Spanning 148.6 miles through the heart of Mississippi, this journey from Carthage to Hattiesburg typically takes about 3 hours and 9 minutes. Since the entire trip stays within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent regional landscape throughout the drive. With an estimated fuel cost of $23, it is an affordable trek that functions perfectly as a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 84, US 49, and Seargent Prentiss Drive. Given the manageable duration, there is no need to split this into an overnight trip, allowing you to reach your destination with ease in a single push.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.3 miles from Carthage, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 84
108.6 mi
2h 7m
US 49
24.4 mi
30m
Seargent Prentiss Drive
6.4 mi
7m
Carthage Point Road
2.3 mi
8m
Old Highway 42
1.8 mi
3m
MS 184
1.4 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Highland Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 84
— 108.6 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on this road
45 ft·2 sec·this road
2
Turn straight onto Carthage Point Road
2.1 mi·8 min·Carthage Point Road
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Carthage Point Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Carthage Point Road
4
Turn straight onto Lower Woodville Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Lower Woodville Road
5
Turn right onto Highland Boulevard
1.0 mi·2 min·Highland Boulevard
6
Turn left onto US 61
6.4 mi·7 min·Seargent Prentiss Drive
7
Take the exit onto US 84
78 mi·1 hr 32 min·US 84
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 84
20 mi·23 min·US 84
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 84
10 mi·12 min·US 84
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
11
Turn straight onto MS 184
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 184
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 49 South: Hattiesburg
13
Merge onto US 49
22 mi·26 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 49; MS 42
2.4 mi·4 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.8 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto Batson Street
154 ft·8 sec·Batson Street
19
Turn right
329 ft·25 sec
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
98 ft·4 sec·East Pine Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
To keep your travel efficient, aim to complete the drive in one go, as you only need to plan for about one stop along the way. Because the route relies heavily on major highways, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting the 108.6-mile stretch on US 84 to ensure you don't run low between service intervals. Flexibility is your best asset here; since the total duration is just over three hours, you can comfortably depart mid-morning and still arrive in Hattiesburg well before the evening rush. Always factor the $23 fuel budget into your planning to avoid surprises at the pump. A pro tip for this route is to pace your single planned stop toward the middle of the US 84 segment to break up the monotony of the longest road stretch.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.3 miles from Carthage, MS, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.6 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 33 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
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 Carthage, 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 Carthage, MS
This is one driving day of about 148.6 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Carthage, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 84 for about 108.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.5 and 148.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.5 mi into trip|~21m in|US 84
Take the exit onto US 84
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
121 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 49
Merge onto US 49
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
145.4 mi into trip|~3h 2m in|Old Highway 42
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
147.2 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
148.5 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.44 one way
$44.88 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$24.64
$49.27
premium
$4.56
$26.67
$53.34
diesel
$5.61
$32.81
$65.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.6
0
$15.60
$7.13
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.00
$5.94
EV Truck/SUV
59.4
0
$20.80
$9.51
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Carthage, MS
Night
in Carthage on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Night
in Hattiesburg on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Columbia, MS
74 mi in
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
23 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
3h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused route is defined by a significant 92% highway share, making it a straightforward drive for those who prefer consistent speeds. You should prepare for a long, uninterrupted haul, as the longest stretch covers 108.6 miles specifically on US 84. The road maintains a steady pace, moving away from local town centers to prioritize efficiency. While you will encounter a mix of thoroughfares like US 49 and Seargent Prentiss Drive, the personality of the trip remains functional rather than technical. Expect a reliable, predictable experience behind the wheel that prioritizes getting you from point A to point B without unnecessary deviations.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.6 mi on US 84.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 84 and US 49. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.5 miles in near US 84.
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 148.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 10.5 miles (US 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 121 miles (US 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.4 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 148.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108.6 miles on US 84. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 10.5 miles (US 84): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 121 miles (US 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.4 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Hattiesburg, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
