Meridian, MS to Nettleton, MS is 135.9 miles and takes about 2h 43m via US 45, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a single-day trip primarily through Mississippi's Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on highway, making it a straightforward drive. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit day or a leisurely morning departure. Consider this if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state.
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
68 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
65 mi
1h 15m
US Highway 45 Alternate
53 mi
1h 3m
Martin Luther King Drive
9.8 mi
11m
Old Highway 45 North
4.4 mi
6m
Will Robbins Highway
1 mi
1m
Front Street
0.7 mi
1m
Dale Drive
0.6 mi
<1m
2nd Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 65 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Nettleton, MS.
1
Start on 25th Avenue
272 ft·14 sec·25th Avenue
2
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·8th Street
3
Turn right onto 23rd Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·23rd Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
394 ft·8 sec·Front Street
5
Continue on 2nd Street
0.5 mi·45 sec·2nd Street
6
Continue on 4th Street
0.1 mi·9 sec·4th Street
7
Continue on Front Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Front Street
8
Continue on MS 39; MS 884
0.6 mi·52 sec·Dale Drive
9
Continue on Old Highway 45 North
4.4 mi·6 min·Old Highway 45 North
10
Continue on US 45
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 45
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, TupeloUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on US 45 ALT
9.8 mi·11 min·Martin Luther King Drive
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward US 45 South, MS 145 North: Shannon, Nettleton
14
Turn right onto US 45; US 278
3.7 mi·4 min·US 45; US 278
15
Turn left onto MS 145
1.0 mi·1 min·Will Robbins Highway
16
Turn slight left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility for when to start your journey from Meridian. Leaving mid-morning allows for a relaxed start and still gets you to Nettleton with ample daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so plan accordingly. Since this is a short, single-day trip, you won't need to worry about splitting the drive, and you can easily accommodate spontaneous stops if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition between US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate, as this is where the road designation changes but the primary highway character continues.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nettleton, 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 135.9 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 US 45 for about 65 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 130.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|23rd Avenue
Turn right onto 23rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
8
68 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupel...
5
130.8 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 45 South, MS 145 North: Shannon, Nettleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45 South, MS 145 North: Shannon, Nett...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.52 one way
$41.05 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$22.53
$45.06
premium
$4.56
$24.39
$48.78
diesel
$5.61
$30.01
$60.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
Efficient EV
34
0
$11.89
$5.44
EV Truck/SUV
54.4
0
$19.03
$8.70
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Nettleton, MS
Late night
in Nettleton on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Brooksville, MS
68 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 43m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 131.2
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 131.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your journey on major roads like US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. Expect a consistent pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 65 miles on US 45. You'll experience a highway feel for the majority of the trip, offering a direct and efficient travel experience. Martin Luther King Drive is also part of the main roads, indicating you'll encounter some urban or town driving segments within Meridian and near Nettleton.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. 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 Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Meridian, MS to Nettleton, MS is easy. At 2h 43m with 90% 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 0.2 miles (23rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Nettleton, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tupelo 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.
The longest stretch is about 65 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (23rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Nettleton, MS before heading back.
