Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
16.2 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
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
Waikapū, HI
Studio Lichtfang
Makawao to Waikapū is 16.2 miles and takes about 28 minutes via Haleakala Highway and Kuihelani Highway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Hawaii region, traversing mostly surface roads. It's a short hop that connects two areas on Maui. Consider this drive if you need to move between these two points efficiently without committing to a long travel day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Kuihelani Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Makawao Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Hana Highway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Kula Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| East Waiko Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Kahului Airport Access Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Old Haleakala Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Makawao, HI and Waikapū, 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 right onto HI-305
Turn right onto HI-30
Turn left onto Pilikana Street
Turn left onto Hookawai Drive
Turn right onto Kama Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.1 — 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 Hookawai Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Kama Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.59 one way
$7.18 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.95 | $3.80 | $7.59 |
| premium | $6.10 | $3.89 | $7.78 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $3.41 | $6.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Morning in Makawao on Wednesday
Local time
9:06 AM
HST
Current temp
67°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Waikapū on Wednesday
Local time
9:06 AM
HST
Current temp
73°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly 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 route is entirely on surface roads, with no highway driving. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 5.3 miles on Haleakala Highway. You'll primarily be navigating local roads, which often means more intersections and varying speed limits. Expect a more urban or suburban feel as you approach your destination.
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 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 16.2 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: 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
474 ft
Total Descent
1,588 ft
Highest Point
1,619 ft
~1.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,588 ft
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 28m. Total distance: 16.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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