This straightforward 114.2-mile drive from Canton, Mississippi, to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. The route primarily utilizes Highway 49 South and I-55, with 96% of the journey on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of around $17, this trip offers an economical way to travel within the Southeast region. It's a practical option for those looking for an efficient journey without the need for an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.1 miles from Canton, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
I 55
24.1 mi
27m
US 49
3.6 mi
6m
Old Highway 42
1.8 mi
3m
West Peace Street
1.3 mi
1m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
West Fulton Street
0.7 mi
1m
Batson Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Canton, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on West Peace Street
1.3 mi·1 min·West Peace Street
2
Continue on MS 22
0.7 mi·1 min·West Fulton Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 55
24 mi·27 min·I 55
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
7
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 49; MS 42
2.4 mi·4 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.8 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto Batson Street
154 ft·8 sec·Batson Street
13
Turn right
329 ft·25 sec
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
98 ft·4 sec·East Pine Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours and 23 minutes, this trip offers flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, but leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Hattiesburg and still have a good portion of the day ahead. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you hit that segment. Keep an eye out for the transition between I-55 and Highway 49 South to ensure you stay on the most direct path.
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 57.1 miles from Canton, MS, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hattiesburg, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Canton, MS 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 Canton, MS
This is one driving day of about 114.2 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Canton, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 49 South for about 80.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.3 and 112.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
26.3 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattie...
6
27.2 mi into trip|~32m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49 toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
5
28 mi into trip|~34m in|US 49 / Highway 49 South
Merge onto US 49 / Highway 49 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
111.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|Old Highway 42
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
112.9 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.25 one way
$34.49 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.93
$37.87
premium
$4.56
$20.50
$41.00
diesel
$5.61
$25.21
$50.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.3
0
$11.99
$5.48
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$9.99
$4.57
EV Truck/SUV
45.7
0
$15.99
$7.31
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Canton, MS
Late night
in Canton on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Late night
in Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
1 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
2h 23m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant le...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 114.2-mile journey. You'll spend most of your time on Highway 49 South and I-55, making for a relatively fast-paced trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Given that 96% of the route is on highways, this drive is characterized by efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.3 mi on Highway 49 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and I 55. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 26.3 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 114.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28 miles (US 49 / Highway 49 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Canton, MS to Hattiesburg, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Richland along the way.
Hattiesburg is a city in Forrest County, in the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi. It is best known for being the home of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 114.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 26.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28 miles (US 49 / Highway 49 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hattiesburg, MS before heading back.
