Friars Point to Meridian is 217.5 miles and takes about 5h 4m via I 55 and Holland Avenue, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a relatively straightforward drive. If you're looking for a direct connection across the state with minimal fuss, this route should fit the bill.
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
108.8 miles from Friars Point, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
68.1 mi
1h 12m
Holland Avenue
36.6 mi
54m
MS 14
34.9 mi
52m
MS 35
24.3 mi
36m
US 278
23.1 mi
33m
MS 316
10.3 mi
14m
Friar Point Road
8.8 mi
21m
Jonestown Road
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 68.1 mi, about 1h 12m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~692 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,001
Quietest
2 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
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 Friars Point, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on 3rd Street
506 ft·27 sec·3rd Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Washington Street
410 ft·11 sec·Washington Street
3
Turn right onto Sheriff Ridge Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·Sheriff Ridge Avenue
4
Turn left onto Friar Point Road
8.8 mi·21 min·Friar Point Road
5
Continue on Jonestown Road
4.2 mi·5 min·Jonestown Road
6
Continue on MS 316
10 mi·14 min·MS 316
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 278; MS 6
23 mi·33 min·US 278; MS 6
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
9
Merge onto I 55
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 55
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
11
Turn left onto MS 35; MS 430
24 mi·36 min·MS 35; MS 430
12
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·East Jefferson Street
13
Turn right onto South Huntington Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Huntington Street
14
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
1.1 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
15
Turn left onto MS 14; MS 19
35 mi·52 min·MS 14; MS 19
16
At end of road, turn right onto Pecan Avenue
1.9 mi·2 min·Pecan Avenue
17
Turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
0.1 mi·15 sec·Main Street
18
Turn right onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·Holland Avenue
19
Continue on 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
20
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 4m estimated duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and allow for an unhurried pace. With only one suggested stop, you have plenty of flexibility to add more if needed, or to push through if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 68.1-mile stretch on I 55, as services can be spaced out on interstates. The transition to MS 14 will likely bring more frequent opportunities for fuel and rest stops.
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 108.8 miles from Friars Point, MS, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.1 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 48 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.8 miles or 2h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
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 Friars Point, 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 Friars Point, MS
This is one driving day of about 217.5 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Friars Point, 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 68.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 177.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Washington Street
At end of road, turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Sheriff Ridge Avenue
Turn right onto Sheriff Ridge Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Friar Point Road
Turn left onto Friar Point Road
Navigation decision point
4
23.8 mi into trip|~43m in|US 278; MS 6
At end of road, turn left onto US 278; MS 6
Navigation decision point
5
177.4 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|Pecan Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Pecan Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.19 one way
$60.39 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$33.78
$67.56
premium
$4.29
$36.73
$73.45
diesel
$4.80
$41.07
$82.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.3
0
$22.84
$10.44
Efficient EV
54.4
0
$19.03
$8.70
EV Truck/SUV
87
1
$30.45
$13.92
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Friars Point, MS
Late night
in Friars Point on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
WNW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:49PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
NNW 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 4:49PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
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
1 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
5h 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.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 74% of the route utilizing major roads like I 55. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 68.1 miles on I 55 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, particularly in the early part of the trip. The shift to surface streets like Holland Avenue and MS 14 will likely bring more local traffic and a change in the pace of exits.
74% 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: 68.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Holland Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 4m drive. You will face about 16 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 (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Sheriff Ridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Friar Point Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
522 ft166 ft
Total Climb
474 ft
Total Descent
311 ft
Highest Point
522 ft
~202 mi in
Elevation Range
356 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Top landmarks
•Meridian Regional Airport — airport in Mississippi, USA
•Threefoot Building — historic office building located in downtown Meridian, Mississippi
•Alex Loeb Building — commercial building in Meridian, Mississippi
The longest stretch is about 68.1 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Sheriff Ridge Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Friar Point Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Meridian, MS before the return drive.
