Traveling from Nettleton to Southaven covers 113.3 miles, making for a straightforward 2-hour and 12-minute journey across Mississippi. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend approximately $17 on fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The route relies primarily on I-22, Goodman Road, and Martin Luther King Drive to navigate the Southeast corridor. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a predictable experience that fits easily into a morning or afternoon schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.6 miles from Nettleton, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
83.7 mi
1h 29m
Goodman Road
8.3 mi
12m
Martin Luther King Drive
7.7 mi
8m
US 45
5.3 mi
6m
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
3.3 mi
4m
I 55
1.4 mi
1m
Will Robbins Highway
1 mi
1m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 83.7 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nettleton, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·Main Street
2
Turn slight right onto MS 145
1.0 mi·1 min·Will Robbins Highway
3
Turn right onto US 45; US 278
3.7 mi·4 min·US 45; US 278
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 45 North, US 278 West: Tupelo
5
Merge onto US 45; US 278
7.7 mi·8 min·Martin Luther King Drive
6
Continue on US 45; MS 6
3.3 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
1.6 mi·2 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 78:west: Memphis
9
Merge onto I 22; US 78
84 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 22; US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward MS 302: Olive Branch Southaven
11
Keep slight left at fork
195 ft·10 sec
12
Turn left onto MS 302
8.3 mi·12 min·Goodman Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Memphis
14
Merge onto I 55; I 69
1.4 mi·1 min·I 55; I 69
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
16
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
17
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
18
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
19
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
20
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time; however, planning around local commuter traffic on the final approach into Southaven is wise. You won't need to worry about extensive rest stops given the short duration, but topping off your tank before leaving Nettleton ensures you stay well within your $17 fuel budget. Keep an eye on your speed as you transition off the long I-22 stretch onto local roads, where speed limits will naturally decrease. Because there are zero required stops on this route, you have the freedom to drive straight through or take a brief break whenever you feel the need to stretch your legs.
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 56.6 miles from Nettleton, MS, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.7 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.6 miles or 1h 4m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southaven, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nettleton, 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 Nettleton, MS
This is one driving day of about 113.3 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Nettleton, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 83.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 102 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward US 45 North, US 278 West: Tupelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45 North, US 278 West: Tupelo
6
16.2 mi into trip|~21m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
18.1 mi into trip|~23m in|I 22; US 78
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
102 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
102 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|MS 302 / Goodman Road
Turn left onto MS 302 / Goodman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.11 one way
$34.22 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$18.78
$37.57
premium
$4.56
$20.34
$40.67
diesel
$5.61
$25.02
$50.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34
0
$11.90
$5.44
Efficient EV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
EV Truck/SUV
45.3
0
$15.86
$7.25
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Nettleton, MS
Late night
in Nettleton on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
1 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
2h 12m 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.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 19.5
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed transit experience, as 80% of your time will be spent on highways. The centerpiece of this trip is an 83.7-mile stretch on I-22, which allows you to cover the majority of the distance without frequent stops. Transitioning from the interstate into the local streets of Southaven, such as Goodman Road and Martin Luther King Drive, marks a shift from high-velocity cruising to standard urban driving. The route maintains a consistent, efficient pace throughout the entire 113.3-mile distance. You will find that the road remains steady and focused, prioritizing speed and directness over winding detours.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.7 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and Goodman Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 113.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.2 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 113.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.7 miles on I 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Southaven, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.2 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.1 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. 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 Southaven, MS before heading back.
