Connecting Hattiesburg to Ridgeland is a straightforward 99.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 44 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable regional connection within Mississippi. Navigating from the Southeast region toward the central part of the state, you will primarily utilize a combination of North Main Street, Highway 42, and local roads leading into the Jackson area. This route is ideal for travelers who prefer a direct drive without the complexity of long-distance planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.7 miles from Hattiesburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
84.7 mi
1h 44m
I 55
10.7 mi
13m
Old Highway 42
1.7 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
West Jackson Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Old Agency Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Sunnybrook Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Old Town Crossing
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 84.7 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hattiesburg, MS and Ridgeland, 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
11 mi·13 min·I 55
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward Ridgeland
16
Turn right onto Old Agency Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·Old Agency Road
17
Continue on Sunnybrook Road
511 ft·10 sec·Sunnybrook Road
18
Continue on West Jackson Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Jackson Street
19
Turn right onto Old Town Crossing
41 ft·1 sec·Old Town Crossing
20
Arrive at destination
Old Town Crossing
Trip Plan
Given the manageable duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are no designated stops on this 99.6-mile route, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave, as the $15 estimated cost can fluctuate based on local fuel prices along these secondary roads. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic near the Jackson area is a smart way to keep your drive time consistent. Because this is a turn-heavy route, double-check your GPS settings before starting to ensure you stay on the correct path through the local road network. This short, direct trip allows you to reach Ridgeland efficiently without the need for mid-drive breaks.
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 49.7 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.7 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.7 miles or 1h 3m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ridgeland, 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 99.4 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Hattiesburg, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 49 for about 84.7 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 98.7 — 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
5
98.7 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|Old Agency Road
Turn right onto Old Agency Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.01 one way
$30.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.48
$32.96
premium
$4.56
$17.84
$35.68
diesel
$5.61
$21.95
$43.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.8
0
$10.44
$4.77
Efficient EV
24.9
0
$8.70
$3.98
EV Truck/SUV
39.8
0
$13.92
$6.36
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 17, 2026
Origin
Hattiesburg, MS
Late night
in Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ridgeland, MS
Late night
in Ridgeland on Tuesday
Local time
5:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
S 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
59°F
New Haven, MS
50 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
2 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 6m 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.
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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Since this route involves 0% highway driving, you will be navigating local roads and thoroughfares for the duration of the 1 hour and 44-minute trip. The personality of this drive is defined by frequent transitions rather than long, uninterrupted stretches. You should be prepared for a steady pace as you navigate off the main highways and through the local connections that define this 99.6-mile trek. Stay alert, as the winding nature of these local roads requires more active steering than a standard highway route.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.7 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and I 55. 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 11 significant decision points across 99.4 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 86.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Ridgeland, 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 99.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m 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 84.7 miles on US 49. 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 Ridgeland, 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. 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 86.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ridgeland, MS before heading back.
