Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
7.8 mi
13 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
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.
Pepeekeo, HI
William Chen
Hilo, HI
Isi Parente
Pepeekeo to Hilo is 7.8 miles and takes about 14 minutes via Mamalahoa Highway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This very short drive stays within the Hawaii region, making it a straightforward connection between two points on the Big Island. You'll be on mostly surface roads for this quick trip. It's a simple hop that doesn't require much planning, perfect for a quick transfer or a short excursion.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mamalahoa Highway | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| Wainaku Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Kaakepa Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Wainaku Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Bayfront Highway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lehua Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Hau Lane | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Pepeekeo, HI and Hilo, HI.
Start on Kaakepa Street
Turn right onto 19
Continue on Bayfront Highway
Turn right onto Hau Lane
Turn left onto Wainaku Street
Continue on Wainaku Avenue
Turn left onto Lehua Street
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 7.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto 19 / Mamalahoa Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Hau Lane
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Wainaku Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Lehua Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$1.52 one way
$3.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.28 | $1.62 | $3.24 |
| premium | $5.46 | $1.68 | $3.35 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $1.47 | $2.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.82 | $0.37 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.68 | $0.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.09 | $0.50 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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 Pepeekeo on Saturday
Local time
3:27 PM
HST
Current temp
70°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 14 at 3:41PM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Destination
Afternoon in Hilo on Saturday
Local time
3:27 PM
HST
Current temp
70°F
Chance Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 14 at 3:41PM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 7.8-mile route is almost entirely surface roads, with no highway driving to speak of. The longest stretch you'll encounter is 6.8 miles on Mamalahoa Highway. You'll notice the transition from Mamalahoa Highway onto local streets like Wainaku and Kaakepa Streets. Expect typical surface road driving conditions without any significant highway merging or rural cruising.
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 around 0.2 miles in near 19 / Mamalahoa Highway.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 14m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (19 / Mamalahoa Highway): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles (Hau Lane): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles (Wainaku Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
30 ft
Total Descent
505 ft
Highest Point
556 ft
Elevation Range
475 ft
Hilo is a town on the Big Island of Hawaii. The county seat and largest city in Hawaii County, Hilo is one of the best starting points to explore the eastern half of the island, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 14m. Total distance: 7.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m 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.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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