Origin
Madison, MS
Afternoon in Madison on Saturday
Local time
3:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, MS to Waveland, MS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 49m
Distance
179.8 mi
289 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 37m
★
6 AM
3h 49m
8 AM
4h 15m
10 AM
3h 58m
12 PM
3h 56m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Waveland, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Madison, MS to Waveland, MS covers 179.8 miles and takes about 3h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, Highway 51, I-55 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.15 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
89.9 miles from Madison, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| Highway 51 | — | — |
| I-55 | — | — |
| I- 55 North | — | — |
| I 20 East | — | — |
| Richland | — | — |
| Highway 49 South | — | — |
| I 59 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, MS and Waveland, MS.
1
Start on Depot Drive
36 ft
·
7 sec
·
Depot Drive
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn right onto United States Highway 51
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
United States Highway 51
4
Turn left onto I-55 Frontage Road
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
I-55 Frontage Road
5
Continue on I- 55 North Frontage Road
443 ft
·
8 sec
·
I- 55 North Frontage Road
6
Take the ramp straight
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
7
Merge slight left
8.2 mi
·
10 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
9
Keep slight right to continue on Richland, Hattiesburg
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Richland, Hattiesburg
10
Merge slight left onto Highway 49 South
80 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
·
Highway 49 South
11
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
12
Continue straight
1.1 mi
·
1 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
0.4 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
14
Merge slight left onto Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
40 mi
·
43 min
·
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
15
Take the exit slight right toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
16
Turn left onto South Main Street
16 mi
·
23 min
·
South Main Street
17
Continue straight
25 mi
·
37 min
18
Continue on Nicholson Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nicholson Avenue
19
Turn right onto McLaurin Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
McLaurin Street
20
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
82 ft
·
9 sec
·
Saint Anthony Street
21
Turn left onto Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Saint Joseph Street
22
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Coleman Avenue
23
Turn right onto Central Avenue
397 ft
·
11 sec
·
Central Avenue
24
Arrive at your destination
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 89.9 miles from Madison, MS, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.9 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 8m
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 Madison, 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 Madison, MS
This is one driving day of about 179.8 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Madison, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.9 miles from Madison, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.15 one way
$54.31 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $29.81 | $59.62 |
| premium | $4.56 | $32.27 | $64.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.70 | $79.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.88 | $8.63 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.73 | $7.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.17 | $11.51 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Destination
Waveland, MS
Afternoon in Waveland on Saturday
Local time
3:52 PM
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
3 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
3h 49m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
179.8 mi in 3h 49m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Madison, MS to Waveland, MS is easy. At 3h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, MS to Waveland, MS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 179.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Madison, MS to Waveland, MS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Waveland, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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