Glendale, MS to Southaven, MS is 284.6 miles and takes about 5h 23m via I 55, US 49, and Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, traversing the Southeast region. With almost the entire route on major highways, it's a straightforward drive. Plan for about 5.5 hours of actual driving time, making it a manageable one-day trip.
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
142.3 miles from Glendale, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
195.7 mi
3h 31m
US 49
82.5 mi
1h 41m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Evelyn Gandy Parkway
1.6 mi
2m
MS 42
1.5 mi
2m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 195.7 mi, about 3h 31m
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 Glendale, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on Glendale Avenue
246 ft·10 sec·Glendale Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto MS 42
1.6 mi·2 min·Evelyn Gandy Parkway
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp onto MS 42
0.2 mi·29 sec·MS 42
4
Merge onto I 59; MS 42
2.0 mi·2 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
5
Take the exit onto MS 42
0.2 mi·28 sec·MS 42
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: JacksonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 42
1.0 mi·1 min·MS 42
Toward JacksonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
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
196 mi·3 hr 31 min·I 55
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
17
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
18
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
19
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
20
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
21
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Given the under 6-hour drive time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. The longest stretch without a major road change is 195.7 miles on I 55, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you begin this segment. With a $42 fuel cost estimate, it's a budget-friendly option. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 55 to US 49 as you approach your destination.
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 142.3 miles from Glendale, MS, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.7 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 63 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.3 miles or 2h 47m 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 25m
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 Glendale, 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 Glendale, MS
This is one driving day of about 284.6 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Glendale, 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 195.7 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 0 and 283.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
3.9 mi into trip|~4m in|MS 42
Take the exit onto MS 42 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
7
4.1 mi into trip|~5m in|MS 42
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 42 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Jackson
5
86 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
283.4 mi into trip|~5h 19m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.51 one way
$79.02 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$44.20
$88.41
premium
$4.29
$48.06
$96.11
diesel
$4.80
$53.74
$107.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.4
1
$29.88
$13.66
Efficient EV
71.2
0
$24.90
$11.38
EV Truck/SUV
113.8
1
$39.84
$18.21
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Glendale, MS
Late night
in Glendale on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Sunday
Local time
3:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph4% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 23m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 88.3
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 215.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend nearly all your time on highways, with a 99% highway share. The bulk of your driving, a stretch of 195.7 miles, will be on I 55. Expect a consistent highway experience for most of the trip before transitioning to surface roads. The large percentage of highway driving suggests a route with fewer turns and a focus on covering distance.
99% 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: 195.7 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 early in the drive near MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway.
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 284.6 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: near the start (MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (MS 42): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles (MS 42): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
399 ft168 ft
Total Climb
548 ft
Total Descent
405 ft
Highest Point
399 ft
~183 mi in
Elevation Range
231 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 Glendale, MS to Southaven, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 284.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 195.7 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 Southaven, 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: near the start (MS 42 / Evelyn Gandy Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.9 miles (MS 42): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.1 miles (MS 42): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Southaven, MS before the return drive.
