Spanning 163.1 miles across Mississippi, this drive from Belzoni to Meridian is a straightforward journey that typically takes 3 hours and 9 minutes. Because the route is compact and efficient, it is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $25 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. The trip transitions you across the Southeast, moving from the Mississippi Delta region toward the eastern part of the state. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that prioritizes getting you to your destination quickly via major corridors.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.5 miles from Belzoni, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
88 mi
1h 35m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
US 49W
24.1 mi
29m
US 49
8.7 mi
10m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
1st Street
0.4 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 88 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belzoni, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on MS 7
221 ft·8 sec·Martin Luther King Drive
2
Turn right onto MS 7
0.4 mi·44 sec·1st Street
3
Turn left onto US 49W; MS 12
24 mi·28 min·US 49W; MS 12
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
5
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
6
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
8
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
85 mi·1 hr 32 min·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
10
Continue on I 20; I 59; US 80
1.4 mi·1 min·I 20; I 59; US 80
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
13
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
14
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily pace yourself to avoid fatigue during the 3-hour trek. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge when leaving Belzoni to ensure you are set for the 163.1-mile journey. As you prepare for the longest stretch on I-20, make sure to check traffic reports for that corridor to ensure a smooth transition between highway segments. Taking advantage of the mid-route stop will help keep you refreshed before the final push into Meridian.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81.5 miles from Belzoni, MS, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.5 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belzoni, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Belzoni, MS
This is one driving day of about 163.1 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Belzoni, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 88 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 0 and 160 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 7 / 1st Street
Turn right onto MS 7 / 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
24 mi into trip|~29m in|US 49W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W toward US 49 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
4
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
7
160 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.63 one way
$49.26 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.04
$54.08
premium
$4.56
$29.27
$58.55
diesel
$5.61
$36.01
$72.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.9
0
$17.13
$7.83
Efficient EV
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
EV Truck/SUV
65.2
0
$22.83
$10.44
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Belzoni, MS
Late night
in Belzoni on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SSW 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
24 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
3h 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant le...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 75% of your travel time will be spent on major routes like US 49W and I-20. You will start your journey navigating local roads like Jerry Clower Boulevard before transitioning to faster-paced highway driving. The most significant portion of the trip is an 88-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-20, which allows for consistent cruising. While the initial leg involves local infrastructure, the shift to the interstate provides a more uniform and predictable rhythm for the majority of the drive.
75% 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: 88 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Jerry Clower Boulevard. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 7 / 1st Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 163.1 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: near the start (MS 7 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 68.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Belzoni, MS to Meridian, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Hattiesburg along the way.
Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 163.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Meridian, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 7 / 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 24 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 68.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Meridian, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
