Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
81.7 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Photo: 大 董
The drive from Waveland, MS to Hattiesburg, MS covers 81.7 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, MS 43, MS 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.3 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.49 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Waveland, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
This is a 1h 52m highway drive covering 81.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and MS 43. The longest continuous stretch is about 33.3 miles on I 59.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and MS 43. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Coleman Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.7 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.1 miles (Coleman Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 75.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 81 miles (2nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward US 11: Downtown Hattiesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 11 / West Front Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 11 / Mobile Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 33.3 mi | 35m |
| MS 43 | 25 mi | 36m |
| MS 53 | 15.6 mi | 23m |
| Broadway Drive | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| Veterans Memorial Drive | 2 mi | 2m |
| Saint Joseph Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Pine Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| McLaurin Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Waveland, MS and Hattiesburg, MS.
Start on Central Avenue
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
Continue on Saint Joseph Street
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
Turn left onto McLaurin Street
Turn left onto Nicholson Avenue
Continue on MS 43; MS 603
Continue on MS 53
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 59
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on US 11
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Turn left onto West Railroad Street
Turn left onto Ronie Street
Turn right onto US 11
Turn left onto US 11
Turn left onto US 11
Arrive at destination
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.
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 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 1h 1m 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 Hattiesburg, MS than in the middle of the route.
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 81.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.9 mi from Waveland, MS · 1h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 40.9 miles from Waveland, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$12.49 one way
$24.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $13.70 | $27.40 |
| premium | $4.61 | $14.83 | $29.66 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.15 | $36.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Waveland on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Hattiesburg on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
69°F
Biloxi, MS
41 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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