Traveling from Waveland to Hattiesburg covers 81.7 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes of driving time. Because this is a straightforward trek across Southeast Mississippi, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to complete the journey. The route primarily utilizes MS 43, MS 53, and I-59 to navigate between these two points. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick visit, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable and efficient connection through the region. It is a manageable distance that allows for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Waveland, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
33.3 mi
35m
MS 43
25 mi
36m
MS 53
15.6 mi
23m
Broadway Drive
2.6 mi
5m
Veterans Memorial Drive
2 mi
2m
Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Pine Street
0.6 mi
1m
McLaurin Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 33.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waveland, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on Central Avenue
397 ft·17 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
0.1 mi·12 sec·Coleman Avenue
3
Continue on Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
4
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
82 ft·6 sec·Saint Anthony Street
5
Turn left onto McLaurin Street
0.5 mi·1 min·McLaurin Street
6
Turn left onto Nicholson Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Nicholson Avenue
7
Continue on MS 43; MS 603
25 mi·36 min·MS 43; MS 603
8
Continue on MS 53
16 mi·23 min·MS 53
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
10
Merge onto I 59
33 mi·35 min·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward US 11: Downtown HattiesburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto US 11
2.0 mi·2 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on US 11
2.6 mi·5 min·Broadway Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 11
0.6 mi·1 min·West Pine Street
15
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
503 ft·14 sec·2nd Avenue
16
Turn left onto West Railroad Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·West Railroad Street
17
Turn left onto Ronie Street
339 ft·11 sec·Ronie Street
18
Turn right onto US 11
0.3 mi·1 min·West Front Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto US 11
322 ft·20 sec·Mobile Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto US 11
422 ft·18 sec·East Pine Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 11
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of scheduling flexibility to avoid peak traffic hours. Although there are no mandatory stops required for a trip of this length, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Waveland is a smart move to ensure you stay within your $12 budget. Given that the route is highway-heavy, maintain a steady speed once you transition onto the 33.3-mile stretch of I-59. If you find yourself needing a break, plan your pauses early, as the lack of scheduled stops means you are in control of when to pull over. Utilize the direct nature of the MS 43 and MS 53 connections to keep your travel time close to the 1-hour and 52-minute estimate.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.9 miles from Waveland, MS, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.3 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
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 Waveland, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waveland, MS
This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Waveland, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 33.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 81.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Coleman Avenue
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
42.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
75.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 11: Downtown Hattiesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 11: Downtown Hattiesburg
6
81.4 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|US 11 / West Front Street
Turn right onto US 11 / West Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|US 11 / Mobile Street
Turn left onto US 11 / Mobile Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.34 one way
$24.68 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.54
$27.09
premium
$4.56
$14.66
$29.33
diesel
$5.61
$18.04
$36.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.5
0
$8.58
$3.92
Efficient EV
20.4
0
$7.15
$3.27
EV Truck/SUV
32.7
0
$11.44
$5.23
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Waveland, MS
Night
in Waveland on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Night
in Hattiesburg on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
S 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
10 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
1h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by efficiency, as 90% of your time will be spent on highways. The journey transitions between state roads and the interstate, offering a mix of regional transit and faster travel. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 33.3 miles while cruising on I-59, which provides the most consistent pace of the drive. The personality of the road is strictly functional rather than winding or technical, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer steady highway speeds over local traffic. Navigating this path feels straightforward and predictable, allowing you to focus on the road ahead without complex maneuvers.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.3 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and MS 43. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Coleman Avenue.
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 81.7 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.1 miles (Coleman Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 81.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.3 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Coleman Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hattiesburg, MS before heading back.
