Greenwood, MS to Hattiesburg, MS is 186.1 miles and takes about 4h via Highway 49 South and I 55, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive primarily within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With a near 98% highway share, expect efficient travel that makes it an ideal day trip. The route is designed for getting from point A to point B effectively, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing time and ease of navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
93.1 miles from Greenwood, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
I 55
48.8 mi
54m
US 49E
23.7 mi
35m
MS 17
12.7 mi
18m
MS 12
11.2 mi
16m
US 49
3.6 mi
6m
Old Highway 42
1.8 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenwood, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on Main Street
1.1 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Continue on US 49E
24 mi·35 min·US 49E
3
Continue on MS 12
11 mi·16 min·MS 12
4
Turn slight right onto MS 12; MS 17
489 ft·8 sec·MS 12; MS 17
5
Turn right onto MS 17
0.4 mi·42 sec·Yazoo Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Continue on MS 17
13 mi·18 min·MS 17
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
8
Merge onto I 55
49 mi·54 min·I 55
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
11
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 49; MS 42
2.4 mi·4 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.8 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Batson Street
154 ft·8 sec·Batson Street
17
Turn right
329 ft·25 sec
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
98 ft·4 sec·East Pine Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your drive from Greenwood, MS in the morning will comfortably get you to Hattiesburg, MS by midday. There's only one recommended stop, so plan for efficient refueling and rest breaks. The longest stretch without a major town is over 80 miles on Highway 49 South, so ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before embarking on that segment. With a low fuel cost estimate of $28, this route is budget-friendly for a single-day excursion.
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 93.1 miles from Greenwood, MS, or about 2h 2m 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 41 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.1 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
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 Greenwood, 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 Greenwood, MS
This is one driving day of about 186.1 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Greenwood, 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.
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 36 and 183 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36 mi into trip|~53m in|MS 17 / Yazoo Street
Turn right onto MS 17 / Yazoo Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
98.2 mi into trip|~2h 8m 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
99.1 mi into trip|~2h 9m 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
99.9 mi into trip|~2h 11m 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
183 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|Old Highway 42
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.11 one way
$56.21 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.85
$61.71
premium
$4.56
$33.40
$66.81
diesel
$5.61
$41.09
$82.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.8
0
$19.54
$8.93
Efficient EV
46.5
0
$16.28
$7.44
EV Truck/SUV
74.4
0
$26.05
$11.91
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Greenwood, MS
Late night
in Greenwood on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Late night
in Hattiesburg on Sunday
Local time
3:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Florence, MS
93 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
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
4h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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?
This trip is almost entirely a highway-focused drive, with a 98% highway share contributing to its rapid pace. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South, which forms the core of this journey. The majority of the drive will be on high-speed roads, allowing for consistent progress toward your destination. While primarily interstate and highway, the transition between Highway 49 South and I 55 is seamless, maintaining the efficient character of the route.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and I 55. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 36 miles in near MS 17 / Yazoo Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 186.1 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 36 miles (MS 17 / Yazoo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 98.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Greenwood, MS to Hattiesburg, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Richland along the way.
Richland
99.1 mi in|~2h 9m|via US 49
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 186.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). 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.
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 Hattiesburg, 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 36 miles (MS 17 / Yazoo Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 98.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Hattiesburg, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
