This short 12.4-mile drive from Makakilo City to Waianae in Hawaii will take you about 24 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily navigate via Farrington Highway and Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, with some time on Makakilo Drive. With a modest fuel cost of around $3, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. The route is characterized by frequent turns, offering a more local driving experience rather than a long, open highway stretch. Given its brevity, you won't need to consider overnight stays.
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
6.2 miles from Makakilo City, HI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 11m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you make your way from Makakilo City to Waianae. While about 9% of the journey involves highway driving, the majority is on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.2 miles on Farrington Highway. This means you'll be adjusting your speed and direction more frequently than on a typical interstate trip. The road profile suggests a dynamic driving experience, moving through different local environments as you progress.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Farrington Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 10.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 near Makakilo Drive.
Route Complexity3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 24m 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 0.1 miles (Makakilo Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Makakilo Drive
Turn right onto Makakilo Drive
Navigation decision point
3
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I H1 East: Waianae
Navigation decision point
Toward I H1 East: Waianae
6
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn right toward I H1 West: Waianae
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I H1 West: Waianae
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Merge onto I H1 / Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Makakilo City, HI and Waianae, HI, road signs point toward I H1 East: Waianae and I H1 West: Waianae.
I H1 East: Waianae
0.8 mi in|~1m
I H1 West: Waianae
0.8 mi in|~1m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Farrington Highway
10.2 mi
20m
Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
1.1 mi
1m
Makakilo Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Aoloko Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Farrington Highway
— 10.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Makakilo City, HI and Waianae, HI.
1
Start on Aoloko Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Aoloko Street
2
Turn right onto Makakilo Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Makakilo Drive
3
Take the ramp
153 ft·5 sec
Toward I H1 East: Waianae
4
Turn right
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I H1 West: Waianae
5
Merge onto I H1
1.1 mi·1 min·Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on HI 93
10 mi·20 min·Farrington Highway
7
Arrive at destination
HI 93
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 24-minute drive covering just 12.4 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Starting earlier in the day might help you avoid any local traffic, especially as you navigate the more turn-heavy sections. The estimated fuel cost is only $3, so you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Keep an eye out for the transition between Farrington Highway and Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, as this is where the road character shifts slightly. Given the short duration, you can easily complete this trip in one go without needing any significant breaks.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6.2 miles from Makakilo City, HI, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.2 miles.
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 12.4 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.2 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waianae, HI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Makakilo City, 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 Makakilo City, HI
This is one driving day of about 12.4 miles and 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Makakilo City, HI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Farrington Highway for about 10.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.2 mi from Makakilo City, HI
· 11m into the drive
The midpoint is around 6.2 miles from Makakilo City, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waianae, HI
The final approach into Waianae, 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 Waianae, HI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
National Memorial
At Pearl Harbor National Memorial, we honor the lives affected by the December 7, 1941, attack. This pivotal moment in global history marked the United States' entry into World War II, impacting natio...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.69 one way
$5.37 round trip
$5.51/gal25.4 MPG avg4 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.79
$2.83
$5.65
premium
$5.98
$2.92
$5.84
diesel
$5.61
$2.74
$5.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging
· 0 stops
· 75% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
3.7
0
$1.30
$0.60
Efficient EV
3.1
0
$1.09
$0.50
EV Truck/SUV
5
0
$1.74
$0.79
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago
Origin
Makakilo City, HI
Afternoon
in Makakilo City on Tuesday
Local time
2:53 PM
HST
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waianae, HI
Afternoon
in Waianae on Tuesday
Local time
2:53 PM
HST
Current temp
--
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
24m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Makakilo City, HI to Waianae, HI covers 12.4 miles and takes about 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Farrington Highway, Queen Liliʻuokalani Freeway, Makakilo Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6.2 miles from Makakilo City, HI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.69 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 24m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Makakilo Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Between Makakilo City, HI and Waianae, HI, road signs point toward I H1 East: Waianae and I H1 West: Waianae.
