The drive from Waveland, MS to Madison, MS covers 180.2 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 US 49, I 59, MS 43 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.7 miles on US 49.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.21 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
90.1 miles from Waveland, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 180.2 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 (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 49m highway drive covering 180.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 49 and I 59. The longest continuous stretch is about 83.7 miles on US 49.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 49 is the longest continuous segment at about 83.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and I 59. 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 Coleman Avenue.
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 13 significant decision points across 180.2 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 (Coleman Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Coleman Avenue
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
42.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
5
165 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
180.2 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|Depot Drive
Turn right onto Depot Drive
Navigation decision point
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 Waveland, MS to Madison, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
165 mi in|~3h 28m|via US 49
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
83.7 mi
1h 42m
I 59
40.4 mi
43m
MS 43
25 mi
36m
MS 53
15.6 mi
23m
I 55
8.3 mi
10m
US 51
4.2 mi
6m
Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi
1m
I-55 North Frontage Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 83.7 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waveland, MS and Madison, MS.
1
Start on Central Avenue
397 ft·17 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
0.1 mi·12 sec·Coleman Avenue
3
Continue on Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
4
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
82 ft·6 sec·Saint Anthony Street
5
Turn left onto McLaurin Street
0.5 mi·1 min·McLaurin Street
6
Turn left onto Nicholson Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Nicholson Avenue
7
Continue on MS 43; MS 603
25 mi·36 min·MS 43; MS 603
8
Continue on MS 53
16 mi·23 min·MS 53
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
10
Merge onto I 59
40 mi·43 min·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: JacksonUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 49
1.2 mi·1 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi·6 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi·6 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 49
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi·4 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 49
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
20
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
21
Merge onto I 55
8.3 mi·10 min·I 55
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 51 North: Ridgeland
23
Continue on I-55 North Frontage Road
0.5 mi·46 sec·I-55 North Frontage Road
24
Turn straight onto US 51
4.2 mi·6 min·US 51
25
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Main Street
26
Turn right onto Depot Drive
36 ft·1 sec·Depot Drive
27
Arrive at destination
Depot Drive
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 90.1 miles from Waveland, MS, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.7 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 40 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.1 miles or 1h 57m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waveland, 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 Waveland, MS
This is one driving day of about 180.2 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Waveland, 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 US 49 for about 83.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.1 mi from Waveland, MS
· 1h 57m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 167.8
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.1
0
$18.92
$8.65
Efficient EV
45.1
0
$15.77
$7.21
EV Truck/SUV
72.1
0
$25.23
$11.53
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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Waveland, MS
Late night
in Waveland on Friday
Local time
12:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison, MS
Late night
in Madison on Friday
Local time
12:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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 warmer 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Waveland, MS to Madison, MS covers 180.2 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 49, I 59, MS 43. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.1 miles from Waveland, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.21 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 180.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Coleman Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Waveland, MS to Madison, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
