Meridian, MS to Kosciusko, MS is 77.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 57 minutes via MS 19, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its short duration and focus on highway travel, it's a practical option for a quick transit or a segment of a larger journey. You'll find the drive efficient, with most of your time spent on a primary state highway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.8 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 19
71.4 mi
1h 46m
Pecan Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
8th Street
1.5 mi
2m
MS 731
1.4 mi
2m
Beacon Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MS 19
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Kosciusko, 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·11 sec·East Jefferson Street
11
Arrive at destination
East Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility on when to depart. Leaving Meridian in the morning or early afternoon will get you to Kosciusko well before evening. With only a short drive, you won't need extensive breaks, but there are opportunities along MS 19 if you wish to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is low at $12, it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially since the longest stretch without a town is over 71 miles.
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 38.8 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 58m 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.8 miles or 58m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kosciusko, 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 77.6 miles and 1h 57m.
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 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 7
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
$11.72 one way
$23.44 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.87
$25.73
premium
$4.56
$13.93
$27.86
diesel
$5.61
$17.13
$34.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.2 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
23.3
0
$8.15
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.79
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.86
$4.97
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 18, 2026
Origin
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kosciusko, MS
Late night
in Kosciusko on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NW 10 mph67% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Philadelphia, MS
39 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
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
1h 57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 94% of the drive occurring on major roads. You'll spend the majority of your time on MS 19, experiencing a longest continuous stretch of 71.4 miles on this highway. Expect a consistent pace for most of the journey, characterized by the efficiency of state highway travel rather than winding backroads. The drive transitions directly from Meridian onto MS 19, and then briefly utilizes Pecan Avenue and 8th Street in Kosciusko.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 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?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 19 and Pecan Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Meridian, MS to Kosciusko, MS is easy. At 1h 57m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on MS 19. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 38.2 miles (MS 16; MS 19 / Beacon Street): Navigation decision point; at 38.3 miles (MS 21 / Pecan Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kosciusko, MS before heading back.
