Horn Lake, MS to Diamondhead, MS is 361.3 miles and takes about 7h 5m via I 55 and Highway 49 South, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. You'll find it's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day transit. Consider this route if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points in the Magnolia State.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
180.7 miles from Horn Lake, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
193.5 mi
3h 29m
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
40.1 mi
43m
MS 603
19.6 mi
29m
South Main Street
15.7 mi
23m
I 10
2.4 mi
2m
US 49
2.2 mi
3m
Goodman Road West
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 193.5 mi, about 3h 29m
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
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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 Horn Lake, MS and Diamondhead, MS.
1
Start on Camelot Road
193 ft·13 sec·Camelot Road
2
Turn left onto Hurt Road
0.5 mi·2 min·Hurt Road
3
Turn right onto MS 302
1.8 mi·2 min·Goodman Road West
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward Jackson
5
Merge onto I 55; I 69
194 mi·3 hr 29 min·I 55; I 69
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
8
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf CoastUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 59
40 mi·43 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
14
Turn left onto MS 53
16 mi·23 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on MS 603
20 mi·29 min·MS 603
16
Turn left
0.3 mi·41 sec
17
Merge onto I 10
2.4 mi·2 min·I 10
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward Diamondhead
19
Keep slight left at fork
228 ft·5 sec
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Yacht Club Drive
0.1 mi·16 sec·Yacht Club Drive
21
Continue on Gex Drive
0.1 mi·18 sec·Gex Drive
22
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
143 ft·3 sec·Gex Drive
23
Continue on Gex Drive
448 ft·12 sec·Gex Drive
24
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
104 ft·3 sec·Gex Drive
25
Continue on Gex Drive
0.4 mi·57 sec·Gex Drive
26
Enter roundabout onto Diamondhead Drive North
452 ft·12 sec·Diamondhead Drive North
27
Continue on Diamondhead Drive North
0.3 mi·49 sec·Diamondhead Drive North
28
Turn right onto Analii Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Analii Street
29
Turn right onto Diamondhead Drive North
0.7 mi·1 min·Diamondhead Drive North
30
Turn right
0.2 mi·55 sec
31
At end of road, turn right
382 ft·17 sec
32
Turn right
136 ft·5 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and minimize stress. With only 2 recommended stops, you can afford to be flexible, but planning your fuel and rest breaks around the halfway point makes sense. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $53 budget is based on current prices and can fluctuate. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is nearly 200 miles on I 55, so be prepared for sustained highway driving.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.7 miles from Horn Lake, MS, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193.5 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 79 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.7 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Diamondhead, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Horn Lake, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Horn Lake, MS
This is one driving day of about 361.3 miles and 7h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Horn Lake, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 193.5 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 197.2 and 359.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
197.2 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49 toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
7
279.8 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
6
280.1 mi into trip|~5h 18m in|I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
6
359 mi into trip|~6h 59m in|Gex Drive
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
359.1 mi into trip|~6h 59m in|Gex Drive
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.16 one way
$100.31 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$56.12
$112.23
premium
$4.29
$61.01
$122.02
diesel
$4.80
$68.22
$136.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.4
1
$37.94
$17.34
Efficient EV
90.3
1
$31.61
$14.45
EV Truck/SUV
144.5
1
$50.58
$23.12
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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 17, 2026
Origin
Horn Lake, MS
Evening
in Horn Lake on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Diamondhead, MS
Evening
in Diamondhead on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
96°F
Sumrall, MS
181 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
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
7h 5m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 186.9
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 62.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 82% of your time on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on I 55 covering 193.5 miles. This means extended periods of high-speed cruising. The transition to surface roads will happen later in the drive. Expect a steady flow of traffic and numerous exits as you navigate these main arteries.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 193.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Highway 49 South. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 197.2 miles in near US 49.
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 24 significant decision points across 361.3 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: at 197.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280.1 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
416 ft55 ft
Total Climb
315 ft
Total Descent
556 ft
Highest Point
416 ft
~232.3 mi in
Elevation Range
361 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Horn Lake, MS and Diamondhead, MS, road signs point toward Hattiesburg, Richland, Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Necaise.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 5m. Total distance: 361.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
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 Diamondhead, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 197.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280.1 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Diamondhead, MS before the return drive.
