Origin
Horn Lake, MS
Afternoon in Horn Lake on Thursday
Local time
3:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Horn Lake, MS to Madison, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 22m
Distance
184.1 mi
296 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 10m
★
6 AM
3h 22m
8 AM
3h 46m
10 AM
3h 31m
12 PM
3h 28m
3 PM
3h 32m
5 PM
3h 45m
8 PM
3h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Horn Lake, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Madison, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Horn Lake, MS to Madison, MS covers 184.1 miles and takes about 3h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, Goodman Road West, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 179.6 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.97 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
92 miles from Horn Lake, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 179.6 mi | 3h 12m |
| Goodman Road West | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Hurt Road | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| Camelot Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Depot Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 179.6 mi, about 3h 12m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,087 veh/hr typical · worst 1,408
Quietest
2 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Horn Lake, MS and Madison, 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
180 mi
·
3 hr 12 min
·
I 55; I 69
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward MS 463: Madison
7
Keep slight left at fork
357 ft
·
11 sec
8
Turn left onto MS 463
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
9
Turn slight right
168 ft
·
7 sec
10
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
11
Turn left onto Depot Drive
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Depot Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Depot Drive
Trip Plan
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 92 miles from Horn Lake, MS, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 179.6 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 41 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92 miles or 1h 41m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Horn Lake, MS
This is one driving day of about 184.1 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Horn Lake, 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 179.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92 miles from Horn Lake, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 179.6 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 182.7 — 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
|
Hurt Road
Turn left onto Hurt Road
Navigation decision point
3
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Turn right onto MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Navigation decision point
3
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward Jackson
Navigation decision point
Toward Jackson
4
182.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward MS 463: Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 463: Madison
4
182.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.97 one way
$53.94 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $29.94 | $59.88 |
| premium | $4.49 | $32.51 | $65.03 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $40.58 | $81.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.2 | 0 | $19.33 | $8.84 |
| Efficient EV | 46 | 0 | $16.11 | $7.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.6 | 0 | $25.77 | $11.78 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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
Madison, MS
Afternoon in Madison on Thursday
Local time
3:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Grenada, MS
92 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 22m 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.
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 184.1
View on nps.gov
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 63.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
184.1 mi in 3h 22m, mostly highway — 179.6 mi of that is on I 55.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 179.6 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Goodman Road West. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Hurt Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 8 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 (Hurt Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
397 ft
223 ft
Total Climb
476 ft
Total Descent
438 ft
Highest Point
397 ft
~105.7 mi in
Elevation Range
174 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Horn Lake, MS
Full guide →Southaven is a city in Mississippi. Known as the "Top of Mississippi," the city is the gateway to the Mississippi Delta and minutes from Memphis.
Arriving in Madison, MS
Full guide →Founded 1988
Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
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 22m. Total distance: 184.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 179.6 miles on I 55. 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: near the start (Hurt Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Madison, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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