Traveling from Madison to Bay Saint Louis covers 181.7 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 51 minutes. This straightforward journey transitions you from the interior of Mississippi down toward the Gulf Coast, keeping you entirely within the Southeast region. With a fuel cost estimate of $28, the trip is efficient and well-suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via Highway 49 South, the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, and MS 603. Because of the manageable duration, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace. It is a practical route for those looking to trade the central Mississippi landscape for the coastal environment in under four hours.
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
90.8 miles from Madison, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
40.1 mi
43m
MS 603
25 mi
37m
South Main Street
15.7 mi
23m
I 55
8.2 mi
10m
United States Highway 51
4.4 mi
6m
US 49
2.2 mi
3m
US 90
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, MS and Bay Saint Louis, MS.
1
Start on Depot Drive
36 ft·7 sec·Depot Drive
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 51
4.4 mi·6 min·United States Highway 51
4
Turn left onto I-55 Frontage Road
0.3 mi·28 sec·I-55 Frontage Road
5
Continue on I- 55 North Frontage Road
442 ft·7 sec·I- 55 North Frontage Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
7
Merge onto I 55
8.2 mi·10 min·I 55
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
10
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf CoastUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 59
40 mi·43 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
16
Turn left onto MS 53
16 mi·23 min·South Main Street
17
Continue on MS 603
25 mi·37 min·MS 603
18
Turn left onto US 90
2.1 mi·3 min·US 90
19
Turn right onto Main Street
1.1 mi·1 min·Main Street
20
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South 2nd Street
21
Arrive at destination
South 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one stop during your 3 hour and 51 minute journey to keep your energy levels up and handle any refueling needs. Given that your fuel budget is roughly $28, you might find it most cost-effective to fill up before leaving Madison or toward the final leg of the drive. Pay close attention to the transition between Highway 49 South and the subsequent state highways, as navigation changes slightly when you move onto MS 603. Keeping your itinerary simple with a single planned break will help you arrive in Bay Saint Louis feeling refreshed and ready for your coastal arrival.
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 90.8 miles from Madison, MS, or about 1h 53m 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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.8 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Saint Louis, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, MS
This is one driving day of about 181.7 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Madison, 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 Highway 49 South for about 80.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 97.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
13.4 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattie...
6
14.4 mi into trip|~19m 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
96.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m 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
6
97.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.44 one way
$54.88 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.12
$60.25
premium
$4.56
$32.61
$65.23
diesel
$5.61
$40.12
$80.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.5
0
$19.08
$8.72
Efficient EV
45.4
0
$15.90
$7.27
EV Truck/SUV
72.7
0
$25.44
$11.63
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Madison, MS
Night
in Madison on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bay Saint Louis, MS
Night
in Bay Saint Louis on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
3h 51m 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 drive that is heavily highway-focused, with 67% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will face a longest uninterrupted stretch of 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South, which requires steady focus behind the wheel. The road personality shifts from standard highway travel to the specific corridors of the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway and MS 603 as you approach your destination. While the transit is direct, the mix of high-speed stretches and smaller state highways ensures the character of the road changes as you head south. Staying alert during those long highway segments is key to maintaining a smooth pace throughout the entire 181.7-mile trek.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 181.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Madison, MS and Bay Saint Louis, MS, road signs point toward Hattiesburg, Richland, Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Necaise.
Hattiesburg
13.4 mi in|~18m
Richland
14.4 mi in|~19m|via US 49
Gulf Coast
96.9 mi in|~2h 1m
Mississippi Gulf Coast
97.2 mi in|~2h 1m|via I 59
Necaise
137.4 mi in|~2h 44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 181.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bay Saint Louis, 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Bay Saint Louis, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
