Towing through Mississippi north to south

[dberner]

Can anyone give me advice on U.S. 49 from Jackson Ms. to Biloxi? Is U.S. 49 divided highway all the way? 4 lanes? what is the speed limit? Smooth or bumpy? Any construction? Should I avoid it and take I-49 down through Louisiana instead? I will be towing a 5th wheel from North Texas to St. Augustine, Fl and was thinking of taking a different route than I have before.

[dberner]

Wow, thanks everyone - I have lots of options! I really appreciate all of the input. Will probably go there one route and return by a different route, just to make the drive more interesting. Will let you all how it turned out after I get back home. RV'rs are just the best source of information ever!

[msredneck84]

An alternative route is I-20 to Meridian, MS then take US-45 south to Mobile, AL then I-65 to I-10 to Tallahassee, FL.
US 45 is a fairly new 4 lane to Alabama state line (probably 2/3 4 lane) then 2 lane into Mobile from state line.
Not a bad drive at all.

[padredw]

It has been several years, but not nearly 20 since I've taken US 98 from Hattisburg to Mobile. The only problem, at least the last time I took this route, is the congestion as you get into the outskirts of Mobile. I keep hoping that there may be some improvement in this. We always take I-65 down to I-10 and then through the tunnel.

[tatest]

I like US-49 and think it is the best option. Four lane divided, not limited access, speed limits up to 65 (not carefully observed) slowing in more congested areas. It is kind of suburban, a bit stop and go sluggish out to Richland, speeding up and clearing up by Florence.

Take I-59 around Hattiesburg. You can go through on US-49, and it is an interesting city to see, but might cost an extra 20 minutes to get through most times of day, 30 minutes or more the wrong time of day.

From Hattiesburg to the coast US-49 is mostly rural (runs through national forest) with a bit of traffic from lumber trucks, which tend to run fast until they get to their turnoff.

There's a cutoff to D'Iberville (SR67?) worth taking if going to the casinos or somewhere further east. If destination is Gulfport, stay on US-49.

P.S. if you decide to take US-98 from Hattiesburg to Mobile, come back and tell us about it. I've not done that one for more than twenty years, and my destinations are now further east so I'm wondering what 98 is like these days.

[padredw]

It's a bit confusing because there is US 49 and I-49. I don't think our OP is thinking of going from Jackson to Biloxi via I-49, but perhaps from Shreveport to I-10/I-12? ? ?

These are options for me coming from East Texas and I have done both at different times. That is I-20 to Jackson, then US 49 South. We have not gone on to Biloxi, but turned east to go to Mobile on the way to Florida.

These are good alternatives, and maybe our OP is simply thinking of trying a different route than the one he normally uses.

Am I the one who is confused? If so, forgive my attempt to clarify.

[yloshrk]

U.S. 49 is 4 lanes divided. It runs through several towns, the biggest of which is Hattiesburg. Speed limit varies. It is a nice liesurely drive.
Why in God's name you would even consider I-49 from Jackson to Biloxi is beyond me. That puts you 100s of miles out of the way.
If you meant I-55, then that is better, but IMO not as good as the US49 route.
I-55 dumps onto I-10 and then puts you through New Orleans.

[Crazy_Ray]

Take 49 good road