Meridian, MS to Batesville, MS is 172 miles and takes about 3h 50m via MS 19 and I-55, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This journey stays within Mississippi, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route is straightforward and efficient for getting you between these two points. If you're looking for a simple, direct trip without many detours, this 1-day drive should fit the bill. Consider it for a quick transit between cities in Mississippi.
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 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 19
71.4 mi
1h 46m
I 55
68 mi
1h 12m
MS 35
22.4 mi
33m
Pecan Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
North Jackson Street
1.7 mi
3m
US 278
1.6 mi
2m
8th Street
1.5 mi
2m
MS 731
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
MS 19
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Batesville, MS.
1
Start on 25th Avenue
272 ft·17 sec·25th Avenue
2
Turn left onto 8th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·8th Street
3
Continue on MS 19
37 mi·54 min·MS 19
4
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
0.1 mi·15 sec·Beacon Street
5
Turn right onto MS 21
1.8 mi·2 min·Pecan Avenue
6
Turn left
1.2 mi·2 min
7
Continue on MS 19
34 mi·50 min·MS 19
8
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
1.1 mi·1 min·MS 19; MS 35
9
Turn left onto MS 731
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 731
10
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Jefferson Street
11
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Jackson Street
12
Continue on MS 35
22 mi·33 min·MS 35
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
14
Merge onto I 55
68 mi·1 hr 12 min·I 55
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 278, MS 6: Batesville, Oxford
16
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
17
Merge onto US 278; MS 6
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278; MS 6
18
Turn right onto US 51; MS 35
49 ft·0 sec·US 51; MS 35
19
Arrive at destination
US 51; MS 35
Trip Plan
Since this is a 1-day drive covering 172 miles and taking under 4 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Meridian in the morning allows you to arrive in Batesville with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop implied by the short duration, you can easily manage your fuel and rest breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto I-55, as services can sometimes be spaced out on major highways. The substantial highway share means you can maintain a steady speed, making it easy to keep track of your estimated arrival time.
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 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.4 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 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86 miles or 2h 10m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Batesville, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS
This is one driving day of about 172 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Meridian, 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 MS 19 for about 71.4 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 0.1 and 170.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Street
Turn left onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
38.2 mi into trip|~57m in|MS 16; MS 19 / Beacon Street
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 19 / Beacon Street
Navigation decision point
4
38.3 mi into trip|~57m in|MS 21 / Pecan Avenue
Turn right onto MS 21 / Pecan Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
170.1 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 278, MS 6: Batesville, Oxford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 278, MS 6: Batesville, Oxford
5
170.3 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.98 one way
$51.95 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.52
$57.03
premium
$4.56
$30.87
$61.74
diesel
$5.61
$37.98
$75.95
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: 60.2 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
51.6
0
$18.06
$8.26
Efficient EV
43
0
$15.05
$6.88
EV Truck/SUV
68.8
0
$24.08
$11.01
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 15, 2026
Origin
Meridian, MS
Night
in Meridian on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Batesville, MS
Night
in Batesville on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
2 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 50m 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 drive that is 96% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. You'll navigate using MS 19, I-55, and MS 35, offering a consistent pace for most of the 172 miles. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 71.4 miles on MS 19. This highway-focused profile suggests a smooth, uninterrupted journey for the majority of the trip. It's designed for efficient travel rather than a meandering scenic experience.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.4 mi on MS 19.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 19 and I 55. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th 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 3h 50m 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: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (MS 16; MS 19 / Beacon Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.3 miles (MS 21 / Pecan Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 172 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on MS 19. 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 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.2 miles (MS 16; MS 19 / Beacon Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.3 miles (MS 21 / Pecan Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Batesville, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
