The drive from Friars Point, MS to Hattiesburg, MS covers 258 miles and takes about 5h 44m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 49 South, North Martin Luther King Drive, US 61 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
129 miles from Friars Point, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m 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
US 61
43.9 mi
54m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
MS 448
13.5 mi
23m
US 49
12.8 mi
17m
Stovall Road
6.5 mi
15m
Friars Point Road
2.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Friars Point, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
1
Start on 3rd Street
506 ft·27 sec·3rd Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Washington Street
410 ft·11 sec·Washington Street
3
Turn right onto Sheriff Ridge Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Sheriff Ridge Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto South Street
246 ft·8 sec·South Street
5
Turn right onto Friars Point Road
2.7 mi·6 min·Friars Point Road
6
Turn slight right onto MS 1
2.3 mi·3 min·Mississippi Highway 1
7
Turn left onto Stovall Road
6.5 mi·15 min·Stovall Road
8
Turn right onto West Lee Drive
1.0 mi·2 min·West Lee Drive
9
At end of road, turn left onto MS 322
1.4 mi·2 min·Sherard Road
10
At end of road, turn right onto MS 161
1.2 mi·2 min·MS 161
11
Turn right onto US 61; US 278
44 mi·54 min·US 61; US 278
12
Turn left onto MS 448
1.1 mi·2 min·East Peeler Avenue
13
Turn right onto MS 448
13 mi·23 min·MS 448
14
Turn left onto US 82
0.7 mi·1 min·US 82
15
Turn right onto US 49W
46 mi·55 min·North Martin Luther King Drive
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
17
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
18
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
20
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
347 ft·4 sec·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
22
Take the exit onto US 49
0.6 mi·42 sec·US 49
Toward Hattiesburg
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
24
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 49; MS 42
2.4 mi·4 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
1.8 mi·3 min·Old Highway 42
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.2 mi·2 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn left onto Batson Street
154 ft·8 sec·Batson Street
30
Turn right
329 ft·25 sec
31
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
98 ft·4 sec·East Pine Street
32
Arrive at destination
US 11
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 129 miles from Friars Point, MS, or about 3h 1m 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 57 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129 miles or 3h 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 4h 43m
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 Friars Point, 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 Friars Point, MS
This is one driving day of about 258 miles and 5h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Friars Point, 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 171 — 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|Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
14.7 mi into trip|~32m in|MS 161
At end of road, turn right onto MS 161
Navigation decision point
5
121.3 mi into trip|~2h 52m 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
170.4 mi into trip|~3h 53m 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
171 mi into trip|~3h 53m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.96 one way
$77.93 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$42.77
$85.55
premium
$4.56
$46.31
$92.62
diesel
$5.61
$56.96
$113.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.4
0
$27.09
$12.38
Efficient EV
64.5
0
$22.58
$10.32
EV Truck/SUV
103.2
1
$36.12
$16.51
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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 16, 2026
Origin
Friars Point, MS
Afternoon
in Friars Point on Saturday
Local time
1:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hattiesburg, MS
Afternoon
in Hattiesburg on Saturday
Local time
1:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
24 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
5h 44m 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
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 160.2
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 17.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
258 mi in 5h 44m, mostly highway — 80.3 mi of that is on Highway 49 South.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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 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 0.1 miles in near Washington 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 26 significant decision points across 258 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 0.1 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles (MS 161): Navigation decision point; at 121.3 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
389 ft106 ft
Total Climb
366 ft
Total Descent
379 ft
Highest Point
389 ft
~165.9 mi in
Elevation Range
282 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Friars Point, MS and Hattiesburg, MS, road signs point toward Meridian and Richland.
Meridian
170.4 mi in|~3h 53m|via I 20; US 49
Richland
171 mi in|~3h 53m|via US 49
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 44m. Total distance: 258 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 44m 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 0.1 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.7 miles (MS 161): Navigation decision point; at 121.3 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hattiesburg, MS before the return drive.
