Stretching 131.5 miles across Mississippi, the journey from Vicksburg to Hattiesburg is a straightforward transit that typically takes 2 hours and 42 minutes. Because this is a compact drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You will primarily navigate via I-20 and US 49, with Highway 49 South serving as the backbone of the route. Budgeting approximately $20 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic atmosphere throughout the drive. It is an efficient, no-nonsense path that prioritizes speed and directness over detours.
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
65.7 miles from Vicksburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
I 20
41.1 mi
46m
US 49
4.1 mi
6m
Clay Street
2.2 mi
3m
Old Highway 42
1.8 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Cherry Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Batson Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vicksburg, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on Jackson Street
57 ft·8 sec·Jackson Street
2
Turn left onto Cherry Street
0.2 mi·54 sec·Cherry Street
3
Turn left onto US 80 Historic
2.2 mi·3 min·Clay Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
5
Merge onto I 20; US 61; US 80
0.3 mi·19 sec·I 20; US 61; US 80
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 80
40 mi·44 min·I 20; US 80
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
To make the most of your 2-hour and 42-minute drive, try to depart early in the day to avoid peak traffic congestion on the major highways. Since the route is relatively short, you only need to plan for one strategic stop to break up the 131.5-mile distance. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Vicksburg, as having a $20 buffer is helpful, though you will have plenty of opportunities to refuel along the US 49 corridor. Given the high highway percentage, ensure your vehicle is well-maintained for sustained speeds. Use the inherent flexibility of this short route to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule rather than worrying about a complex multi-day itinerary.
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 65.7 miles from Vicksburg, MS, or about 1h 18m 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.7 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
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 Vicksburg, 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 Vicksburg, MS
This is one driving day of about 131.5 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Vicksburg, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 128.3 — 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|Cherry Street
Turn left onto Cherry Street
Navigation decision point
6
43.9 mi into trip|~51m 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
44.5 mi into trip|~52m 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
45.3 mi into trip|~53m 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
128.3 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|Old Highway 42
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.86 one way
$39.72 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$21.80
$43.60
premium
$4.56
$23.60
$47.21
diesel
$5.61
$29.03
$58.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.4
0
$13.81
$6.31
Efficient EV
32.9
0
$11.51
$5.26
EV Truck/SUV
52.6
0
$18.41
$8.42
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Vicksburg, MS
Morning
in Vicksburg on Tuesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Morning
in Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
7:16 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
2h 42m 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 131.5-mile journey is heavily highway-focused, with 97% of your time spent on major routes. You should prepare for a consistent, high-speed experience rather than a winding backroad cruise. The most significant portion of your travel involves an 80.3-mile stretch on Highway 49 South, which serves as the primary artery for the middle of your trip. As you transition from the interstate onto US 49, expect a steady pace that keeps your travel time under three hours. Because the route is so highway-dependent, you can maintain a reliable rhythm behind the wheel without frequent stops for navigation changes.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and I 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Cherry Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 131.5 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: near the start (Cherry Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.5 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 Vicksburg, MS and Hattiesburg, MS, road signs point toward Meridian and Richland.
Vicksburg is a city of 22,000 people (2018) in Warren County, Mississippi. Vicksburg is a cultural landmark in the American South, and is home to the Southern Cultural Heritage Center, Vicksburg Military Park, and the Lower Mississippi River Museum.
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 42m. Total distance: 131.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Cherry Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.9 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.5 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
