Carriere, MS to Meridian, MS is 144.7 miles and takes about 2 hours 41 minutes via I 59, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive that's straightforward and efficient for a single-day journey. It's a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B relatively quickly without much fuss. With only one recommended stop, it’s designed for efficiency rather than leisurely exploration.
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
72.3 miles from Carriere, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
138.9 mi
2h 29m
West Union Road
2.4 mi
5m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
Railroad Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 138.9 mi, about 2h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carriere, MS and Meridian, 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
137 mi·2 hr 27 min·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
2.0 mi·2 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
8
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
9
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2 hour 41 minute drive time, leaving anytime in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one stop recommended and a fuel cost around $22, you won't need extensive planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 138.9 miles on I 59, as services can be spaced out. This is a drive where you can easily be flexible with your departure time and stop whenever you feel the need.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.3 miles from Carriere, MS, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.9 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 21m 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 11m
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 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 144.7 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 59 for about 138.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 141.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Union Road
Turn right onto West Union Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
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.
8
139.6 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
7
141.6 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
$21.85 one way
$43.71 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$23.99
$47.98
premium
$4.56
$25.97
$51.94
diesel
$5.61
$31.95
$63.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.19
$6.95
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
EV Truck/SUV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Carriere, MS
Late night
in Carriere on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Laurel, MS
72 mi in
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
22 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
2h 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway experience, with 97% of the drive on high-speed roads. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 59, covering a significant 138.9-mile stretch without interruption. This means you can settle in for a steady pace, making good time as you travel. The journey offers a consistent driving profile, allowing for a predictable and uninterrupted travel experience from start to finish.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.9 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and West Union Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Union Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 41m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (West Union Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 138.9 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (West Union Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meridian, MS before heading back.
