Origin
Wailea, HI
Afternoon in Wailea on Saturday
Local time
3:21 PM
HST
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wailea, 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
40m
Distance
17.4 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wailea, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Wailuku, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling the 17.4 miles from Wailea to Wailuku is a straightforward transition across Maui that typically takes about 40 minutes. You will primarily navigate via the Piilani Highway, North Kihei Road, and the Honoapiilani Highway. Because this is a short journey, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. Budget approximately $4 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Whether you are heading toward the administrative heart of the island or returning to the resort areas, this route serves as a reliable connection between these two Hawaii locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Piilani Highway | 6.7 mi | 14m |
| Honoapiilani Highway | 4.7 mi | 9m |
| North Kihei Road | 3.6 mi | 7m |
| Wailea Alanui Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Okolani Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South High Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| South Market Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Wells Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Piilani Highway
— 6.7 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wailea, HI and Wailuku, HI.
1
Start on this road
339 ft
·
27 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn right
416 ft
·
32 sec
3
Continue
199 ft
·
15 sec
4
At end of road, turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Wailea Alanui Drive
5
Turn right onto Okolani Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Okolani Drive
6
Turn left onto HI 31
4.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Piilani Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Enter roundabout onto HI 31
145 ft
·
2 sec
·
Piilani Highway
8
Continue on HI 31
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Piilani Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto North Kihei Road
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
North Kihei Road
10
Turn right onto HI-30
4.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Honoapiilani Highway
11
Continue on HI-30
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South High Street
12
Turn right onto HI 3830
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Wells Street
13
Turn left onto HI 3405
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Market Street
14
Turn left onto Kahawai Street
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Kahawai Street
15
Turn right onto Makua Street
252 ft
·
27 sec
·
Makua Street
16
Arrive at destination
Makua Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 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.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
HI 31 / Piilani Highway
Turn left onto HI 31 / Piilani Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
HI 31 / Piilani Highway
Enter roundabout onto HI 31 / Piilani Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
16.6 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
HI 3830 / Wells Street
Turn right onto HI 3830 / Wells Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.77 one way
$7.54 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $3.97 | $7.93 |
| premium | $5.98 | $4.10 | $8.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.84 | $7.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.52 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
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.
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
21 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
40m 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 rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route contains no traditional highway segments. You will encounter a mix of local road conditions that demand your full attention behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will navigate is a 6.7-mile segment along the Piilani Highway. Because the road character shifts frequently, you should be prepared for varying traffic patterns as you transition between these regional hubs. It is a functional drive that requires steady navigation through local corridors.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.7 mi on Piilani Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 40m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 17.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m 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 6.7 miles on Piilani 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: 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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