Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
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.
Makawao, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Kaanapali Landing, HI
Brady Knoll
Makawao to Kaanapali Landing is 38 miles and takes about 1 hour 6 minutes via Honoapiilani Highway, Kuihelani Highway, and Haleakala Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the state of Hawaii, moving from the Upcountry region towards the coast. It's a straightforward drive that offers a good way to transition between different parts of the island. Plan for a relatively quick transit, making it ideal for a flexible schedule or as part of a larger itinerary.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Honoapiilani Highway | 17.6 mi | 32m |
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Kuihelani Highway | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Lahaina Bypass | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Makawao Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Hana Highway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Kula Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Kahului Airport Access Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Makawao, HI and Kaanapali Landing, HI.
Start on Ukiu Road
Turn right onto HI 390
Turn right onto HI 365
Turn right
Turn right onto HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Turn left onto HI 36
Turn left onto HI 3800
Continue on HI 380
Turn left onto HI-30
Continue on HI-30
Turn left onto Hokiokio Place
Turn right onto HI-30
Turn right onto Puukolii Road
Turn right onto Kalapu Drive
Turn right onto Kolepa Place
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Makawao, 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 0 and 31.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto HI 36 / Hana Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto HI 3800 / Kahului Airport Access Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto HI-30 / Honoapiilani Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Hokiokio Place
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.43 one way
$16.85 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.95 | $8.91 | $17.82 |
| premium | $6.10 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $8.00 | $16.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Makawao on Wednesday
Local time
11:51 AM
HST
Current temp
69°F
Rain Showers Likely
Destination
Morning in Kaanapali Landing on Wednesday
Local time
11:51 AM
HST
Current temp
76°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 drive consists entirely of surface roads, with no highway mileage. You'll experience 17.6 miles on Honoapiilani Highway as the longest continuous stretch. Expect to navigate local traffic and intersections as you make your way across the island. Since there are no significant highway segments, the pace is generally moderate.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue.
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 38 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 9.2 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles (HI 3800 / Kahului Airport Access Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
415 ft
Total Descent
1,885 ft
Highest Point
1,593 ft
Elevation Range
1,585 ft
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: cake;breakfast;american;donut;tea;coffee_shop;ice_cream;bagel
Hours: Mo-Sa 06:00-17:00; Su 07:00-16:00
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: steak_house;american
Hours: Tu-Su 17:00-21:00
Restaurant
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: thai
Hours: Mo-Su 10:30-22:00
Visit websiteAttraction
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteAttraction
Near the end, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Viewpoint
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Attraction
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Attraction
Near the end, right off the route
Museum
Near the end, right off the route
HI
Hours: Tu-Su 10:00-16:00
Visit websiteYes
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Artwork
Early in the drive, short detour
Stone
Later in the drive, short detour
Museum
Early in the drive, short detour
Wailuku, HI
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-14:00
Visit websiteHotel
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteHotel
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteHotel
Near the end, right off the route
Lahaina, HI
Visit websiteHotel
Near the end, right off the route
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Hotel
Near the end, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Makawao is a town on the island of Maui in the state of Hawai'i, United States of America. Pronounced MAH-kah-wow and meaning "Eye of the Forest," Makawao is one of four towns (the others are Ha'iku, Pukalani and Kula) that make up the semi-ambiguous region known as "Upcountry." As Makawao marks the start of a vast expanse of jungle-like rainforests that wrap around the north and east sides of Maui, it is naturally wet and cool. Average temperatures are generally 5 to 10 degrees below those at sea-levels or in Kahului. Makawao is known for its cowboy culture, incredibly eclectic mix of residents, uniquely laid-back and liberal character and delicious local eateries.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m 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.
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