Brookhaven to Southaven is 251.3 miles and takes about 4h 36m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its profile as mostly highway, expect a straightforward drive with minimal detours. It's a comfortable one-day trip, allowing for a relaxed start or an early arrival, making it ideal for those who prefer to get their driving done efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125.6 miles from Brookhaven, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
247.1 mi
4h 27m
Union St Extended Northeast
0.8 mi
1m
US 51
0.7 mi
1m
East Monticello Street
0.5 mi
1m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Union Church Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 247.1 mi, about 4h 27m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 126 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,520 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookhaven, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on MS 184
0.5 mi·1 min·East Monticello Street
2
Turn right onto MS 550
0.1 mi·15 sec·Schwem Avenue
3
Turn left onto MS 550
528 ft·10 sec·West Congress Street
4
Continue on MS 550
0.3 mi·39 sec·Union Church Road
5
Turn right onto US 51
0.7 mi·1 min·US 51
6
Turn left onto Union St Extended Northeast
0.8 mi·1 min·Union St Extended Northeast
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
8
Merge onto I 55
49 mi·52 min·I 55
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
2.1 mi·2 min·I 55
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
196 mi·3 hr 32 min·I 55
Toward Grenada, Memphis
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
12
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
13
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
14
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
15
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
16
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Since this drive is under 5 hours and mostly highway, you can easily complete it in a single day. Consider leaving Brookhaven in the morning to arrive in Southaven by early afternoon, leaving you time to settle in. The fuel cost is estimated at $37, so ensure your tank is full before you depart or plan a stop around the 125-mile mark. With only one recommended stop and a long stretch on I 55, pace yourself and take breaks as needed, especially if you're not accustomed to extended highway driving.
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 125.6 miles from Brookhaven, MS, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 247.1 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.6 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
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 Brookhaven, 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 Brookhaven, MS
This is one driving day of about 251.3 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Brookhaven, 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 55 for about 247.1 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 0.6 and 251.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|MS 550 / West Congress Street
Turn left onto MS 550 / West Congress Street
Navigation decision point
4
51.7 mi into trip|~57m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
53.8 mi into trip|~1h in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward Grenada, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Grenada, Memphis
5
250 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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
251.2 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.12 one way
$78.24 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.13
$86.25
premium
$4.71
$46.61
$93.22
diesel
$6.18
$61.13
$122.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.4
0
$26.39
$12.06
Efficient EV
62.8
0
$21.99
$10.05
EV Truck/SUV
100.5
1
$35.18
$16.08
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Brookhaven, MS
Late night
in Brookhaven on Monday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Monday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
ENE 5 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 60.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 99% highway, meaning you'll spend nearly all of your 4h 36m on I 55. The longest continuous stretch on this interstate is 247.1 miles. You'll transition from Union St Extended Northeast and US 51 onto I 55, and the vast majority of your travel will be on this major artery. Prepare for a consistent driving experience with a high volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you approach larger towns.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 247.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Union St Extended Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near MS 550 / West Congress Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 36m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (MS 550 / West Congress Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 53.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
493 ft203 ft
Total Climb
392 ft
Total Descent
575 ft
Highest Point
493 ft
Elevation Range
290 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brookhaven, MS and Southaven, MS, road signs point toward Grenada and Memphis.
The longest stretch is about 247.1 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (MS 550 / West Congress Street): Navigation decision point; at 51.7 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 53.8 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Southaven, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
