Hattiesburg to Hernando is 273 miles and takes about 5 hours 13 minutes via I 55 and US 49, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to a slightly different part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a good option if you're looking for a direct route. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect consistent travel speeds. This route is designed for a single day of driving, so plan accordingly.
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
136.6 miles from Hattiesburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
184 mi
3h 19m
US 49
84.7 mi
1h 44m
Old Highway 42
1.7 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
East Commerce Street
1.1 mi
1m
US 51
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Pine Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 184 mi, about 3h 19m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 57 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,443 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~141 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hattiesburg, MS and Hernando, MS.
1
Start on US 11
27 ft·5 sec·East Pine Street
2
Turn right onto MS 967
1.3 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
At end of road, turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.7 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·12 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn straight onto US 49
2.2 mi·3 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi·6 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi·6 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 49
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi·4 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
14
Merge onto I 55
184 mi·3 hr 19 min·I 55
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Hermando
16
Turn left onto MS 304
1.1 mi·1 min·East Commerce Street
17
Turn right onto US 51
162 ft·2 sec·US 51
18
Arrive at destination
US 51
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a significant road change is 184 miles on I 55. Since this is a single-day trip, you can afford to be spontaneous with any brief stops you might want. Ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained highway speeds before you depart Hattiesburg.
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 136.6 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 184 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 60 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.6 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hernando, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hattiesburg, 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 Hattiesburg, MS
This is one driving day of about 273.2 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Hattiesburg, 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 I 55 for about 184 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 0 and 271.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 967 / North Main Street
Turn right onto MS 967 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|Old Highway 42
At end of road, turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
4
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
271.9 mi into trip|~5h 10m in
Take the exit toward Hermando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Hermando
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.93 one way
$75.85 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$42.43
$84.86
premium
$4.29
$46.13
$92.26
diesel
$4.80
$51.59
$103.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82
1
$28.69
$13.11
Efficient EV
68.3
0
$23.91
$10.93
EV Truck/SUV
109.3
1
$38.25
$17.48
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Hattiesburg, MS
Late night
in Hattiesburg on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Hernando, MS
Late night
in Hernando on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
5h 13m 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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 94.2
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled to Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 216.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 99% of this 273-mile drive, with the longest continuous stretch being 184 miles on I 55. The transition to surface roads will happen late in your trip. Expect frequent exits and entrances as you navigate the interstate system. This driving profile means you'll encounter a lot of traffic flow typical of major corridors.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 184 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 967 / North Main 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 273.2 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: near the start (MS 967 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
406 ft164 ft
Total Climb
622 ft
Total Descent
405 ft
Highest Point
406 ft
~58.5 mi in
Elevation Range
241 ft
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 Hattiesburg, MS to Hernando, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson 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.
Top landmarks
•Hattiesburg station — Amtrak station in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA
•Old Hattiesburg High School — high school in Mississippi, United States
•African American Military History Museum — United States historic place
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 273.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 184 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Hernando, 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. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 967 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hernando, MS before the return drive.
