Abstract: The main stress direction of the in-situ stress field is an important influence factor on dominant development orientation of coal seam permeability, and it provides theoretical guidance for the design of the gas drainage engineering and the layout of the coalbed methane (CBM) well. The relationship between the characteristics of roadway failure and the type of in-situ stress field in coal mine, and the relationship between the characteristics of stress trace and the maximum horizontal principal stress direction are revealed, then the prediction method for the principal stress direction of the in-situ stress field based on failure characteristics of surrounding rock in coal mine is given. The prediction method has been applied in Guhanshan Coal Mine: the type of in-situ stress field is σ_H>σ_v>σ_h and the direction of the maximum principal stress of the in-situ stress field is NE. And the effectiveness of prediction method is confirmed by in-situ stress test result.