West Hattiesburg, MS to Meridian, MS is 89.4 miles and takes about 1h 40m via I 59, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip connects two points in Mississippi's Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive that's easy to complete within a single day. You'll primarily be on interstate, making it a practical choice for efficient travel between these two cities. Consider this route for its simplicity and speed, allowing you to reach your destination without significant detours. It's a functional connection for getting from point A to point B within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.7 miles from West Hattiesburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
84.1 mi
1h 30m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
Hardy Street
1.4 mi
2m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
Weathersby Road
0.2 mi
<1m
North Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
McKenzie Circle
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 84.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Hattiesburg, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on McKenzie Circle
101 ft·4 sec·McKenzie Circle
2
Continue on North Lane
444 ft·25 sec·North Lane
3
Turn left onto Weathersby Road
0.2 mi·28 sec·Weathersby Road
4
Turn right onto US 98
1.4 mi·2 min·Hardy Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 59 North: Laurel
6
Merge onto I 59
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
2.0 mi·2 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
10
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
11
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes, you have considerable flexibility for when to depart. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will easily allow you to complete the 89.4-mile trip before dark. With only one main road, I 59, you don't need to worry about complex navigation. Plan for a single fuel stop if your tank is low, as the drive is under two hours and the estimated fuel cost is only $14. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you're starting with less than a quarter tank, to ensure a smooth journey to Meridian.
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 44.7 miles from West Hattiesburg, MS, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.1 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.7 miles or 50m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Hattiesburg, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Hattiesburg, MS
This is one driving day of about 89.4 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from West Hattiesburg, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 59 for about 84.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 86.3 — 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|Weathersby Road
Turn left onto Weathersby Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 59 North: Laurel
Navigation decision point
Toward I 59 North: Laurel
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
84.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
7
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.50 one way
$27.00 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.82
$29.64
premium
$4.56
$16.05
$32.09
diesel
$5.61
$19.74
$39.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Efficient EV
22.4
0
$7.82
$3.58
EV Truck/SUV
35.8
0
$12.52
$5.72
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
West Hattiesburg, MS
Late night
in West Hattiesburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Laurel, MS
45 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
19 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 40m 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 drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 95% of the journey taking place on interstate. You'll spend the majority of your time on I 59, experiencing a consistent pace for the entire 84.1-mile stretch. The character is largely that of a functional interstate cruise, designed for covering distance efficiently. While the roads are well-maintained for highway travel, expect a straightforward driving experience without significant changes in scenery or road type. This route prioritizes directness over winding roads or varied landscapes.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.1 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and 8th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Weathersby Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 40m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Weathersby Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Hattiesburg, MS to Meridian, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tuscaloosa along the way.
Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.
The longest stretch is about 84.1 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 (Weathersby Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meridian, MS before heading back.
