Traveling from Louisville to Southaven covers 172.7 miles of Mississippi terrain, typically taking about 3 hours and 29 minutes to complete. Because this journey is straightforward and efficient, you can easily manage it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your route utilizes a combination of MS 9, US 82, and I-55 to navigate through the Southeast region. Budgeting approximately $26 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the drive is manageable in one go, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal 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
86.4 miles from Louisville, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
105.3 mi
1h 52m
US 82
32.2 mi
37m
MS 9
15.9 mi
27m
MS 15
15.4 mi
22m
MS-14/West Main Street
1.8 mi
3m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 105.3 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Louisville, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on MS 14
1.8 mi·3 min·MS-14/West Main Street
2
Turn right onto MS 15; MS 25
2.0 mi·2 min·MS 15; MS 25
3
Turn straight onto MS 15
13 mi·19 min·MS 15
4
Turn left onto MS 12
0.2 mi·19 sec·MS 12
5
Turn right onto MS 9
16 mi·27 min·MS 9
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·48 sec
7
Merge onto US 82
32 mi·37 min·US 82
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
9
Merge onto I 55
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 55
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
11
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
12
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
13
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
14
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
15
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple given the 3 hour and 29 minute duration, but aiming for off-peak hours can help you avoid potential congestion on the interstate segments. Since the itinerary includes only one recommended stop, you should pace yourself by breaking up the 172.7-mile trek whenever you feel the need to stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the long 105.3-mile stretch of I-55 to ensure you don't have to hunt for a station during that high-speed segment. Having a single planned break helps maintain focus throughout the drive, ensuring you arrive in Southaven feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 86.4 miles from Louisville, MS, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.3 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 38 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.4 miles or 1h 54m 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 53m
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 Louisville, 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 Louisville, MS
This is one driving day of about 172.7 miles and 3h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Louisville, 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 105.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.2 and 172.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
17.2 mi into trip|~25m in|MS 12
Turn left onto MS 12
Navigation decision point
3
17.4 mi into trip|~25m in|MS 9
Turn right onto MS 9
Navigation decision point
5
171.5 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
4
172.4 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|Haleville Drive
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
Navigation decision point
5
172.6 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.08 one way
$52.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.63
$57.26
premium
$4.56
$31.00
$62.00
diesel
$5.61
$38.13
$76.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.13
$8.29
Efficient EV
43.2
0
$15.11
$6.91
EV Truck/SUV
69.1
0
$24.18
$11.05
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Louisville, MS
Late night
in Louisville on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Tuesday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Winona, MS
86 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
2 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 29m 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 highway-focused experience, as 99% of this trip is spent on major roads. The character of your drive shifts once you transition onto the interstate, where you will tackle the longest uninterrupted stretch of 105.3 miles along I-55. Navigating these segments requires steady attention as you move from local highway routes onto the faster-paced interstate system. While the road is designed for efficiency, the transition between different highway types keeps the drive feeling active. You will find that the consistency of the pavement makes for a predictable ride from start to finish.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.3 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 82. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.2 miles in near MS 12.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 29m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.2 miles (MS 12): Navigation decision point; at 17.4 miles (MS 9): Navigation decision point; at 171.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 172.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 105.3 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: at 17.2 miles (MS 12): Navigation decision point; at 17.4 miles (MS 9): Navigation decision point; at 171.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Southaven, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
