Driving to the coast help….

1msucub

Senior
Oct 3, 2004
2,105
629
113
Need a little advice, fellas. Leaving DeSoto Co later this evening to drive to Orange Beach for the weekend…. We’ve never left this time of day, and we can go 55 to Jackson/Hattiesburg or 78 to 45 and down through Meridian and such. Doesn’t seem much difference in time or distance. I’ve been both, but always earlier in the day. Thoughts?
 

Bulldog Bruce

All-American
Nov 1, 2007
4,715
5,224
113
78/I22 to 45. Jackson is the one place you can hit traffic. Google maps doesn't even have a path through Jackson

1000004996.png
 

JY1947

All-Conference
Oct 5, 2023
1,081
1,222
113
Depends on if you'll be stopping much. If so, i'd go major highways through Jackson, Hattiesburg, etc. You're not gonna hit any traffic at this time and there are plenty of places to stop.
 

MSUDOG24

All-Conference
Mar 31, 2021
1,383
1,295
113
Remote, yes, but at least the MS part is 4 lane and usually not much traffic.

The Alabama part from the state line to 158 is awful.
Agree, pretty easy drive down 45. Wide open highway with little traffic and enough places to stop if you have to.
Last couple times we've been that way we've taken 57/63 at Stateline to Lucedale//98 and in from there. Looks out of the way but all 4 lane (except about 8 miles at the AL line) and just about as fast. Absolutely hated that forever 2 lane in AL on 45.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maroon13

ababyatemydingo

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2008
3,738
2,756
113
Need a little advice, fellas. Leaving DeSoto Co later this evening to drive to Orange Beach for the weekend…. We’ve never left this time of day, and we can go 55 to Jackson/Hattiesburg or 78 to 45 and down through Meridian and such. Doesn’t seem much difference in time or distance. I’ve been both, but always earlier in the day. Thoughts?
Go 78/45 and stop at Krazy K's in Buckatunna before busting the state line into Alabama
 

woozman

All-Conference
Nov 13, 2004
3,402
2,583
113
Remote, yes, but at least the MS part is 4 lane and usually not much traffic.

The Alabama part from the state line to 158 is awful.
It is remote and like you said the portion in MS is an easy drive with almost no traffic so it's great.

To the OP - There are plenty of places to stop right off the highway (outside of Meridian, outside of Quitman, and again in Buckatunna). Krazy K's in Buckatunna has some of the best gas station food in MS and Jordan's Fish camp between Buckatunna and the 63S exit has outstanding food (particularly the whole fried catfish).

Plus, it's only 2.5 hours from Meridian to Mobile - how often do some of these folks need to stop on a road trip?...
 
Last edited:

TrueMaroonGrind

All-Conference
Jan 6, 2017
3,986
1,449
113
45 is the way to go. Just schedule your stops right. There isn’t a ton after West Point until you hit Meridian.

We go 55 sometimes going to Gulfport/Biloxi, but never drive 55 if it will put us in Jackson during rush hour. One wreck can take traffic from fine to a 30 minute delay.
 

ababyatemydingo

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2008
3,738
2,756
113
Good call. Cooley’s in Waynesboro probably gonna be closed for him going down, I’d try to catch them on the way back
Man, I was in Waynesboro last Wednesday for a meeting and ate a Cooley's burger just for nostalgia. Best tasting burger you'll ever eat, but my lord, you can feel your arteries clogging up as you take each bite. For those that have never been or know what it is, here is how they cook their burgers. They literally fry them in what looks like a Blackstone griddle with a concave center that holds about 2 inches of oil. And they cook every single thing on the menu in that same vat of grease. From red hots to burgers. they even fry the cheddar cheese they put on your burger. That's my burger she's frying

IMG_0582.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: dorndawg

stateu1

All-Conference
Mar 21, 2016
3,009
1,078
113
45 in the way. But, not many convenient places to stop and the stretch of 2 lane at the AL state line sucks.
 

Dawgbite

All-American
Nov 1, 2011
8,757
9,331
113
45 in the way. But, not many convenient places to stop and the stretch of 2 lane at the AL state line sucks.
Turn south to Lucedale on 57/63 and then hit 98/158 to I65 in Saraland. It's about 8 miles farther but it's four lane most of the way, no traffic, and it's four just as fast on an average day and faster if you get behind a log truck or a tractor going through Citronel.
 
  • Like
Reactions: stateu1

Dawg1976

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
8,129
2,636
113
45 in the way. But, not many convenient places to stop and the stretch of 2 lane at the AL state line sucks.
I do it all the time. Plenty of places to stop, eat and stretch in Citronelle AL. But the 2 lane does suck.
 

greenbean.sixpack

All-American
Oct 6, 2012
8,796
8,070
113
The Southbound lane of 55 just past the coliseum is down to one lane. If you decide to come down 55, there are several of easy routes (depending on time of day) to bypass that.
 

1msucub

Senior
Oct 3, 2004
2,105
629
113
So I did stick to the 69/78/45 route. Except for the Memphis-Birmingham trucks on 78, there was ZERO traffic the entire way. It was the easiest drive I’ve ever made down here. My kids are adults now so my wife’s bladder is the only rate-limiting factor.

And FYI…..the mouth breather that has every single light in Loxley, Robertsdale, and Foley set on timers and not sensors at freaking midnight needs to be force-fed Gooch’s Deli BBQ sandwiches until he sees the error of his ways.
 

skip dog

Senior
Nov 15, 2005
1,128
727
93
several times I have left the jackson area and gone through meridian and down 45, and when compared to the crap of hwy 49, it's a more enjoyable ride and really does not add that much more time