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Trip from Hattiesburg, MS to Coldwater, MS

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

5h 4m

Distance

265.1 mi

427 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 51m ★
6 AM
5h 5m
8 AM
5h 32m
10 AM
5h 14m
12 PM
5h 12m
3 PM
5h 16m
5 PM
5h 30m
8 PM
4h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Trip Overview

The drive from Hattiesburg, MS to Coldwater, MS covers 265.1 miles and takes about 5h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 55, US 49, Old Highway 42 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 175.5 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.04 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

132.5 miles from Hattiesburg, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 39m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 265.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 5h 4m highway drive covering 265.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and US 49. The longest continuous stretch is about 175.5 miles on I 55.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 175.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 967 / North Main Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 265.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (MS 967 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | MS 967 / North Main Street

Turn right onto MS 967 / North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
1.3 mi into trip | ~3m in | Old Highway 42

At end of road, turn left onto Old Highway 42

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
86.2 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | US 49

Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Jackson
4
86.9 mi into trip | ~1h 50m in | US 49

Keep slight right at fork onto US 49

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
263.3 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in

Take the exit toward MS 306: Coldwater, Independence

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MS 306: Coldwater, Independence

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 Hattiesburg, MS to Coldwater, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.

Jackson

86.2 mi in | ~1h 48m | via US 49

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 175.5 mi 3h 10m
US 49 84.7 mi 1h 44m
Old Highway 42 1.7 mi 3m
North Main Street 1.3 mi 3m
MS 306 0.9 mi 1m
US 51 0.6 mi <1m
North Street <0.1 mi <1m
East Pine Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 175.5 mi, about 3h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hattiesburg, MS and Coldwater, MS.

1

Start on US 11

27 ft · 5 sec · East Pine Street
2

Turn right onto MS 967

1.3 mi · 3 min · North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

At end of road, turn left onto Old Highway 42

1.7 mi · 3 min · Old Highway 42
Use the straight lane.
4

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 12 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Turn straight onto US 49

2.2 mi · 3 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
6

Continue on US 49; MS 42

5.4 mi · 6 min · US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on US 49

5.3 mi · 6 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on US 49

0.2 mi · 14 sec · US 49
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on US 49

4.2 mi · 4 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on US 49

66 mi · 1 hr 20 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit onto US 49

0.2 mi · 21 sec · US 49
12

Keep slight left at fork onto US 49

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 49
Toward Jackson
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 49

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 49
14

Merge onto I 55

175 mi · 3 hr 10 min · I 55
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 32 sec
Toward MS 306: Coldwater, Independence
16

Turn left onto MS 306; MS 304 Scenic

0.9 mi · 1 min · MS 306; MS 304 Scenic
17

Turn left onto US 51; MS 304 Scenic

0.6 mi · 54 sec · US 51; MS 304 Scenic
18

Turn left onto North Street

400 ft · 17 sec · North Street
19

Arrive at destination

North Street

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 132.5 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.5 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 58 miles or 1h 14m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 132.5 miles or 2h 39m 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 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coldwater, MS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Hattiesburg, 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 Hattiesburg, MS

This is one driving day of about 265.1 miles and 5h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Hattiesburg, 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 I 55 for about 175.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 132.5 mi from Hattiesburg, MS · 2h 39m into the drive

city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pearl, MS

133 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Magee, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Madison, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.5 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 175.5 miles.

Arriving in Coldwater, MS

The final approach into Coldwater, MS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Coldwater, MS.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.04 one way

$80.07 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $43.95 $87.90
premium $4.56 $47.58 $95.16
diesel $5.61 $58.53 $117.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 79.5 0 $27.84 $12.72
Efficient EV 66.3 0 $23.20 $10.60
EV Truck/SUV 106 1 $37.11 $16.97

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 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 15, 2026

Origin

Hattiesburg, MS

Afternoon in Hattiesburg on Thursday

Local time

1:59 PM

CDT

Current temp

80°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Coldwater, MS

Afternoon in Coldwater on Thursday

Local time

1:59 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

62°F

Pearl, MS

133 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

25 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 4m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Hattiesburg, MS to Coldwater, MS covers 265.1 miles and takes about 5h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, US 49, Old Highway 42. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 132.5 miles from Hattiesburg, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.04 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 265.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (MS 967 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (Old Highway 42): Lane positioning matters here; at 86.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Hattiesburg, MS to Coldwater, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.

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