Hernando, MS to Meridian, MS is 207.7 miles and takes about 4h 28m via I 55 and MS 14, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a fairly straightforward trip. It's a single-day drive, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
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
103.9 miles from Hernando, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
104.3 mi
1h 51m
Holland Avenue
36.6 mi
54m
MS 14
34.9 mi
52m
MS 35
24.3 mi
36m
Pecan Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
South Huntington Street
1.4 mi
2m
Veterans Memorial Drive
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 104.3 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,078 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,395
Quietest
2 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Hernando, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on US 51
162 ft·8 sec·US 51
2
Turn left onto MS 304
1.0 mi·1 min·West Commerce Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
4
Merge onto I 55
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 55
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
6
Turn left onto MS 35; MS 430
24 mi·36 min·MS 35; MS 430
7
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·East Jefferson Street
8
Turn right onto South Huntington Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Huntington Street
9
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
1.1 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
10
Turn left onto MS 14; MS 19
35 mi·52 min·MS 14; MS 19
11
At end of road, turn right onto Pecan Avenue
1.9 mi·2 min·Pecan Avenue
12
Turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
0.1 mi·15 sec·Main Street
13
Turn right onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·Holland Avenue
14
Continue on 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
15
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 4-hour drive, you can easily complete it in one day. Consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample time for any unscheduled stops or to enjoy a more relaxed pace. The longest stretch without a major break is over 100 miles on I 55, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you near the 100-mile mark on the interstate, as services can be spaced out.
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 103.9 miles from Hernando, MS, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.3 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 46 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.9 miles or 1h 52m 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 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 Hernando, 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 Hernando, MS
This is one driving day of about 207.7 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Hernando, 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 104.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 167.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 304 / West Commerce Street
Turn left onto MS 304 / West Commerce Street
Navigation decision point
4
105.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|MS 35; MS 430
Turn left onto MS 35; MS 430
Navigation decision point
4
130.2 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|South Huntington Street
Turn right onto South Huntington Street
Navigation decision point
4
132.8 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|MS 14; MS 19
Turn left onto MS 14; MS 19
Navigation decision point
5
167.6 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|Pecan Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Pecan Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.33 one way
$64.67 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$35.64
$71.29
premium
$4.71
$38.52
$77.05
diesel
$6.18
$50.53
$101.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.81
$9.97
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.31
EV Truck/SUV
83.1
1
$29.08
$13.29
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Hernando, MS
Late night
in Hernando on Monday
Local time
1:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Clear
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Monday
Local time
1:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
NE 5 mph0% 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
3 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
4h 28m 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...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 57.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 79% of the drive on roads like I 55. You'll encounter a long, uninterrupted stretch of 104.3 miles on I 55 before transitioning to surface roads. The initial part of the drive will feel like typical interstate cruising, with the latter portion featuring more local traffic and varied exit patterns as you approach Meridian.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.3 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 early in the drive near MS 304 / West Commerce 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 4h 28m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 304 / West Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 105.8 miles (MS 35; MS 430): Navigation decision point; at 130.2 miles (South Huntington Street): Navigation decision point.
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 104.3 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.
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: near the start (MS 304 / West Commerce Street): Navigation decision point; at 105.8 miles (MS 35; MS 430): Navigation decision point; at 130.2 miles (South Huntington Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Meridian, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
