Madison, MS to Waveland, MS is 179.8 miles and takes about 3h 49m via Highway 49 South, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a relatively straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a duration under four hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. Consider this if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points in 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
89.9 miles from Madison, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m 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
Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi
1m
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 Waveland, 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
Continue on Nicholson Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·Nicholson Avenue
19
Turn right onto McLaurin Street
0.5 mi·1 min·McLaurin Street
20
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
82 ft·8 sec·Saint Anthony Street
21
Turn left onto Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
22
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Coleman Avenue
23
Turn right onto Central Avenue
397 ft·10 sec·Central Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 49-minute drive time, leaving Madison, MS in the morning will allow you to reach Waveland, MS with plenty of daylight. The route is fairly direct, with only one recommended stop, so you can decide on the fly if you need to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 80.3-mile stretch on Highway 49 South, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $27. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but an earlier start is always a good idea for road trips.
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 89.9 miles from Madison, MS, or about 1h 52m 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 89.9 miles or 1h 52m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waveland, 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 179.8 miles and 3h 49m.
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 17
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
$27.15 one way
$54.31 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$29.81
$59.62
premium
$4.56
$32.27
$64.54
diesel
$5.61
$39.70
$79.40
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: 62.9 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
53.9
0
$18.88
$8.63
Efficient EV
45
0
$15.73
$7.19
EV Truck/SUV
71.9
0
$25.17
$11.51
Gas CO2
63 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 20, 2026
Origin
Madison, MS
Late night
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waveland, MS
Late night
in Waveland on Tuesday
Local time
4:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
1 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 49m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 12.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway, with 67% of the 179.8 miles on major roads. You'll encounter a stretch of 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South before transitioning to other routes. Expect to see a more rural cruising feel for the majority of the trip. Highway 49 South is a significant part of this drive, and you'll notice the highway eventually gives way to surface roads as you near your destination.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 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 17 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 179.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 Waveland, 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 49m. Total distance: 179.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m 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 Waveland, 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.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Waveland, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
