Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
204.8 mi
330 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Photo: 大 董
Traveling from Ruleville to Hattiesburg covers 204.8 miles across the Southeast region of Mississippi. You should budget approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes of drive time, making this a straightforward journey that easily fits into a single day of travel. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily utilize Highway 49 South, supplemented by local segments like South Oak Avenue and Jerry Clower Boulevard. Because the route stays within the same state and region, you will experience a consistent cultural atmosphere throughout the trek. It is a practical drive that requires no overnight stops, allowing you to reach your destination well before the end of the day.
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
102.4 miles from Ruleville, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing local navigation with longer highway segments. You will spend roughly 47% of your time on highways, providing a steady pace for nearly half of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on Highway 49 South, where you will cover 80.3 miles of road at a time. Expect the character of the drive to shift as you transition from smaller town streets like South Oak Avenue onto the more expansive stretches of highway. While the route avoids the monotony of a purely interstate-focused trip, the blend of road types keeps the experience varied enough to maintain your focus behind the wheel.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.1 miles in near US 49W.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 204.8 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 68.1 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.2 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 117.8 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W toward US 49 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49 toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto US 49 / Highway 49 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Lane positioning matters here
Between Ruleville, MS and Hattiesburg, MS, road signs point toward Meridian and Richland.
Meridian
Richland
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 49 South | 80.3 mi | 1h 37m |
| South Oak Avenue | 67.8 mi | 1h 27m |
| Jerry Clower Boulevard | 38.8 mi | 47m |
| US 49 | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Old Highway 42 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| I 20 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| US 49W | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Ruleville, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
Start on West Floyce Street
Turn right onto US 49W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
Merge onto US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
Merge onto US 49
Continue on US 49; MS 42
Continue on US 49; MS 42
Turn left onto Old Highway 42
Turn right onto North Main Street
Turn left onto Batson Street
Turn right
At end of road, turn right onto US 11
Arrive at destination
Planning for this 204.8-mile trip is simple since it only requires one planned stop to break up the four-hour duration. Because the drive is manageable in a single day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving in the morning is always a smart way to beat potential traffic. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longer 80.3-mile stretch on Highway 49 South to ensure you are comfortable between stations. Since the route involves navigating through both local arteries and major highways, pay close attention to signage when transitioning onto Jerry Clower Boulevard. Having your fuel budget of $31 set aside beforehand will help keep your trip logistics stress-free.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.4 miles or 2h 10m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hattiesburg, MS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ruleville, 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 Ruleville, MS
This is one driving day of about 204.8 miles and 4h 20m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.4 mi from Ruleville, MS · 2h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 102.4 miles from Ruleville, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Highway 49 South if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 miles.
The final approach into Hattiesburg, 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 Hattiesburg, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$31.31 one way
$62.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $34.34 | $68.68 |
| premium | $4.61 | $37.17 | $74.34 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $45.50 | $91.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.4 | 0 | $21.50 | $9.83 |
| Efficient EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.92 | $8.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.9 | 1 | $28.67 | $13.11 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Ruleville on Sunday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Hattiesburg on Sunday
Local time
5:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
85°F
Magee, MS
102 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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