If you are planning to travel from Hattiesburg to Pearl River, you are looking at a 131.4-mile journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes. This trek stays entirely within Mississippi, moving you through the Southeast region. Budgeting about $20 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the total drive time is under three hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of pace, the straightforward nature of this drive makes it a manageable option for any traveler.
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
65.7 miles from Hattiesburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
77.7 mi
1h 24m
MS 19
36.7 mi
54m
MS 16
4.9 mi
7m
I 59
2 mi
2m
Beacon Street
2 mi
3m
Evelyn Gandy Parkway
1.9 mi
2m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
Glendale Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
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 Pearl River, 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 left onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·MS 19
13
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
2.0 mi·3 min·Beacon Street
14
Turn straight onto MS 15; MS 21
0.8 mi·1 min·MS 15; MS 21
15
Turn right onto MS 16
4.9 mi·7 min·MS 16
16
Turn right onto North Oswald Road
0.3 mi·1 min·North Oswald Road
17
Continue on Black Jack Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Black Jack Road
18
Turn right onto High School Circle
59 ft·2 sec·High School Circle
19
Arrive at destination
High School Circle
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You should plan for one stop along the way to break up the nearly three-hour duration and keep your focus sharp. Pay close attention to your navigation as you transition between the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, MS 19, and MS 16, as these turns will be your primary navigational markers. Since the route requires roughly $20 in fuel, topping off your tank in Hattiesburg before you depart will ensure you have plenty of range to reach Pearl River without needing to hunt for a station mid-trip.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.7 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, or about 1h 15m 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 15m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearl River, 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 131.4 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 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 14
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
$19.84 one way
$39.69 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.78
$43.57
premium
$4.56
$23.58
$47.17
diesel
$5.61
$29.01
$58.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.4
0
$13.80
$6.31
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.50
$5.26
EV Truck/SUV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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 11, 2026
Origin
Hattiesburg, MS
Night
in Hattiesburg on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pearl River, MS
Night
in Pearl River on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Stonewall, MS
66 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
4 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
2h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed drive offers a variety of road types, with about 36% of your journey spent on highways. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 77.7 miles. As you transition from this main artery onto MS 19 and MS 16, the character of the road shifts, requiring you to adapt to different speed limits and driving conditions. Expect a blend of fast-paced highway segments and more localized road travel that keeps the drive engaging from start to finish.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 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
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 131.4 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
524 ft164 ft
Total Climb
801 ft
Total Descent
442 ft
Highest Point
524 ft
~114.9 mi in
Elevation Range
360 ft
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 Pearl River, MS, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa, Mississippi 19: Philadelphia and Meridian Airport.
Tuscaloosa
82.9 mi in|~1h 34m|via I 59
Mississippi 19: Philadelphia
85 mi in|~1h 36m
Meridian Airport
85 mi in|~1h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 131.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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 Pearl River, 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: 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 Pearl River, MS before heading back.
