Origin
Makawao, HI
Afternoon in Makawao on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Makawao, HI to Wailuku, HI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
15.1 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Makawao, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Wailuku, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from the upcountry town of Makawao to the central hub of Wailuku, this 15.1-mile journey is a quick and manageable trip. You can easily complete the drive in about 28 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day outing. Budgeting around $3 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the distance, allowing you to focus on the transition between these two distinct Hawaiian locations. Because the entire route is within the state of Hawaii, you will not encounter any complex regional border crossings. This simple, direct path is ideal if you need to move between these areas efficiently without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Hana Highway | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Kaahumanu Avenue | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Makawao Avenue | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Kula Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Old Haleakala Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Market Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Baldwin Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Haleakala Highway
— 5.3 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Makawao, HI and Wailuku, 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
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Makawao Avenue
4
Turn right
125 ft
·
4 sec
5
Turn right onto HI 37
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Kula Highway
6
Continue on HI 37
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Old Haleakala Highway
7
Continue on HI 37
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Haleakala Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto HI 36
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Hana Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on HI 32
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Kaahumanu Avenue
10
Continue on HI 32
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Main Street
11
Turn right onto HI 3405
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North Market Street
12
Turn left onto Kahawai Street
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kahawai Street
13
Turn right onto Makua Street
252 ft
·
27 sec
·
Makua Street
14
Arrive at destination
Makua Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.1 — 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
4
9.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
HI 36 / Hana Highway
Turn left onto HI 36 / Hana Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
14.6 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
HI 3405 / North Market Street
Turn right onto HI 3405 / North Market Street
Navigation decision point
4
14.9 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Kahawai Street
Turn left onto Kahawai Street
Navigation decision point
4
15.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
Makua Street
Turn right onto Makua Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.27 one way
$6.55 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $3.44 | $6.88 |
| premium | $5.98 | $3.56 | $7.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.33 | $6.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.97 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Wailuku, HI
Afternoon in Wailuku on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
66°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
5 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
28m 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 that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than drifting through a monotonous interstate grind. You will navigate a series of local roads, including the Haleakala Highway, the Hana Highway, and Kaahumanu Avenue, as the route contains zero percent traditional highway travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 5.3-mile section on the Haleakala Highway, which provides a brief reprieve from the frequent turns. As you progress from the higher elevation of Makawao toward the coastal area of Wailuku, the road layout demands your full attention. It is a practical, functional transit route that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.3 mi on Haleakala Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near HI 390 / Baldwin Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 14.6 miles (HI 3405 / North Market Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 15.1 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%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.3 miles on Haleakala 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 9.2 miles (HI 36 / Hana Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (HI 3405 / North Market Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Haleakalā National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wailuku, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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