Carriere, MS to Horn Lake, MS is 340 miles and takes about 6h 27m via I 55, US 49, and I 59, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on major interstate highways, making for a straightforward drive. It's a good option if you're looking for a direct route with minimal complexity, suitable for a single day of travel.
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
170 miles from Carriere, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
193.7 mi
3h 29m
US 49
83.7 mi
1h 42m
I 59
56.7 mi
1h
West Union Road
2.4 mi
5m
Goodman Road West
2.1 mi
3m
Hurt Road
0.5 mi
2m
Railroad Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Camelot Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 193.7 mi, about 3h 29m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 57 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,443 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~141 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Carriere, MS and Horn Lake, MS.
1
Start on Railroad Street
511 ft·20 sec·Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto West Union Road
2.4 mi·5 min·West Union Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·19 sec
4
Merge onto I 59
57 mi·1 hr·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: JacksonUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on US 49
1.2 mi·1 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi·6 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi·6 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 49
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi·4 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 49
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
15
Merge onto I 55
194 mi·3 hr 29 min·I 55
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
17
Keep slight left at fork
192 ft·6 sec
Toward Memphis
18
Turn left onto MS 302
2.1 mi·3 min·Goodman Road West
19
Turn left onto Hurt Road
0.5 mi·2 min·Hurt Road
20
Turn right onto Camelot Road
193 ft·8 sec·Camelot Road
21
Arrive at destination
Camelot Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 27m estimated drive time, leaving Carriere, MS in the morning should allow you to reach Horn Lake, MS with plenty of daylight to spare. With a single day's drive, you have flexibility in when and where you might stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer 193.7-mile segment of I 55, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstates. The total fuel cost is estimated at $50, so plan accordingly.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170 miles from Carriere, MS, or about 3h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193.7 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 75 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170 miles or 3h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Horn Lake, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carriere, 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 Carriere, MS
This is one driving day of about 340 miles and 6h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Carriere, 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 193.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 337.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
59.4 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
5
141.7 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
337 mi into trip|~6h 20m in
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
6
337.3 mi into trip|~6h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Memphis
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.20 one way
$94.40 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$52.81
$105.61
premium
$4.29
$57.41
$114.82
diesel
$4.80
$64.20
$128.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102
1
$35.70
$16.32
Efficient EV
85
0
$29.75
$13.60
EV Truck/SUV
136
1
$47.60
$21.76
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Carriere, MS
Evening
in Carriere on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Horn Lake, MS
Evening
in Horn Lake on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph7% 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
4 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
6h 27m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 152.4
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled to Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 269.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 98% of this 340-mile drive. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 193.7 miles on I 55. Expect a highly connected driving experience with frequent exits for much of the trip. The transition to surface roads, if any, will likely be very brief.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 193.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 59.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 340 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
427 ft172 ft
Total Climb
473 ft
Total Descent
350 ft
Highest Point
427 ft
~97.1 mi in
Elevation Range
255 ft
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 Carriere, MS to Horn Lake, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 27m. Total distance: 340 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 27m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 Horn Lake, 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. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Horn Lake, MS before the return drive.
