Traveling north from Leland to Southaven covers 133.8 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 21 minutes. This straightforward journey stays entirely within Mississippi, making it an easy day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to complete the transit. While the route involves navigating various local roads, it remains a manageable drive for those looking to traverse the state. Planning for a single day of travel is ideal, as the duration is short enough to avoid fatigue while providing plenty of flexibility for your schedule.
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
66.8 miles from Leland, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
93.9 mi
1h 52m
US 49
28.5 mi
32m
Goodman Road West
7 mi
10m
US 51
1.6 mi
2m
Old Hwy 61
0.8 mi
1m
North Broad Street
0.8 mi
1m
Whitworth Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Moss Point Drive
0.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 93.9 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leland, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on North Broad Street
0.8 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
2
Turn straight onto Old Hwy 61
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Hwy 61
3
At end of road, turn right onto Griffin Road
145 ft·2 sec·Griffin Road
4
Turn left onto US 61; US 278
68 mi·1 hr 22 min·US 61; US 278
5
Continue on US 49; US 61
29 mi·32 min·US 49; US 61
6
Continue on US 61; MS 4
25 mi·29 min·US 61; MS 4
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
475 ft·13 sec
9
Turn straight onto MS 302
7.0 mi·10 min·Goodman Road West
10
Turn left onto US 51
1.6 mi·2 min·US 51
11
Turn right onto Whitworth Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·Whitworth Street
12
Turn right onto Moss Point Drive
0.2 mi·1 min·Moss Point Drive
13
At end of road, turn left onto Five Oaks Drive West
169 ft·7 sec·Five Oaks Drive West
14
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the advantage of departing whenever it best fits your agenda. Aim to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours on the smaller roads you will be navigating. With no mandatory stops listed, you have the freedom to pace the 2-hour and 21-minute duration however you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $20 estimate is a baseline for the direct trip. For a smoother experience, ensure your GPS is updated to handle the transitions between Hwy 61, Griffin Road, and Goodman Road West, as these turns are frequent and critical to staying on course.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.8 miles from Leland, MS, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.9 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.8 miles or 1h 21m 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 11m
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 Leland, 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 Leland, MS
This is one driving day of about 133.6 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Leland, 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 61 for about 93.9 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 133.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in|Griffin Road
At end of road, turn right onto Griffin Road
Navigation decision point
5
124.3 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
131.4 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 51
Turn left onto US 51
Navigation decision point
5
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 43m in|Moss Point Drive
Turn right onto Moss Point Drive
Navigation decision point
6
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|Five Oaks Drive West
At end of road, turn left onto Five Oaks Drive West
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.18 one way
$40.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.15
$44.30
premium
$4.56
$23.98
$47.96
diesel
$5.61
$29.50
$58.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Efficient EV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
EV Truck/SUV
53.4
0
$18.70
$8.55
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Leland, MS
Late night
in Leland on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
7 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
2h 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this path. You will navigate using a combination of Hwy 61, Griffin Road, and Goodman Road West to reach your destination. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a more traditional driving experience that requires your full attention on local road conditions. The nature of these roads means your pace will be dictated by local traffic and turn sequences rather than high-speed cruising. Staying alert is essential as you transition between these specific local thoroughfares throughout the 133.8-mile trip.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.9 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and US 49. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near Griffin Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Leland, MS to Southaven, MS is easy. At 2h 44m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (Griffin Road): Navigation decision point; at 124.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 131.4 miles (US 51): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 133.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 93.9 miles on US 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.6 miles (Griffin Road): Navigation decision point; at 124.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 131.4 miles (US 51): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Southaven, MS before heading back.
