Meridian, MS to Hernando, MS is 207.6 miles and takes about 4h 28m via I 55, MS 19, and MS 35, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a solid choice for a single-day trip. You'll find the route efficient for covering ground within the state.
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
103.8 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
104.1 mi
1h 51m
MS 19
71.4 mi
1h 46m
MS 35
22.4 mi
33m
Pecan Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
North Jackson Street
1.7 mi
3m
8th Street
1.5 mi
2m
MS 731
1.4 mi
2m
East Commerce Street
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 104.1 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,060 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,325
Quietest
2 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
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 Meridian, MS and Hernando, 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
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 55
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Hermando
16
Turn left onto MS 304
1.1 mi·1 min·East Commerce Street
17
Turn right onto US 51
162 ft·2 sec·US 51
18
Arrive at destination
US 51
Trip Plan
To maximize daylight and minimize fatigue, aim to depart Meridian, MS in the morning. With a total duration of around 4 hours and 28 minutes, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary. The fuel cost is estimated at $31, so factor that into your budget. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 55 to MS 19 and MS 35, as this marks a significant change in the road type and driving experience.
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 103.8 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.1 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 46 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.8 miles or 2h 36m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hernando, 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 207.6 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 I 55 for about 104.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 75 — 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
4
40.1 mi into trip|~1h in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
4
75 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|MS 19; MS 35
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.82 one way
$57.64 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.24
$64.49
premium
$4.29
$35.05
$70.11
diesel
$4.80
$39.20
$78.40
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: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.80
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.17
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.06
$13.29
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Hernando, MS
Late night
in Hernando on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
1 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 28m 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.
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 150.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 104.1 miles on I 55, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur after this extensive highway segment, offering a change in pace. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate these primary thoroughfares.
96% 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: 104.1 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 19. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th 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 28m drive. You will face about 13 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.
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.
Top landmarks
•Meridian Regional Airport — airport in Mississippi, USA
•Threefoot Building — historic office building located in downtown Meridian, Mississippi
•Alex Loeb Building — commercial building in Meridian, Mississippi
The longest stretch is about 104.1 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.
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.
Yes — Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Hernando, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
