This scenic MS Coast highway named one of the 10 most feared roadways in the U.S.

A survey of 3,000 road trippers identified one of Mississippi’s longest highways as one of the 10 scariest roads in the country.

From Gulfport to Yazoo City, U.S. 49 (Highway 49) spans 334 miles of Mississippi landscape. In addition to Gulfport and Yazoo City, the highway passes through Hattiesburg and Jackson before veering off to Arkansas. North of Jackson, the road even splits in two for a bit.

The route extends into Arkansas for a total of 516 miles across the two states.

QuestionPro conducted the survey for Mitsubishi Motors last month.

According to highway reports, the problem may have more to do with the drivers than the road conditions. In an annual highway report by the Reason Foundation, Mississippi ranked 15th in the nation in highway performance, conditions and cost-effectiveness in 2021.

The report also found that the state ranked 49th in fatalities; 35th in rural fatalities and 36th in urban fatalities.

“While no rural state is ever going to lead the country in fatality rate, Mississippi needs to have a better showing than 49th, 35th, and 36th,” said Baruch Feigenbaum, lead author of the annual highway report.

Of Mississippi’s 697 fatalities that year, 27 of them were on U.S. 49.

The 10 most feared routes in the U.S.

The survey ranks these roads as the 10 “most feared routes” in the country. The top five’s listed dangers include high temperatures, minimal services and desolate locations with long stretches between towns and limited visibility.

1. New Mexico: U.S. Route 285

2. California: Death Valley Road (SR-190)

3. Texas: U.S. Route 90

4. Hawaii: Saddle Road (Hawaii Route 200)

5. Nevada: U.S. Route 50 “The Loneliest Road in America”

6. Kentucky: Mountain Parkway (KY-9002)

7. South Dakota: U.S. Route 14A (Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway)

8. Alaska: Dalton Highway (AK-11)

9. New York: State Route 17

10. Mississippi: U.S. Route 49

To see the complete list of 50 scary roads, visit gunthermitsubishi.com.

This story was originally published July 31, 2023 at 5:50 AM.

Mona Moore

Sun Herald

Mona Moore was a Service Journalism Desk Editor for the Sun Herald in Mississippi; Mahoning Matters in Ohio; and the Ledger-Enquirer and Telegraph in Georgia. Originally from West Covina, California, she holds a bachelor’s and master’s in corporate and public communication from the University of South Alabama. Mona’s writing and photography have been recognized by press associations in Mississippi, North Carolina and Florida.