Distance from Honolulu Airport to Ewa Beach

Question

Hi. I’m planning a trip from New York to Honolulu in late summer. My final destination is Ewa Beach. How long is the drive from the airport to Ewa Beach? I’ve also heard there can be a lot of traffic along that route. So I’m wondering, what’s the best time to travel to avoid heavy traffic?

Thanks!

Answer

The drive from Honolulu International Airport (HNL) to Ewa Beach is approximately 13 to 15 miles, depending on your exact destination within Ewa Beach. The travel time typically takes around 25 to 35 minutes under normal conditions. However, traffic can sometimes extend the travel time, particularly during peak hours.

Traffic Considerations:

Yes, traffic can be a factor on this route, especially during the morning and evening rush hours. The most congested times are typically:

Morning rush hour: From around 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. This is when people are commuting into Honolulu from the west side, and the highways can be congested.
Evening rush hour: From around 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. This is when people are heading home from work, and traffic heading west toward Ewa Beach can be heavy.

Best Times to Travel:

To avoid heavy traffic, it's best to plan your drive either:

Early in the morning: If you arrive at the airport in the early morning, say before 7:00 AM, you should encounter minimal traffic on your way to Ewa Beach.
Midday: After the morning rush and before the afternoon rush, around 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, traffic tends to be lighter, making this an ideal time to travel.
Late evening: If you arrive later in the evening (after 7:00 PM), traffic is usually much lighter, although it may take slightly longer to get out of the airport area due to the general movement of cars at night.

If you can adjust your schedule to avoid the busiest travel times, you should have a smoother and quicker trip to Ewa Beach. Enjoy your trip to Oahu!