This 76.1-mile drive from Meridian, MS, to Carthage, MS, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 35 minutes. With 96% of the route on highways, it's a very efficient trip, making it ideal as a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, which is quite budget-friendly for this distance. This highway-focused drive will take you through the Southeast region of Mississippi, offering a practical and uncomplicated way to get from point A to point B. It's the kind of trip where you can focus on the destination rather than the journey itself.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
44.4 mi
47m
North State Highway 35
25.4 mi
37m
Highway 35 South
3.1 mi
4m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
Airport Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
North Frontage Road
0.2 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
MS 35
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 44.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Carthage, MS.
1
Start on 25th Avenue
272 ft·17 sec·25th Avenue
2
Turn left onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
3
Turn left onto MS 19
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Boulevard
4
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·North Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 80
1.6 mi·1 min·I 20; I 59; US 80
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 80
43 mi·45 min·I 20; US 80
Toward I 20 West: JacksonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
9
Keep slight right at fork
360 ft·8 sec
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
10
Turn straight onto MS 35
3.1 mi·4 min·Highway 35 South
11
Continue on MS 35
25 mi·37 min·North State Highway 35
12
Arrive at destination
MS 35
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can leave Meridian whenever is most convenient, as it's easily manageable within a single day. With no designated stops in the data, you're free to choose your own break points, perhaps a quick stop for fuel or a snack as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 44.4-mile stretch on I-20, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. The modest fuel cost of $11 also means you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.1 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Meridian, MS
This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Meridian, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 44.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47.6 — 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
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
4.6 mi into trip|~6m in|I 20; US 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 80 toward I 20 West: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Jackson
5
47.4 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
7
47.6 mi into trip|~53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.49 one way
$22.99 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.62
$25.23
premium
$4.56
$13.66
$27.32
diesel
$5.61
$16.80
$33.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.66
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Carthage, MS
Late night
in Carthage on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Forest, MS
38 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
24 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
1h 35m 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 predominantly highway experience on this route, with a significant 96% share of the drive on main roads like I-20 and State Highway 35. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.4 miles on I-20, providing a period of consistent cruising. This highway-focused profile means you'll likely experience a fairly direct and efficient drive, with minimal time spent on slower, more winding local roads. The character of the drive is geared towards covering distance effectively, rather than exploring intricate local byways.
96% 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: 44.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and North State Highway 35. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.1 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 20; US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Meridian, MS to Carthage, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Forest along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.4 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 rest areas or service plazas 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 20; US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carthage, MS before heading back.
