Origin
Guntown, MS
Morning in Guntown on Tuesday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Guntown, MS to Meridian, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
156.1 mi
251 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 56m
★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 31m
10 AM
3h 16m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 17m
5 PM
3h 30m
8 PM
3h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Guntown, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Meridian, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Guntown to Meridian is 156 miles and takes about 3 hours and 8 minutes via US Highway 45 Alternate and US 45, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This all-Mississippi drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey through varying terrain. It's a primarily highway-focused route, making it an efficient option for travelers needing to cover ground quickly. Given its manageable duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing you to arrive at your destination with time to spare.
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
78.1 miles from Guntown, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 45 Aiternate | 60.6 mi | 1h 9m |
| US Highway 45 Alternate | 54.7 mi | 1h 6m |
| US 45 | 25.2 mi | 29m |
| US 45 ALT | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Old Highway 45 North | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| North Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Front Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Dale Drive | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 45 Aiternate
— 60.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Guntown, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on North Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
4
Merge onto US 45
25 mi
·
29 min
·
US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45 ALT
6
Continue on US 45 ALT
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45 ALT
7
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45 ALT
8
Continue on US 45 ALT
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 45 ALT
9
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45 ALT
10
Continue on US 45 ALT
55 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 45
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
US Highway 45 Aiternate
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Highway 45 North
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Old Highway 45 North
13
Continue on MS 884
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
Dale Drive
14
Continue on Front Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
15
Continue on 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
4th Street
16
Turn slight left onto 2nd Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
2nd Street
17
Turn right onto 22nd Avenue
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
22nd Avenue
18
Turn left onto 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
8th Street
19
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
272 ft
·
11 sec
·
25th Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3 hours, this route offers significant flexibility. Leaving Guntown in the morning or early afternoon should allow you ample time to reach Meridian before dark. Since the longest stretch without a town is 60.6 miles, consider topping off your fuel tank before you leave Guntown to ensure you have plenty for the journey. This is a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations unless you choose to extend your stay.
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 78.1 miles from Guntown, MS, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.6 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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 32m
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 Guntown, 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 Guntown, MS
This is one driving day of about 156.1 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Guntown, 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 US Highway 45 Aiternate for about 60.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.1 miles from Guntown, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US Highway 45 Aiternate if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 156.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 45
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
149.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 56m in
|
Old Highway 45 North
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Highway 45 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
155.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m in
|
22nd Avenue
Turn right onto 22nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
156.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
|
25th Avenue
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.57 one way
$47.15 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $25.88 | $51.76 |
| premium | $4.56 | $28.02 | $56.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.46 | $68.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.8 | 0 | $16.39 | $7.49 |
| Efficient EV | 39 | 0 | $13.66 | $6.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.85 | $9.99 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Meridian, MS
Morning in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°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
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
3h 8m 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.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 10.8
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
Tupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 16.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 98% of this drive. You'll spend most of your time on US Highway 45 Alternate and US 45, which are well-maintained and conducive to steady progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 60.6 miles on US Highway 45 Alternate, so plan your breaks accordingly. While predominantly highway, the character of the road will shift subtly as you progress through different stretches of Mississippi.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.6 mi on US Highway 45 Aiternate.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 45 Aiternate and US Highway 45 Alternate. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Guntown, MS to Meridian, MS is easy. At 3h 8m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.1 miles (Old Highway 45 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Meridian, MS
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 156.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.6 miles on US Highway 45 Aiternate. 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 1.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 149.1 miles (Old Highway 45 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Meridian, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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