 / Hana Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Okolani Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$6.59 one way
$13.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.28 | $7.00 | $14.01 |
| premium | $5.46 | $7.24 | $14.48 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $6.36 | $12.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.95 | $1.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
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
Afternoon in Kēōkea on Saturday
Local time
4:49 PM
HST
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Wailea on Saturday
Local time
4:49 PM
HST
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy
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 33.7 miles, entirely on surface roads with no highway driving. You'll encounter the longest stretch at 11.2 miles on Kula Highway. Expect a consistent, unhurried pace as you navigate through local terrain without the interruptions of high-speed interchanges. The absence of highway segments means you'll likely notice more local traffic and varied speed limits throughout the 1 hour 3 minute travel time.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.8 miles in near HI 36 / Hana Highway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 33.7 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles (Okolani Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 33 miles (Wailea Alanui Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
331 ft
Total Descent
3,202 ft
Highest Point
3,036 ft
~2.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,997 ft
Wailea, and the smaller Makena to the south, are resort areas on the south side of Maui, Hawaii, immediately south of the town of Kihei. They are known for their luxury resort hotels and condos, upscale restaurants, fancy shopping center and expensive golf courses. And although hidden behind the hotels and condos now, the beaches that attracted the developers in the first place are still there in all their golden sand beauty.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 33.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Kēōkea, HI or browse trips ending in Wailea, HI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse HI road trips.
