Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Wailuku, HI to Wailea, HI

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

40m

Distance

17.3 mi

28 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 37m ★
6 AM
0h 41m
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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaiʻi, United States

Wailuku, HI

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Maui County, Hawaii, United States of America

Wailea, HI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Wailuku to Wailea covers 17.3 miles of Maui’s landscape, a quick journey that typically takes about 40 minutes. Because this trip is short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to get between these two points with minimal effort. You will navigate using a combination of Honoapiilani Highway, North Kihei Road, and Piilani Highway. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel should be plenty for this direct commute. It is a straightforward transition between these two regions, making it an ideal route if you are looking to move efficiently across the island without needing an overnight split.

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

8.7 miles from Wailuku, HI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating local roads that require your full attention behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 6.6-mile segment along the Piilani Highway, which offers a brief respite from the frequent turns found elsewhere. As you move from Wailuku toward Wailea, the road characteristics shift, demanding that you stay alert to changing traffic patterns and local conditions throughout the duration of the trip.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Piilani Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near West Vineyard Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.3 miles (West Vineyard Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.1 miles (Okolani Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (Wailea Alanui Drive): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.3 mi into trip | ~2m in | West Vineyard Street

Turn right onto West Vineyard Street

Navigation decision point

5
16.1 mi into trip | ~36m in | Okolani Drive

Turn right onto Okolani Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
16.6 mi into trip | ~37m in | Wailea Alanui Drive

Turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
6
17.2 mi into trip | ~39m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
17.3 mi into trip | ~40m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Piilani Highway 6.6 mi 14m
Honoapiilani Highway 4.7 mi 8m
North Kihei Road 3.6 mi 7m
North High Street 0.6 mi 2m
Wailea Alanui Drive 0.6 mi 1m
Okolani Drive 0.5 mi 1m
West Vineyard Street 0.2 mi <1m
North Market Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Piilani Highway — 6.6 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wailuku, HI and Wailea, HI.

1

Start on Makua Street

252 ft · 32 sec · Makua Street
2

Turn left onto Kahawai Street

0.1 mi · 1 min · Kahawai Street
3

Turn right onto HI 3405

0.2 mi · 42 sec · North Market Street
4

Turn right onto West Vineyard Street

0.2 mi · 51 sec · West Vineyard Street
5

Turn left onto North High Street

0.6 mi · 2 min · North High Street
6

Continue on HI-30

4.7 mi · 8 min · Honoapiilani Highway
7

Turn slight left

108 ft · 4 sec
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on HI 310

3.6 mi · 7 min · North Kihei Road
9

Turn slight right

230 ft · 6 sec
10

Turn right onto HI 31

1.8 mi · 3 min · Piilani Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11

Enter roundabout onto HI 31

117 ft · 2 sec · Piilani Highway
12

Continue on HI 31

4.7 mi · 10 min · Piilani Highway
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn right onto Okolani Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Okolani Drive
Use the right lane.
14

Turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive

0.6 mi · 1 min · Wailea Alanui Drive
Use the straight / left lanes.
15

Turn right

79 ft · 7 sec
16

Continue

519 ft · 46 sec
17

Turn left

339 ft · 24 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short 40-minute drive, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule rather than rushing to beat daylight or fatigue. Given the nature of these local roads, aim to avoid peak traffic hours to ensure a smoother transition between your origin and destination. You do not need to worry about planning formal stops since the trip is brief, but keeping your gas tank topped off is wise given the $4 fuel cost estimate. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep a close eye on your navigation during the transitions between Honoapiilani Highway and North Kihei Road, as the turn-heavy layout can be easy to misjudge if you are unfamiliar with the local signage.

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 8.7 miles from Wailuku, HI, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.6 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 17.3 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 8.7 miles or 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wailea, HI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Wailuku, 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 Wailuku, HI

This is one driving day of about 17.3 miles and 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wailuku, 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 Piilani Highway for about 6.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 8.7 mi from Wailuku, HI · 20m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Kaanapali Landing, HI

9 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.

Popular next leg

Kaanapali Landing, HI to Wailea, HI

32.5 mi · 1h 5m

Pacing Suggestions

Kaanapali Landing, HI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kaanapali Landing, HI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 8.7 miles from Wailuku, HI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wailea, HI

The final approach into Wailea, 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 Wailea, 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.

Haleakalā National Park

Haleakalā National Park

National Park

This special place vibrates with stories of ancient and modern Hawaiian culture and protects the bond between the land and its people. The park also cares for endangered species, some of which exist n...

18 mi from route ~44 min detour $25 near mile 16.1
Park Closure: Haleakalā Visitor Center Closed 2/19 through the week of 5/17
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.75 one way

$7.50 round trip

$5.51/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.79 $3.94 $7.89
premium $5.98 $4.07 $8.15
diesel $5.61 $3.82 $7.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

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 $1.82 $0.83
Efficient EV 4.3 0 $1.51 $0.69
EV Truck/SUV 6.9 0 $2.42 $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.

Forecast data refreshed 6 hours ago

Origin

Wailuku, HI

Evening in Wailuku on Tuesday

Local time

5:20 PM

HST

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Wailea, HI

Evening in Wailea on Tuesday

Local time

5:20 PM

HST

Current temp

87°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

21 degrees warmer 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Wailuku, HI to Wailea, HI covers 17.3 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Piilani Highway, Honoapiilani Highway, North Kihei Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.7 miles from Wailuku, HI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.75 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (West Vineyard Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.1 miles (Okolani Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles (Wailea Alanui Drive): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wailuku, HI to Wailea, HI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Wailea, HI to Wailuku, HI

Plan the drive back the other way.

17.4 mi 40m

Continue From Wailea, HI

Pukalani, HI 23.5 mi · 46m Kīhei, HI 6.3 mi · 15m

More from Wailuku, HI

Makawao, HI 15.2 mi · 29m

More trips to Wailea, HI

Kaanapali Landing, HI 32.5 mi Kā‘anapali, HI 31.8 mi Pukalani, HI 23.9 mi

Explore more options from Wailuku, HI or browse trips ending in Wailea, HI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse HI road trips.

Explore maps for Wailuku, HI or Wailea, HI on MapSof.net.