Origin
Clinton, MS
Late night in Clinton on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, MS to Diamondhead, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 47m
Distance
176.3 mi
284 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 35m
★
6 AM
3h 47m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 56m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 57m
5 PM
4h 11m
8 PM
3h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Diamondhead, MS
大 董
Trip Overview
Spanning 176.3 miles across Mississippi, this journey from Clinton to Diamondhead typically takes about 3 hours and 47 minutes. Because the route is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate sprint, you should plan on dedicating a full day to complete the transit. Expect to budget roughly $27 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. This drive is best treated as a single-day commitment, allowing you to navigate the local roads at a manageable pace. It serves as a practical connection through the heart of the state, providing a different experience than a high-speed highway commute. Whether you are heading toward the coast or returning inland, the duration makes it a feasible, if demanding, day trip.
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
88.1 miles from Clinton, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 49 South | 80.3 mi | 1h 37m |
| Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway | 40.1 mi | 43m |
| MS 603 | 19.6 mi | 29m |
| South Main Street | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| I 20 | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| US 49 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| I 10 | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Diamondhead Drive North | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, MS and Diamondhead, MS.
1
Start on Dunton Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Dunton Road
2
Continue on East Leake Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Leake Street
3
Turn left onto East Street
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
East Street
4
Turn left onto East Main Street
366 ft
·
18 sec
·
East Main Street
5
Turn right onto Clinton Parkway
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Clinton Parkway
6
Continue on Springridge Road
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Springridge Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
8
Merge onto I 20
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
I 20
9
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20; I 55; US 49
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
347 ft
·
4 sec
·
I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
11
Take the exit onto US 49
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 49
Toward Hattiesburg
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
13
Merge onto US 49
80 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
Highway 49 South
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
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 59
40 mi
·
43 min
·
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
19
Turn left onto MS 53
16 mi
·
23 min
·
South Main Street
20
Continue on MS 603
20 mi
·
29 min
·
MS 603
21
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
22
Merge onto I 10
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
I 10
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Diamondhead
24
Keep slight left at fork
228 ft
·
5 sec
25
Keep slight left at fork onto Yacht Club Drive
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Yacht Club Drive
26
Continue on Gex Drive
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Gex Drive
27
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
143 ft
·
3 sec
·
Gex Drive
28
Continue on Gex Drive
448 ft
·
12 sec
·
Gex Drive
29
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
104 ft
·
3 sec
·
Gex Drive
30
Continue on Gex Drive
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Gex Drive
31
Enter roundabout onto Diamondhead Drive North
452 ft
·
12 sec
·
Diamondhead Drive North
32
Continue on Diamondhead Drive North
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Diamondhead Drive North
33
Turn right onto Analii Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Analii Street
34
Turn right onto Diamondhead Drive North
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Diamondhead Drive North
35
Turn right
0.2 mi
·
55 sec
36
At end of road, turn right
382 ft
·
17 sec
37
Turn right
136 ft
·
5 sec
38
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3 hour and 47 minute trip, consider departing early in the morning to avoid the fatigue that can come with constant turning on local roads. Since the route involves only one planned stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and check your fuel levels, especially since you are budgeting $27 for the trip. Pay close attention to your navigation when moving through the various local streets, as the lack of highway signage means you need to stay alert for turns. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, maintain a flexible schedule to account for potential traffic delays. Prioritize keeping your fuel tank topped off before you leave, as local roads can lead you away from major service stations.
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 88.1 miles from Clinton, MS, or about 1h 50m 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 39 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.1 miles or 1h 50m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Diamondhead, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clinton, 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 Clinton, MS
This is one driving day of about 176.3 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Clinton, 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 Highway 49 South for about 80.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.1 miles from Clinton, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Highway 49 South if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 11.5 and 173.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
6
12.2 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
7
94.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
6
95 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
|
I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
6
173.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 40m in
|
Gex Drive
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.63 one way
$53.25 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $29.23 | $58.46 |
| premium | $4.56 | $31.64 | $63.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.92 | $77.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.9 | 0 | $18.51 | $8.46 |
| Efficient EV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.43 | $7.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.5 | 0 | $24.68 | $11.28 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Diamondhead, MS
Late night in Diamondhead on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 47m 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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 6.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a significantly different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. Instead, you will navigate through a series of local thoroughfares, including East Leake Street, East Street, and East Main Street. The personality of this drive is decidedly turn-heavy, requiring your full attention as you transition between local roads. Because you are avoiding major highways, the pace remains steady but requires frequent adjustments to your speed and steering. You will find that the road surface and local traffic patterns dictate the flow of your journey, making it a more engaged and technical drive than a monotonous, long-distance highway haul.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.5 miles in near I 20; US 49.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 176.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.5 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clinton, MS and Diamondhead, MS, road signs point toward Meridian, Hattiesburg, Richland, Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Necaise.
Meridian
11.5 mi in
|
~17m
|
via I 20; US 49
Hattiesburg
11.5 mi in
|
~17m
|
via I 20; US 49
Richland
12.2 mi in
|
~17m
|
via US 49
Gulf Coast
94.7 mi in
|
~1h 59m
Mississippi Gulf Coast
95 mi in
|
~1h 59m
|
via I 59
Necaise
135.2 mi in
|
~2h 42m
About the Cities
Starting in Clinton, MS
Full guide →Clinton is a city in Mississippi.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 176.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Diamondhead, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.5 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Diamondhead, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Diamondhead, MS
Explore more options from Clinton, MS or browse trips ending in Diamondhead, MS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MS road trips.