Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
33.4 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
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.
Wailea, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Kēōkea, HI
Mike Norris
Wailea, HI to Kēōkea, HI is 33.4 miles and takes about 1h 2m via Kula Highway and Piilani Highway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Hawaii, offering a straightforward drive. It's a short route, ideal for a relaxed day of travel without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so expect a more local feel than a freeway experience. Consider this a quick hop between two points on the island, perfect for a scenic afternoon drive.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kula Highway | 11.2 mi | 19m |
| Piilani Highway | 6.7 mi | 14m |
| Maui Veterans Highway | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Haleakala Highway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Hana Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Ho'okele Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Wailea Alanui Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Okolani Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Wailea, HI and Kēōkea, HI.
Start on this road
At end of road, turn right
Continue
At end of road, turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive
Turn right onto Okolani Drive
Turn left onto HI 31
Enter roundabout onto HI 31
Continue on HI 31
Continue on HI 311
Turn right onto Ho'okele Street
Turn right onto HI 36
Turn right onto HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Continue on HI 37
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Wailea, 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 0.1 and 16.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left onto HI 31 / Piilani Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto HI 31 / Piilani Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto HI 37 / Haleakala Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$6.53 one way
$13.06 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.28 | $6.94 | $13.88 |
| premium | $5.46 | $7.17 | $14.35 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $6.31 | $12.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.92 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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 Wailea on Saturday
Local time
4:49 PM
HST
Current temp
85°F
Isolated Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 15 at 5:05AM HST by NWS Honolulu HI
Destination
Afternoon in Kēōkea on Saturday
Local time
4:49 PM
HST
Current temp
76°F
Scattered Rain Showers
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 15 at 5:05AM 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
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, meaning you won't encounter any major highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 11.2 miles on Kula Highway. You'll notice the absence of high-speed freeway driving as you navigate local routes. The transition between Kula Highway and Piilani Highway marks a change in the immediate surroundings, but the overall character remains that of surface road travel.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
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 33.4 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.2 miles (HI 31 / Piilani Highway): Lane positioning matters here.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,223 ft
Total Descent
352 ft
Highest Point
3,046 ft
~31 mi in
Elevation Range
3,010 ft
Wailea, and the smaller Makena to the south, are resort areas on the south side of Maui, Hawaii, immediately south of the town of Kihei. They are known for their luxury resort hotels and condos, upscale restaurants, fancy shopping center and expensive golf courses. And although hidden behind the hotels and condos now, the beaches that attracted the developers in the first place are still there in all their golden sand beauty.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 33.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m 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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