Origin
Wailua, HI
Afternoon in Wailua on Tuesday
Local time
2:25 PM
HST
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wailua, HI to Waimea, HI
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
48m
Distance
29.7 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
The drive from Wailua, HI to Waimea, HI covers 29.7 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kaumualiʻi Highway, Kuhio Highway, Koki Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22.9 miles on Kaumualiʻi Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
14.9 miles from Wailua, HI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 48m drive with frequent turns across 29.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kaumualiʻi Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near HI-5840 / Haleilio Road.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Wailua, HI to Waimea, HI is easy. At 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (HI-5840 / Haleilio Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 29.5 miles (Ola Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
HI-5840 / Haleilio Road
Turn right onto HI-5840 / Haleilio Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
At end of road, turn right onto HI 56 / Kuhio Highway
Navigation decision point
4
29.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Ola Road
Turn right onto Ola Road
Navigation decision point
5
29.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Tsuchiya Road
Turn left onto Tsuchiya Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kaumualiʻi Highway | 22.9 mi | 34m |
| Kuhio Highway | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| Koki Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Haleilio Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Ola Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Tsuchiya Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Kaumualiʻi Highway
— 22.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wailua, HI and Waimea, HI.
1
Start on Koki Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Koki Road
2
Turn right onto HI-5840
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Haleilio Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto HI 56
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Kuhio Highway
4
Continue on HI 56
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Kuhio Highway
5
Continue on HI 50
23 mi
·
34 min
·
Kaumualiʻi Highway
6
Turn right onto Ola Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Ola Road
7
Turn left onto Tsuchiya Road
420 ft
·
18 sec
·
Tsuchiya Road
8
Arrive at destination
Tsuchiya Road
Trip Plan
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 14.9 miles from Wailua, HI, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.9 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 29.7 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.9 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waimea, HI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wailua, 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 Wailua, HI
This is one driving day of about 29.7 miles and 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wailua, 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 Kaumualiʻi Highway for about 22.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.9 mi from Wailua, HI · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.9 miles from Wailua, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waimea, HI
The final approach into Waimea, 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 Waimea, HI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.44 one way
$12.87 round trip
$5.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $5.79 | $6.77 | $13.54 |
| premium | $5.98 | $6.99 | $13.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.56 | $13.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.60 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Waimea, HI
Afternoon in Waimea on Tuesday
Local time
2:25 PM
HST
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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.
Temperature spread
15 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
48m 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 Wailua, HI to Waimea, HI covers 29.7 miles and takes about 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kaumualiʻi Highway, Kuhio Highway, Koki Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.9 miles from Wailua, HI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.44 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.
The drive from Wailua, HI to Waimea, HI is easy. At 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (HI-5840 / Haleilio Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (HI 56 / Kuhio Highway): Navigation decision point; at 29.5 miles (Ola Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Wailua, HI to Waimea, HI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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