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Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
35.7 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Honolulu, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Mākaha, HI
Wikimedia Commons
Driving from Honolulu to Mākaha is a straightforward 35.7-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 2 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip is perfect for a simple one-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate a combination of the Lunalilo Freeway, Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, and Farrington Highway to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $8 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs for this route. While the drive is relatively short, it serves as an efficient way to transition from the urban energy of Honolulu to the quieter atmosphere of Mākaha. It is a practical route for anyone looking to explore more of the island while keeping travel time to a minimum.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
17.8 miles from Honolulu, HI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
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Expect a mixed driving experience that transitions from high-speed freeways to more local thoroughfares. Highways make up 57% of your total travel time, providing a solid foundation for your commute. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, where you will cover 19.5 miles before the road profile shifts. As you move away from the city, the character of the road changes, requiring you to adapt to the flow of the Farrington Highway. This blend of infrastructure keeps the drive from feeling monotonous while ensuring you reach Mākaha efficiently.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.7 miles you will encounter 10 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Richards Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Richards Street
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I H1 West: Fort Shafter, Airport
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I H1 / Lunalilo Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway toward Waianae
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Honolulu, HI and Mākaha, HI, road signs point toward I H1 West: Fort Shafter, Airport, I H201 West: Fort Shafter, Aiea and Waianae.
I H1 West: Fort Shafter
Airport
I H201 West: Fort Shafter
Aiea
Waianae
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway | 19.5 mi | 25m |
| Farrington Highway | 12.9 mi | 29m |
| Lunalilo Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Vineyard Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Bethel Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Queen Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Jade Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Nuuanu Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Honolulu, HI and Mākaha, HI.
Start on this road
Turn right
Turn left onto Richards Street
Turn right onto Queen Street
Continue on Queen Street
Turn straight onto Bethel Street
Turn slight left
Turn straight onto Nuuanu Avenue
Turn left onto HI 98
Continue on HI 98
Take the ramp
Merge onto I H1
Continue on I H1
Continue on I H1
Keep slight left at fork onto I H1
Continue on HI 93
Turn right onto Jade Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a compact 35.7-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than rushing to beat daylight. With no mandatory stops required to complete the journey, you can drive straight through or build in extra time as you see fit. Keep in mind that traffic patterns can fluctuate significantly along the major freeways, so checking local conditions before you head out is a smart move. Because the entire trip requires only about $8 in fuel, you won't need to stress about locating gas stations along the way. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by tailoring your departure time to avoid peak congestion hours on the Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 35.7 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.8 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mākaha, HI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Honolulu, HI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Honolulu, HI
This is one driving day of about 35.7 miles and 1h 2m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.8 mi from Honolulu, HI · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Honolulu, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Mākaha, HI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Mākaha, HI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.74 one way
$15.47 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $8.14 | $16.27 |
| premium | $5.98 | $8.40 | $16.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
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
Morning in Honolulu on Tuesday
Local time
11:25 AM
HST
Current temp
74°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Morning in Mākaha on Tuesday
Local time
11:25 AM
HST
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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.
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