Hattiesburg to Jackson is 90.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 55 minutes via US 49, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive connecting two points within the Southeast region, specifically Mississippi. You'll be spending most of your time on major roads, making this a quick and efficient transit. Given its short duration, it's an ideal option for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Consider this route if you need to get from Hattiesburg to Jackson without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45 miles from Hattiesburg, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
84.8 mi
1h 44m
Old Highway 42
1.7 mi
3m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
3m
South State Street
1.3 mi
2m
I 20
0.3 mi
<1m
East Pearl Street
0.2 mi
<1m
East Pine Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 84.8 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hattiesburg, MS and Jackson, 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 left at fork onto US 49
1.0 mi·1 min·US 49
14
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
0.3 mi·25 sec·I 20; I 55; US 49
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 51 North
16
Turn straight onto US 51
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Street
17
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Pearl Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this trip from Hattiesburg to Jackson offers excellent flexibility. You can easily depart any time of day and still arrive with plenty of daylight remaining. Since it's a short drive with minimal stops recommended, focus on ensuring you have enough fuel before you leave Hattiesburg, as indicated by the $14 budget. The longest stretch is over 84 miles on US 49, so plan for this continuous driving period. While there aren't many official 'stops' built into this route, be aware of potential traffic as you approach Jackson.
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 45 miles from Hattiesburg, MS, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.8 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 58m 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 Jackson, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hattiesburg, MS
This is one driving day of about 90.1 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Hattiesburg, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 49 for about 84.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 88.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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 left at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
88.3 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward US 51 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 51 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.61 one way
$27.21 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.94
$29.87
premium
$4.56
$16.17
$32.34
diesel
$5.61
$19.89
$39.79
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: 31.5 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
27
0
$9.46
$4.32
Efficient EV
22.5
0
$7.88
$3.60
EV Truck/SUV
36
0
$12.61
$5.77
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 15, 2026
Origin
Hattiesburg, MS
Afternoon
in Hattiesburg on Saturday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, MS
Afternoon
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
1:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 55m 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.
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 49. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 84.8 miles primarily on US 49, which means a consistent pace and minimal interruptions. The road character is likely to be smooth and efficient, designed for getting you to your destination promptly. While some sections might transition onto local roads like Old Highway 42 and North Main Street closer to Jackson, the dominant feel is that of a swift highway transit.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.8 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and Old Highway 42. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 967 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 90.1 miles you will encounter 10 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 90.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.8 miles on US 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Jackson, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: 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.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, MS before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
