Traveling from Philadelphia to Hattiesburg covers 122.7 miles through the heart of Southeast Mississippi. You can expect a total drive time of approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of about $19, the journey is quite affordable for most travelers. Because the route is highway-focused, you will spend most of your time on major roads like I-59 and US 11. Whether you are heading south for business or a quick change of scenery, the straightforward nature of this connection allows for a predictable and efficient commute between these two regional hubs.
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
61.4 miles from Philadelphia, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
67.8 mi
1h 13m
Holland Avenue
36.6 mi
54m
US 11
13.5 mi
19m
I 20
1.6 mi
1m
Airport Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Moselle-Seminary Road
0.6 mi
1m
East Pine Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 67.8 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on Front Street
229 ft·16 sec·Front Street
2
Turn left onto MS 16; MS 19; MS 21
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn right onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·Holland Avenue
4
Turn right onto MS 19
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Boulevard
5
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·North Frontage Road
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 80
1.6 mi·1 min·I 20; I 59; US 80
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
68 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 59
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New OrleansUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Toward MoselleUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
117 ft·6 sec
Toward MoselleUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Moselle-Seminary Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Moselle-Seminary Road
12
Turn straight onto US 11
13 mi·19 min·US 11
13
Turn right onto US 11
0.4 mi·50 sec·East Pine Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to avoid peak traffic hours, as the highway sections can see increased congestion. Since the drive is under three hours, one well-timed stop should be more than enough to keep you refreshed and alert behind the wheel. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $19, so topping off your tank before leaving Philadelphia can help you avoid unnecessary stops along the interstate. Given that the route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule based on the day's traffic reports. Always double-check your navigation before hitting the 67.8-mile stretch on I-59 to ensure you are prepared for the highway portion of your journey.
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 61.4 miles from Philadelphia, MS, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.8 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 27 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.4 miles or 1h 22m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hattiesburg, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, MS
This is one driving day of about 122.7 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Philadelphia, 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 I 59 for about 67.8 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 108.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 16; MS 19; MS 21 / Main Street
Turn left onto MS 16; MS 19; MS 21 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
38.5 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
40.4 mi into trip|~1h in|I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
6
108.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward Moselle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Moselle
8
108.3 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Moselle
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Moselle
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.53 one way
$37.06 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$20.34
$40.68
premium
$4.56
$22.02
$44.05
diesel
$5.61
$27.09
$54.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
Efficient EV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
EV Truck/SUV
49.1
0
$17.18
$7.85
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Philadelphia, MS
Morning
in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Morning
in Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
9:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Laurel, MS
61 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
5 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 35m 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?
This route features a highway-focused profile, with 68% of your travel occurring on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 67.8 miles directly on I-59. The drive transitions from local roads like Holland Avenue into these faster arterial highways, offering a blend of slower navigation and steady interstate cruising. Expect the character of the road to shift as you move away from Philadelphia, trading local traffic for the consistent flow of the highway system. It is a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.8 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and Holland Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 16; MS 19; MS 21 / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 122.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 (MS 16; MS 19; MS 21 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Philadelphia, MS and Hattiesburg, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans and Moselle.
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 35m. Total distance: 122.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.8 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 16; MS 19; MS 21 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 40.4 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Hattiesburg, MS before heading back.
