How far is Wailua, HI from ‘Ele‘ele, HI?

The driving distance from Wailua, HI to ‘Ele‘ele, HI is about 22.4 miles (36.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 18.6 miles (30 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM HST.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
22.44 mi
00h 37m
Flight
18.65 mi
30.02 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wailua.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
18.65 mi
Kilometers
30.02 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
22.44 mi
Kilometers
36.11 km
Drive Time
00h 37m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 00h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in ‘Ele‘ele
Tue, Apr 14, 12:44 PM HST
Return by in Wailua
Tue, Apr 14, 1:21 PM HST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wailua
2026-04-14T12:06
Arrive ‘Ele‘ele
Tue, Apr 14, 12:44 PM HST
Route Timing
00h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM HST
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:37 AM to 7:37 PM HST

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:16 PM HST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Wailua
10:00 PM HST
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Puhi
HI

City in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States of America

From Wailua
11.2 mi
00h 18m
To ‘Ele‘ele
11.2 mi
00h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
82°F
Tuesday

Scattered Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 AM HST
Wind
3 to 7 mph NE
Destination
81°F
Today

Scattered Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 9:00 AM HST
Wind
2 to 6 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Wailua and ‘Ele‘ele.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wailua and ‘Ele‘ele.

  1. 1

    Start on Koki Road

    1469 ft · 1 min · Koki Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Haleilio Road

    625 ft · 22 sec · Haleilio Road

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Kuhio Highway

    3.6 mi · 7 min · Kuhio Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Kuhio Highway

    2.6 mi · 5 min · Kuhio Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Kaumualiʻi Highway

    15.6 mi · 23 min · Kaumualiʻi Highway

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Eleele Road

    708 ft · 34 sec · Eleele Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Uliuli Road

    26 m · 4 sec · Uliuli Road

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Uliuli Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wailua and ‘Ele‘ele.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
8 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
35.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Kaumualiʻi Highway
15.6 mi · 70%
Kuhio Highway
6.27 mi · 28%
Koki Road
0.28 mi · 1%
Eleele Road
0.13 mi · 1%
Haleilio Road
0.12 mi · 1%
Uliuli Road
0.02 mi
Longest Stretch

Kaumualiʻi Highway

Continue on Kaumualiʻi Highway

15.6 mi · 00h 23m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 37m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.8 mi
18.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Puhi
00h 18m from Wailua
Leave By
7:16 PM HST
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Scattered Rain Showers leaving Wailua and Scattered Rain Showers near ‘Ele‘ele.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Wailua to ‘Ele‘ele?

The road trip is about 22.4 miles (36.1 km) and usually takes 00h 37m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Puhi is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.2 miles from Wailua and 11.2 miles from ‘Ele‘ele.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 18.6 miles (30 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM HST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 PM HST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.91 one way or $7.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Scattered Rain Showers around Wailua and Scattered Rain Showers near ‘Ele‘ele.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wailua and ‘Ele‘ele. Straight-line distance: 18.65 mi (30.02 km).

Wailua

#1 Wailua

City in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States of America

Population2,254
Coordinates22.0527100, -159.3378100
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
‘Ele‘ele

#2 ‘Ele‘ele

City in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States of America

Population2,390
Coordinates21.9073800, -159.5832200
Altitude36
CountryUnited States
Start: Wailua (-159.33781, 22.05271)
End: ‘Ele‘ele (-159.58322, 21.90738)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 36 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 44m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 22m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 19m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.79 gal
3 L · about $3.91
Round trip
$7.82
1.58 gal · 6 L
Estimated CO2
7 kg one way
Round trip: 14 kg / 31 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.95 $3.91 $7.82
Mid-grade $5.34 $4.22 $8.43
Premium $5.57 $4.40 $8.79
Diesel $6.37 $5.03 $10.06

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Hawaii · Apr 14, 2026

There is no time difference between Wailua and ‘Ele‘ele. The current time is 12:06:57.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.