The drive from Brandon, MS to Waveland, MS covers 165.1 miles and takes about 3h 36m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 49, Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, MS 603 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54 miles on US 49.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
82.6 miles from Brandon, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 165.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 36m highway drive covering 165.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 49 and Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 54 miles on US 49.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 54 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Louis Wilson Drive.
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 165.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.3 miles (Louis Wilson Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (US 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|Louis Wilson Drive
Turn right onto Louis Wilson Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
28.2 mi into trip|~43m in|US 49
Merge onto US 49
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
82.2 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
6
82.6 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
5
122.7 mi into trip|~2h 32m in
Take the exit toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brandon, MS and Waveland, MS, road signs point toward Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Necaise.
Gulf Coast
82.2 mi in|~1h 48m
Mississippi Gulf Coast
82.6 mi in|~1h 49m|via I 59
Necaise
122.7 mi in|~2h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
54 mi
1h 5m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
40.1 mi
43m
MS 603
25 mi
37m
Highway 18
16 mi
23m
South Main Street
15.7 mi
23m
Highway 13 North
9.2 mi
13m
Louis Wilson Drive
2.6 mi
4m
Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 54 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, MS and Waveland, MS.
1
Start on US 80
0.3 mi·27 sec·East Government Street
2
Turn right onto Louis Wilson Drive
2.6 mi·4 min·Louis Wilson Drive
Use the right lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto MS 18
16 mi·23 min·Highway 18
4
Turn right onto MS 13
9.2 mi·13 min·Highway 13 North
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
6
Merge onto US 49
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf CoastUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 59
40 mi·43 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
12
Turn left onto MS 53
16 mi·23 min·South Main Street
13
Continue on MS 603
25 mi·37 min·MS 603
14
Continue on Nicholson Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·Nicholson Avenue
15
Turn right onto McLaurin Street
0.5 mi·1 min·McLaurin Street
16
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
82 ft·8 sec·Saint Anthony Street
17
Turn left onto Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
18
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
0.1 mi·15 sec·Coleman Avenue
19
Turn right onto Central Avenue
397 ft·10 sec·Central Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
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 82.6 miles from Brandon, MS, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54 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 36 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.6 miles or 1h 49m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waveland, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brandon, 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 Brandon, MS
This is one driving day of about 165.1 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Brandon, 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 US 49 for about 54 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.6 mi from Brandon, MS
· 1h 49m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.93 one way
$49.87 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.37
$54.74
premium
$4.56
$29.63
$59.27
diesel
$5.61
$36.45
$72.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Tesla Destination Charger
Kiln, Mississippi
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Noodoe Charging Station
Bay St Louis, Mississippi
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Bay St Louis, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination: 1
Other: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.5
0
$17.34
$7.92
Efficient EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.60
EV Truck/SUV
66
0
$23.11
$10.57
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 17, 2026
Origin
Brandon, MS
Morning
in Brandon on Saturday
Local time
10:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waveland, MS
Morning
in Waveland on Saturday
Local time
10:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
15 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
3h 36m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brandon, MS to Waveland, MS covers 165.1 miles and takes about 3h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 49, Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, MS 603. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82.6 miles from Brandon, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 165.1 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Louis Wilson Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.2 miles (US 49): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Brandon, MS and Waveland, MS, road signs point toward Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Necaise.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
