Spanning 224.3 miles, this drive from Shelby to Hattiesburg takes approximately 4 hours and 49 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively straightforward, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion through the Southeast region of Mississippi. You should budget about $34 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating this route primarily involves Highway 49 South, though you will also transition through North Martin Luther King Drive and Jerry Clower Boulevard. It is a practical, highway-focused journey that connects the northern and southern parts of the state without requiring an overnight stay.
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
112.2 miles from Shelby, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
North Martin Luther King Drive
46.2 mi
55m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
US 61
25.3 mi
33m
MS 448
13.5 mi
23m
US 49
12.8 mi
17m
Old Highway 42
1.8 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelby, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on MS 161
32 ft·2 sec·South Broadway Street
2
Turn right onto East 2nd Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·East 2nd Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Martin L King Jr Boulevard
485 ft·9 sec·Martin L King Jr Boulevard
4
Continue on East School Avenue
0.3 mi·26 sec·East School Avenue
5
Continue on Parchman Road
0.1 mi·16 sec·Parchman Road
6
Turn right onto US 61; US 278
25 mi·33 min·US 61; US 278
7
Turn left onto MS 448
1.1 mi·2 min·East Peeler Avenue
8
Turn right onto MS 448
13 mi·23 min·MS 448
9
Turn left onto US 82
0.7 mi·1 min·US 82
10
Turn right onto US 49W
46 mi·55 min·North Martin Luther King Drive
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
12
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
13
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
15
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
347 ft·4 sec·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
17
Take the exit onto US 49
0.6 mi·42 sec·US 49
Toward Hattiesburg
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
19
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 49; MS 42
2.4 mi·4 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.8 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto Batson Street
154 ft·8 sec·Batson Street
25
Turn right
329 ft·25 sec
26
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
98 ft·4 sec·East Pine Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 49-minute travel time, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the longest uninterrupted segment is 80.3 miles, try to time your break shortly after clearing that stretch to keep your focus sharp. Departing early in the day is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach Hattiesburg with plenty of daylight remaining. Keep in mind that with a $34 fuel budget, it is wise to monitor your consumption levels before starting your trek. Because this is a single-day trip, feel free to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule, as the route offers enough flexibility for a morning or early afternoon start.
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 112.2 miles from Shelby, MS, or about 2h 27m 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 49 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.2 miles or 2h 27m 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 56m
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 Shelby, 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 Shelby, MS
This is one driving day of about 224.3 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Shelby, 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 138.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Martin L King Jr Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto Martin L King Jr Boulevard
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
87.6 mi into trip|~1h 57m 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
136.7 mi into trip|~2h 58m 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
137.4 mi into trip|~2h 58m 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
138.1 mi into trip|~3h 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.87 one way
$67.75 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$37.19
$74.37
premium
$4.56
$40.26
$80.52
diesel
$5.61
$49.52
$99.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.3
0
$23.55
$10.77
Efficient EV
56.1
0
$19.63
$8.97
EV Truck/SUV
89.7
1
$31.40
$14.36
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Shelby, MS
Morning
in Shelby on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Morning
in Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 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
22 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 49m 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...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 131.5
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 7.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by steady highway travel, as 61% of your journey stays on major routes. The experience is anchored by a significant 80.3-mile stretch along Highway 49 South, which serves as the backbone of your trip. While you will encounter some variation when navigating local roads like Jerry Clower Boulevard, the route maintains a consistent, highway-forward personality throughout. You won't find yourself dealing with overly technical terrain, making it a predictable experience for those who prefer straightforward driving. Overall, the road feels functional and efficient, allowing you to maintain a steady pace across the Mississippi landscape.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and North Martin Luther King Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Martin L King Jr Boulevard.
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 20 significant decision points across 224.3 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 0.3 miles (Martin L King Jr Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 87.6 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 136.7 miles (I 20; 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 Shelby, 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 49m. Total distance: 224.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 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.
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 0.3 miles (Martin L King Jr Boulevard): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 87.6 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 136.7 miles (I 20; 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 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Hattiesburg, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
