Spanning 222 miles through the heart of Mississippi, this drive from Crystal Springs to Southaven typically takes about 4 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because the trip is straightforward and predominantly highway-based, it is easily manageable as a single-day journey. You should budget approximately $34 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. While you could split the drive, the consistency of the route makes it a practical choice for a direct trip. Expect a reliable, efficient transit that connects the southern and northern parts of the state with minimal fuss.
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
111 miles from Crystal Springs, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
218 mi
3h 56m
US 51
1.9 mi
2m
East Georgetown Street
0.5 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
Five Oaks Drive West
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 218 mi, about 3h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Crystal Springs, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on East Georgetown Street
0.5 mi·59 sec·East Georgetown Street
2
Turn right onto US 51
1.5 mi·2 min·US 51
3
Turn left onto US 51; MS 27
0.3 mi·35 sec·US 51; MS 27
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North
5
Merge onto I 55; US 51
20 mi·21 min·I 55; US 51
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
2.1 mi·2 min·I 55
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
196 mi·3 hr 32 min·I 55
Toward Grenada, Memphis
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
9
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
10
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
11
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
12
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
13
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Since this is a four-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid midday traffic congestion near larger hubs. With only one recommended stop planned, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you need a break from the 218-mile stretch on I-55. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial leg on US 51 before you commit to the long interstate portion of the trip. Given the $34 estimated fuel cost, filling up your tank before leaving Crystal Springs ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station while in the middle of your longest highway stretch.
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 111 miles from Crystal Springs, MS, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 218 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 49 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111 miles or 2h 1m 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 18m
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 Crystal Springs, 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 Crystal Springs, MS
This is one driving day of about 222 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Crystal Springs, 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 218 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 221.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I 55 North, US 51 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 North, US 51 North
4
22.4 mi into trip|~25m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
24.5 mi into trip|~28m 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
220.7 mi into trip|~4h 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
221.8 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.53 one way
$67.05 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$36.80
$73.61
premium
$4.56
$39.85
$79.69
diesel
$5.61
$49.01
$98.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.6
0
$23.31
$10.66
Efficient EV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
EV Truck/SUV
88.8
1
$31.08
$14.21
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Crystal Springs, MS
Night
in Crystal Springs on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Night
in Southaven on Saturday
Local time
11:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
22 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 4m 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...
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...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 153.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 99% of your journey stays on major thoroughfares. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-55, which accounts for a 218-mile uninterrupted stretch of the trip. The transition from Crystal Springs involves local roads like East Georgetown Street and US 51 before you lock into the interstate for the long haul. Because the route relies so heavily on the interstate system, the drive offers a consistent pace rather than the technical turns of a local backroad. Prepare for a steady, focused drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 218 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 51. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
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 4m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 24.5 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Crystal Springs, MS and Southaven, MS, road signs point toward Grenada and Memphis.
Grenada
24.5 mi in|~28m|via I 55
Memphis
24.5 mi in|~28m|via I 55
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 222 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 218 miles on I 55. 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.
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 2.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.4 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 24.5 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Southaven, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
