Origin
Makawao, HI
Evening in Makawao on Saturday
Local time
6:43 PM
HST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Makawao, HI to Kēōkea, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
11.6 mi
19 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 25m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 22m
3 PM
0h 23m
5 PM
0h 25m
8 PM
0h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Makawao, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Kēōkea, HI
Mike Norris
Trip Overview
This 11.6-mile drive from Makawao to Kēōkea in Hawaii is easily manageable in about 21 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via Kula Highway, Makawao Avenue, and Baldwin Avenue, with no highway driving involved. Budget around $3 for fuel for this short journey. The overall feel is that of a local, turn-heavy drive, offering a glimpse into the region's character. Since it's such a brief distance, you'll have plenty of flexibility to explore at your own pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kula Highway | 9.6 mi | 17m |
| Makawao Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Baldwin Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Ukiu Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kula Highway
— 9.6 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Makawao, HI and Kēōkea, HI.
1
Start on Ukiu Road
155 ft
·
9 sec
·
Ukiu Road
2
Turn right onto HI 390
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Baldwin Avenue
3
Turn right onto HI 365
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Makawao Avenue
4
Turn left onto HI 37
9.6 mi
·
17 min
·
Kula Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Arrive at destination
HI 37
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue
Turn right onto HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
HI 365 / Makawao Avenue
Turn right onto HI 365 / Makawao Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
HI 37 / Kula Highway
Turn left onto HI 37 / Kula Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.51 one way
$5.03 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $2.64 | $5.29 |
| premium | $5.98 | $2.73 | $5.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.56 | $5.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.62 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Kēōkea, HI
Evening in Kēōkea on Saturday
Local time
6:43 PM
HST
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
14 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being 9.6 miles along Kula Highway. With a 0% highway share, this journey keeps you on local roads for its entirety. The road conditions will likely vary as you transition between Makawao Avenue, Baldwin Avenue, and Kula Highway, offering a dynamic driving experience. You won't encounter any monotonous highway stretches, ensuring your attention remains engaged throughout the approximately 21-minute trip.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
5 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.6 mi on Kula Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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 390 / Baldwin Avenue.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Makawao, HI to Kēōkea, HI is easy. At 21m 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 390 / Baldwin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (HI 365 / Makawao Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (HI 37 / Kula Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 11.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.6 miles on Kula Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (HI 365 / Makawao Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (HI 37 / Kula Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kēōkea, HI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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