This 81.7-mile drive from Cleary, MS to Hattiesburg, MS is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. With 94% of the route on highways, it's an efficient way to travel between these two points within Mississippi's Southeast region. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, making it an economical option for a day trip. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Cleary, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
72 mi
1h 25m
US 49
2.8 mi
4m
Old Highway 42
1.8 mi
3m
West Main Street
1.7 mi
4m
Florence Byram Road
1.7 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
MS 469
0.4 mi
<1m
Batson Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 72 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleary, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on Cleary Road
33 ft·8 sec·Cleary Road
2
Turn left onto Florence Byram Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Florence Byram Road
3
Continue on West Main Street
1.7 mi·4 min·West Main Street
4
Continue on MS 469
0.4 mi·41 sec·MS 469
5
Turn right onto US 49
72 mi·1 hr 25 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49; MS 42
2.4 mi·4 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.8 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Batson Street
154 ft·8 sec·Batson Street
11
Turn right
329 ft·25 sec
12
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
98 ft·4 sec·East Pine Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 45-minute duration, you can comfortably leave Cleary, MS at any time of day without needing to rush. Since the drive is primarily on highways, you won't necessarily need many stops, but there are no designated stops mentioned, so plan accordingly if you anticipate needing breaks. Keep an eye out for the transition onto US 49, as this will be your main artery for the majority of the 81.7-mile journey. With a low fuel cost of $12, you should have plenty of gas to reach Hattiesburg, MS without concern.
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 40.9 miles from Cleary, MS, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 52m 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 26m
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 Cleary, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cleary, MS
This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Cleary, 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 72 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 81.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Florence Byram Road
Turn left onto Florence Byram Road
Navigation decision point
5
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|Old Highway 42
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|North Main Street
Turn right onto North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
81.7 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 11 / East Pine Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 11 / East Pine Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.34 one way
$24.68 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.54
$27.09
premium
$4.56
$14.66
$29.33
diesel
$5.61
$18.04
$36.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.15
$3.27
EV Truck/SUV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Cleary, MS
Night
in Cleary on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Night
in Hattiesburg on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
20 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
1h 45m 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 predominantly highway experience on this trip, with Highway 49 South and US 49 making up the bulk of your travel. This means you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained, faster roads, covering a significant 72-mile stretch uninterrupted on Highway 49 South. While Old Highway 42 is also part of the route, the overall profile leans heavily towards efficient highway driving rather than winding country roads. This character makes for a predictable and generally smooth drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72 mi on Highway 49 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and US 49. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Florence Byram Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cleary, MS to Hattiesburg, MS is easy. At 1h 45m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Florence Byram Road): Navigation decision point; at 78.6 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.4 miles (North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 81.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 72 miles on Highway 49 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Florence Byram Road): Navigation decision point; at 78.6 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.4 miles (North Main Street): 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.
