Connecting Hattiesburg to Meridian, this 88-mile journey through Southeast Mississippi is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, it serves perfectly as a quick day trip rather than requiring an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the round trip, making it an affordable excursion. Your path will primarily follow I-59, the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, and the Evelyn Gandy Parkway. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the efficiency of this route allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44 miles from Hattiesburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
77.7 mi
1h 24m
I 59
2 mi
2m
Evelyn Gandy Parkway
1.9 mi
2m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
Glendale Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
Old Highway 42
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
— 77.7 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hattiesburg, MS and Meridian, 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
0.2 mi·28 sec·Old Highway 42
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto Glendale Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·Glendale Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto Monroe Road
0.2 mi·27 sec·Monroe Road
6
Turn left onto MS 42
1.9 mi·2 min·Evelyn Gandy Parkway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
8
Merge onto I 59
78 mi·1 hr 24 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
2.0 mi·2 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
12
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
13
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 41 minute duration, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your schedule best without needing to worry about mid-trip lodging. Since there are no designated stops programmed into this route, make sure your vehicle is fueled up before you depart to cover the $13 estimated cost. Pay close attention to the turn-heavy nature of the local segments, as these areas require more focus than a straight interstate drive. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete the entire 88-mile distance in one go. Keep your navigation system handy to manage the transition between the Evelyn Gandy Parkway and the longer stretches of the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway.
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 44 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.7 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hattiesburg, MS
This is one driving day of about 88 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hattiesburg, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway for about 77.7 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 85 — 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.
6
3 mi into trip|~7m in|MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway
Turn left onto MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
82.9 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
7
85 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.29 one way
$26.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.59
$29.18
premium
$4.56
$15.79
$31.59
diesel
$5.61
$19.43
$38.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.4
0
$9.24
$4.22
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.70
$3.52
EV Truck/SUV
35.2
0
$12.32
$5.63
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Hattiesburg, MS
Afternoon
in Hattiesburg on Sunday
Local time
1:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Afternoon
in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
1:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Laurel, MS
44 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 41m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you will spend a portion of your time on major corridors, the route maintains a distinct personality with only 6% of the trip classified as traditional highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, which accounts for a 77.7-mile stretch of your journey. The road transitions from local thoroughfares to these longer segments, creating a rhythm that keeps you engaged. Prepare for a drive that feels more like a technical local navigation than a monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.7 mi on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 967 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88 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 3 miles (MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Meridian, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tuscaloosa along the way.
Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 41m. Total distance: 88 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.7 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Meridian, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 (MS 967 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meridian, MS before heading back.
