Traveling from Newton to Southaven covers 212.7 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 28 minutes of driving time. Because this route is easily manageable in a single day, it serves as a straightforward journey through the heart of Mississippi. You should budget about $33 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the drive. Whether you are heading north for business or a weekend getaway, this highway-focused itinerary offers a reliable transit path without the need for an overnight split.
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
106.3 miles from Newton, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
115.8 mi
2h 4m
North State Highway 35
47 mi
1h 9m
MS 35
22.4 mi
33m
I 20
11.4 mi
12m
US 80
6.2 mi
9m
Highway 35 South
3.1 mi
4m
North Jackson Street
1.7 mi
3m
MS 731
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 115.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on South Main Street
187 ft·12 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto West Church Street
1.4 mi·3 min·West Church Street
3
Continue on West Church Street
235 ft·6 sec·West Church Street
4
Turn straight onto US 80
6.2 mi·9 min·US 80
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
6
Merge onto I 20
11 mi·12 min·I 20
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
8
Keep slight right at fork
360 ft·8 sec
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
9
Turn straight onto MS 35
3.1 mi·4 min·Highway 35 South
10
Continue on MS 35
47 mi·1 hr 9 min·North State Highway 35
11
Turn left onto MS 731
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 731
12
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Jefferson Street
13
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Jackson Street
14
Continue on MS 35
22 mi·33 min·MS 35
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
16
Merge onto I 55
116 mi·2 hr 4 min·I 55
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
18
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
19
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
20
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
21
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
22
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 28-minute journey, plan to depart early to avoid potential congestion on the primary highway arteries. Although the trip is short enough to drive in one go, scheduling at least one stop is advisable to break up the 212.7-mile distance and keep your energy levels consistent. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the long 115.8-mile stretch on I-55, as service intervals can vary. This route’s flexibility is a major advantage, allowing you to easily adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. Prioritize checking real-time traffic updates for I-55, as this will be the most critical segment of your transit through the state.
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 106.3 miles from Newton, MS, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.8 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 47 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.3 miles or 2h 32m 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 45m
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 Newton, 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 Newton, MS
This is one driving day of about 212.7 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Newton, 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 115.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.2 and 212.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
19.2 mi into trip|~25m 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
19.5 mi into trip|~26m 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
4
71 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|East Jefferson Street
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
211.4 mi into trip|~4h 24m in
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
5
212.5 mi into trip|~4h 27m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.12 one way
$64.25 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$35.26
$70.53
premium
$4.56
$38.18
$76.35
diesel
$5.61
$46.96
$93.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.8
0
$22.33
$10.21
Efficient EV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
EV Truck/SUV
85.1
1
$29.78
$13.61
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Newton, MS
Night
in Newton on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Night
in Southaven on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 5 mph11% chanceLive 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
14 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
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 146.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive dominated by major thoroughfares, as 97% of this route consists of highway travel. You will rely primarily on I-55, North State Highway 35, and MS 35 to navigate the distance between these two Mississippi points. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 115.8-mile uninterrupted stretch on I-55, which provides a steady, efficient pace. While the drive is largely functional rather than technical, the transition between state highways and the interstate requires steady focus. Overall, the road personality is defined by consistent, high-speed transit rather than winding local backroads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North State Highway 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
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 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
474 ft210 ft
Total Climb
440 ft
Total Descent
553 ft
Highest Point
474 ft
~60.8 mi in
Elevation Range
264 ft
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 Newton, MS to Southaven, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Forest along the way.
Forest
19.2 mi in|~25m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 212.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 115.8 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles (East Jefferson Street): 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 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Southaven, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
