This 186.7-mile journey from Hattiesburg to New Hope, Mississippi, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 41 minutes. You'll primarily navigate US 45 and I-59, with a portion on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, making for a mixed driving experience. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $28. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable day trip within the Southeast region, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. The drive offers a straightforward path through Mississippi.
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
93.4 miles from Hattiesburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
82.8 mi
1h 35m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
77.7 mi
1h 24m
I 59
9 mi
10m
Alabama Street
4.3 mi
7m
Main Street
2.1 mi
4m
New Hope Road
1.9 mi
4m
Evelyn Gandy Parkway
1.9 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 82.8 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hattiesburg, MS and New Hope, 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
9.0 mi·10 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 45 North: MaconUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 45
65 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
3.4 mi·4 min·US 45
Toward US 45 North: Columbus, Aberdeen
13
Continue on US 45
14 mi·16 min·US 45
14
Continue on Plymouth Bluff Access Road
312 ft·5 sec·Plymouth Bluff Access Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
3.1 mi·3 min
Toward US 82 East, US 45 North, MS 12 East: Columbus
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
18
Turn straight onto MS 69
0.3 mi·40 sec·Main Street
19
Enter roundabout onto MS 69; MS 182
63 ft·1 sec·Main Street
20
Continue on MS 69; MS 182
1.7 mi·3 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on MS 69; MS 182
4.3 mi·7 min·Alabama Street
22
Turn right onto New Hope Road
1.9 mi·4 min·New Hope Road
23
Arrive at destination
New Hope Road
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 41-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Hattiesburg to maximize your day and avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have ample flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 82.8-mile stretch on US 45, and plan your refueling accordingly. The $28 fuel cost is a reasonable budget for this distance. This route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, so you can adjust your departure time based on your preferences.
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 93.4 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.8 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 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.4 miles or 1h 47m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Hope, 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 186.7 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 US 45 for about 82.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 91.9 — 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.
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...
6
91.9 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward US 45 North: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 45 North: Macon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.20 one way
$56.39 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.95
$61.91
premium
$4.56
$33.51
$67.02
diesel
$5.61
$41.22
$82.44
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: 65.3 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
56
0
$19.60
$8.96
Efficient EV
46.7
0
$16.34
$7.47
EV Truck/SUV
74.7
0
$26.14
$11.95
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 20, 2026
Origin
Hattiesburg, MS
Late night
in Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Hope, MS
Late night
in New Hope on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Meridian, 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
28 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
3h 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 mixed drive on this route, with about 50% of your travel time spent on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 82.8 miles on US 45, offering a good opportunity to settle in. The road character shifts between faster highway sections and potentially more local driving as you progress toward New Hope. This blend means you'll experience both efficient travel and more varied road conditions, keeping your drive engaging.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.8 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 186.7 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: 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.
Between Hattiesburg, MS and New Hope, MS, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa and Aberdeen.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 186.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.8 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 New Hope, 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 7 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 3 miles (MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at New Hope, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
