Florence, MS to Meridian, MS is 97.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 50 minutes via I 20 and Highway 49 South, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that should be easy to manage for most drivers. With a short drive time and minimal stops needed, this route is ideal for a quick transit between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.8 miles from Florence, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
85.2 mi
1h 31m
Highway 49 South
8.3 mi
11m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
MS 469
0.4 mi
<1m
US 49
0.2 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 85.2 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on MS 469
0.4 mi·47 sec·MS 469
2
Turn left onto US 49
8.3 mi·11 min·Highway 49 South
3
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
4
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: Meridian
5
Merge onto I 20
85 mi·1 hr 31 min·I 20
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 1 hour 50 minute duration, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Florence in the morning allows you to arrive in Meridian with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll want to plan for fuel before you leave Florence, as the drive is mostly on the interstate with fewer immediate services until you reach Meridian. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest 85.2-mile stretch on I 20.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.8 miles from Florence, MS, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.2 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.8 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
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 Florence, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Florence, MS
This is one driving day of about 97.7 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Florence, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 85.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.7 and 97.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
8.7 mi into trip|~12m in|US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
8.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Meridian
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 East: Meridian
7
94.6 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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...
4
96.2 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
4
97.6 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|25th Avenue
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.76 one way
$29.51 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.20
$32.39
premium
$4.56
$17.54
$35.07
diesel
$5.61
$21.57
$43.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.26
$4.69
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.55
$3.91
EV Truck/SUV
39.1
0
$13.68
$6.25
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Florence, MS
Night
in Florence on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Night
in Meridian on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Morton, MS
49 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
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
1h 50m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 10.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway experience, with 98% of the drive taking place on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion on I 20, including an uninterrupted stretch of 85.2 miles. The initial part involves Highway 49 South before merging onto the interstate. Expect a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip, making it an efficient way to cover the 97.7 miles.
98% 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: 85.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Highway 49 South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 8.7 miles in near US 49.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Florence, MS to Meridian, MS is easy. At 1h 50m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 94.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
502 ft272 ft
Total Climb
310 ft
Total Descent
284 ft
Highest Point
502 ft
~48.8 mi in
Elevation Range
230 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 97.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 85.2 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.7 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 94.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meridian, MS before heading back.
