Auburn, MS to Southaven, MS is 99.8 miles and takes about 1h 55m via I 22 and I 55, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this route if you're looking for a quick and easy journey with minimal complications.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.9 miles from Auburn, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
87.3 mi
1h 33m
Goodman Road
8.3 mi
12m
I 55
1.4 mi
1m
Auburn Road / County Road 931
0.7 mi
1m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 87.3 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on County Road 1438
119 ft·10 sec·County Road 1438
2
Turn left onto CR 931
0.7 mi·1 min·Auburn Road / County Road 931
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
4
Merge onto I 22; US 78
87 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 22; US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward MS 302: Olive Branch Southaven
6
Keep slight left at fork
195 ft·10 sec
7
Turn left onto MS 302
8.3 mi·12 min·Goodman Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Memphis
9
Merge onto I 55; I 69
1.4 mi·1 min·I 55; I 69
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
11
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
12
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
13
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
14
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
15
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 55 minutes, this is an ideal same-day trip. You have the flexibility to leave at any time of day, but departing mid-morning can help you avoid any potential rush hour traffic around Southaven. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch is 87.3 miles on I 22, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, though with the total trip under 100 miles, you likely won't need many. Keep an eye on the road signs as you transition from I 22 to I 55 and then onto Goodman Road for the final approach.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.9 miles from Auburn, MS, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.3 miles.
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 22 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.9 miles or 54m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southaven, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Auburn, MS
This is one driving day of about 99.8 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Auburn, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 87.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 99.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 22; US 78
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
88.5 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
88.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|MS 302 / Goodman Road
Turn left onto MS 302 / Goodman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
98.6 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
5
99.7 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.07 one way
$30.14 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.55
$33.09
premium
$4.56
$17.91
$35.83
diesel
$5.61
$22.03
$44.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.9
0
$10.48
$4.79
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.73
$3.99
EV Truck/SUV
39.9
0
$13.97
$6.39
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Auburn, MS
Late night
in Auburn on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 55m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 6.9
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey on major highways like I 22 and I 55. You'll experience a significant stretch of 87.3 miles on I 22, which means long, uninterrupted driving. While the majority is highway, the final portion will involve local roads like Goodman Road as you approach Southaven. Expect a steady pace for most of your travel, punctuated by transitions onto and off the interstate.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.3 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and Goodman Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near I 22; US 78.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 99.8 miles you will encounter 11 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 1 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 88.6 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 99.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.3 miles on I 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 88.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 88.6 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Southaven, MS before heading back.
