Traveling from Ruleville to Hattiesburg covers 204.8 miles across the Southeast region of Mississippi. You should budget approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes of drive time, making this a straightforward journey that easily fits into a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily utilize Highway 49 South, supplemented by local segments like South Oak Avenue and Jerry Clower Boulevard. Because the route stays within the same state and region, you will experience a consistent cultural atmosphere throughout the trek. It is a practical drive that requires no overnight stops, allowing you to reach your destination well before the end of the day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
102.4 miles from Ruleville, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
South Oak Avenue
67.8 mi
1h 27m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
US 49
12.8 mi
17m
Old Highway 42
1.8 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
I 20
1.2 mi
1m
US 49W
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ruleville, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on West Floyce Street
0.3 mi·32 sec·West Floyce Street
2
Turn right onto US 49W
68 mi·1 hr 27 min·South Oak Avenue
3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
4
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
5
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
7
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
347 ft·4 sec·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
9
Take the exit onto US 49
0.6 mi·42 sec·US 49
Toward Hattiesburg
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
11
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 49; MS 42
2.4 mi·4 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.8 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Batson Street
154 ft·8 sec·Batson Street
17
Turn right
329 ft·25 sec
18
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
98 ft·4 sec·East Pine Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Planning for this 204.8-mile trip is simple since it only requires one planned stop to break up the four-hour duration. Because the drive is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving in the morning is always a smart way to beat potential traffic. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longer 80.3-mile stretch on Highway 49 South to ensure you are comfortable between stations. Since the route involves navigating through both local arteries and major highways, pay close attention to signage when transitioning onto Jerry Clower Boulevard. Having your fuel budget of $31 set aside beforehand will help keep your trip logistics stress-free.
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 102.4 miles from Ruleville, MS, or about 2h 10m 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 45 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.4 miles or 2h 10m 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 31m
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 Ruleville, 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 Ruleville, MS
This is one driving day of about 204.8 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Ruleville, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.1 and 201.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
68.1 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|US 49W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W toward US 49 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
6
117.2 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
6
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
5
118.6 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 49 / Highway 49 South
Merge onto US 49 / Highway 49 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
201.7 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|Old Highway 42
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.93 one way
$61.86 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.95
$67.91
premium
$4.56
$36.76
$73.52
diesel
$5.61
$45.22
$90.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.4
0
$21.50
$9.83
Efficient EV
51.2
0
$17.92
$8.19
EV Truck/SUV
81.9
1
$28.67
$13.11
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Ruleville, MS
Late night
in Ruleville on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Late night
in Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°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
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
4h 20m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 105.9
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled to Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing local navigation with longer highway segments. You will spend roughly 47% of your time on highways, providing a steady pace for nearly half of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on Highway 49 South, where you will cover 80.3 miles of road at a time. Expect the character of the drive to shift as you transition from smaller town streets like South Oak Avenue onto the more expansive stretches of highway. While the route avoids the monotony of a purely interstate-focused trip, the blend of road types keeps the experience varied enough to maintain your focus behind the wheel.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
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?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.1 miles in near US 49W.
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 15 significant decision points across 204.8 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: at 68.1 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.2 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.8 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
438 ft110 ft
Total Climb
396 ft
Total Descent
366 ft
Highest Point
438 ft
~160.9 mi in
Elevation Range
328 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ruleville, MS and Hattiesburg, MS, road signs point toward Meridian and Richland.
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 4h 20m. Total distance: 204.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Hattiesburg, 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. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 68.1 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.2 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.8 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Hattiesburg, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
