Origin
Jackson, MS
Late night in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, MS to West Hattiesburg, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
89.7 mi
144 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Hattiesburg, MS
大 董
Trip Overview
This 89.7-mile drive from Jackson, Mississippi, to West Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 53 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, you'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it an efficient way to travel between these two points within the Southeast region. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $14, which is quite budget-friendly. This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, offering a direct and uncomplicated travel experience.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.8 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 49 South | 80.3 mi | 1h 37m |
| US 49 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway | 1.9 mi | 1m |
| Hardy Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| I 55 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Pascagoula Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Weathersby Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Lane | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and West Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on East Pearl Street
443 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Pearl Street
2
Turn left onto South Lamar Street
372 ft
·
17 sec
·
South Lamar Street
3
Turn left onto East Pascagoula Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Pascagoula Street
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
6
Merge onto I 55
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 55
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
9
Merge onto US 49
80 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 59
1.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward US 98 West: Columbia, Hardy Street
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
236 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 98 West: Hardy Street, University of Southern Mississippi, Columbia
16
Turn right onto US 98
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hardy Street
Toward US 98 West: Columbia
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Weathersby Road
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Weathersby Road
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto North Lane
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Lane
19
Arrive at destination
McKenzie Circle
Trip Plan
Since this drive is just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility for when you depart Jackson. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon allows you to arrive in West Hattiesburg with plenty of daylight. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but you can take advantage of the continuous highway travel to reach your destination efficiently. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 80.3 miles, to ensure you have enough to reach a service station in West Hattiesburg.
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 44.8 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.8 miles or 56m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Hattiesburg, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, MS
This is one driving day of about 89.7 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Jackson, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Highway 49 South for about 80.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.8 miles from Jackson, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Highway 49 South if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 88.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49 toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
7
85.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
7
87.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 98 West: Columbia, Hardy Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 98 West: Columbia, Hardy Street
7
88.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 98 West: Hardy Street, University of Southern Mississippi, Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 98 West: Hardy Street, University of...
6
88.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
US 98 / Hardy Street
Turn right onto US 98 / Hardy Street toward US 98 West: Columbia
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 98 West: Columbia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.55 one way
$27.09 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $14.87 | $29.74 |
| premium | $4.56 | $16.10 | $32.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.80 | $39.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.4 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 | 26.9 | 0 | $9.42 | $4.31 |
| Efficient EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.85 | $3.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.9 | 0 | $12.56 | $5.74 |
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.
Destination
West Hattiesburg, MS
Late night in West Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
New Haven, MS
45 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
21 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 53m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll experience a highway-focused drive for 93% of this trip, covering 89.7 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South, which also functions as US 49 and the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. Expect consistent highway speeds for the vast majority of your journey. This means the road's personality remains largely the same throughout, prioritizing directness over varied scenery or road types.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.3 mi on Highway 49 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.2 miles in near US 49.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.7 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 3.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Jackson, MS
Full guide →Jackson is the capital of the state of Mississippi. While it may not offer much in terms of tourism today, Jackson can be used as a stopover for getting to other parts of the state or further.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 89.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South. 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 West Hattiesburg, 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: at 3.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Hattiesburg, MS before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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