If you are planning to travel from Magnolia to Southaven, expect a straightforward 281.6-mile journey that spans the length of Mississippi. The drive typically takes about 5 hours and 7 minutes, making it entirely feasible as a single-day trip. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-55, keeping the route simple and easy to navigate. Budgeting approximately $43 for fuel should cover your transit between these two Southeastern towns. Since the entire trip stays within Mississippi, you can expect a consistent regional feel from start to finish.
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
140.8 miles from Magnolia, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
278.9 mi
5h 1m
East Bay Street
1.2 mi
2m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi
<1m
West Railroad Avenue North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Five Oaks Drive West
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 278.9 mi, about 5h 1m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 67 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,273 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~139 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Magnolia, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on West Railroad Avenue North
79 ft·9 sec·West Railroad Avenue North
2
Turn left onto MS 48
1.2 mi·2 min·East Bay Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
4
Merge onto I 55
81 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 55
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
2.1 mi·2 min·I 55
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
196 mi·3 hr 32 min·I 55
Toward Grenada, Memphis
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
8
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
9
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
10
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
11
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
12
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Because this is a long, continuous haul, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the five-hour trek. Aim to depart early in the morning to avoid potential traffic congestion as you near the Southaven area. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially since you are looking at a $43 cost for the full journey. Having one planned break will make the nearly 280-mile stretch on I-55 feel significantly more manageable. Since the route is so heavily reliant on a single interstate, stay alert for any real-time traffic updates that might affect your travel time on I-55.
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 140.8 miles from Magnolia, MS, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 278.9 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 62 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.8 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
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 Magnolia, 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 Magnolia, MS
This is one driving day of about 281.6 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Magnolia, 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 278.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 281.5 — 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 48 / East Bay Street
Turn left onto MS 48 / East Bay Street
Navigation decision point
4
82 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
84.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward Grenada, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Grenada, Memphis
5
280.3 mi into trip|~5h 4m 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
5
281.5 mi into trip|~5h 7m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.09 one way
$78.18 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$43.74
$87.47
premium
$4.29
$47.55
$95.10
diesel
$4.80
$53.17
$106.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.5
1
$29.57
$13.52
Efficient EV
70.4
0
$24.64
$11.26
EV Truck/SUV
112.6
1
$39.42
$18.02
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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 18, 2026
Origin
Magnolia, MS
Afternoon
in Magnolia on Sunday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
W 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Afternoon
in Southaven on Sunday
Local time
2:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
93°F
Madison, MS
141 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 7m 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.
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...
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 213.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is defined by its efficiency, with 99% of the distance spent on major highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on a long, uninterrupted 278.9-mile stretch of I-55, which offers a steady rhythm for your drive. While the path remains highway-focused, the final leg transitions from the interstate onto East Bay Street and Stateline Road West as you approach your destination. Do not expect technical winding roads here; instead, anticipate a focused, high-speed interstate experience that prioritizes speed over variety. It is a functional drive designed to get you from the southern end of the state to the northern border with minimal fuss.
99% 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: 278.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and East Bay Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 48 / East Bay Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m 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 (MS 48 / East Bay Street): Navigation decision point; at 82 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 84.1 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
482 ft204 ft
Total Climb
694 ft
Total Descent
691 ft
Highest Point
482 ft
~181 mi in
Elevation Range
278 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Magnolia, MS and Southaven, MS, road signs point toward Grenada and Memphis.
The longest stretch is about 278.9 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 48 / East Bay Street): Navigation decision point; at 82 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 84.1 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Southaven, MS before the return drive.
