Embarking on a journey from Marks to Meridian, Mississippi, covers 194.4 miles and is estimated to take approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. This route is entirely within the Southeast region of the US, traversing Mississippi from one end to the other. It's designed as a single-day trip, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a direct transit. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $30. Expect a turn-heavy local drive experience rather than an open highway cruise.
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
95.9 miles from Marks, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
68.1 mi
1h 12m
Holland Avenue
36.6 mi
54m
MS 14
34.9 mi
52m
MS 35
24.3 mi
36m
US 278
20.8 mi
29m
Pecan Avenue
1.9 mi
2m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
South Huntington Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 68.1 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marks, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on 1st Street
138 ft·6 sec·1st Street
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
361 ft·17 sec·West Main Street
3
Turn right onto MS 3
0.3 mi·34 sec·Martin Luther King Junior Drive
4
Turn right onto US 278; MS 6
21 mi·29 min·US 278; MS 6
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
6
Merge onto I 55
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 55
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
8
Turn left onto MS 35; MS 430
24 mi·36 min·MS 35; MS 430
9
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·East Jefferson Street
10
Turn right onto South Huntington Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Huntington Street
11
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
1.1 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
12
Turn left onto MS 14; MS 19
35 mi·52 min·MS 14; MS 19
13
At end of road, turn right onto Pecan Avenue
1.9 mi·2 min·Pecan Avenue
14
Turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
0.1 mi·15 sec·Main Street
15
Turn right onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·Holland Avenue
16
Continue on 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
17
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 28-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for any unscheduled stops. With a fuel cost estimate of $30, it's a budget-friendly option. Since it's a local drive, keep an eye on your speed limits as you pass through various communities. Plan for one primary stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary, though the relatively short distance makes flexibility your advantage.
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 95.9 miles from Marks, MS, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.1 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 42 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.9 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 3h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Marks, 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 Marks, MS
This is one driving day of about 191.9 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Marks, 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 68.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 151.7 — 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|West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 3 / Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Turn right onto MS 3 / Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Navigation decision point
4
89.9 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|MS 35; MS 430
Turn left onto MS 35; MS 430
Navigation decision point
4
114.3 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|South Huntington Street
Turn right onto South Huntington Street
Navigation decision point
5
151.7 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|Pecan Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Pecan Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.98 one way
$57.96 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.81
$63.63
premium
$4.56
$34.44
$68.89
diesel
$5.61
$42.37
$84.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.6
0
$20.15
$9.21
Efficient EV
48
0
$16.79
$7.68
EV Truck/SUV
76.8
0
$26.87
$12.28
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 19, 2026
Origin
Marks, MS
Late night
in Marks on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°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
22 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
4h 18m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating through local roads for the entirety of the 194.4 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the emphasis on local roads suggests frequent turns and changes in speed limits. This means your journey will likely involve a more engaged driving experience, moving through towns and varied landscapes rather than a consistent highway pace.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 68.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Holland Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 18m drive. You will face about 14 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 (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MS 3 / Martin Luther King Junior Drive): Navigation decision point; at 89.9 miles (MS 35; MS 430): Navigation decision point.
Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.
The longest stretch is about 68.1 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 (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MS 3 / Martin Luther King Junior Drive): Navigation decision point; at 89.9 miles (MS 35; MS 430): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Meridian, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
