This 348.4-mile journey from Nicholson, MS to Southaven, MS is a straightforward drive, estimated to take about 6 hours and 31 minutes. It's a highway-focused route that can comfortably be completed in a single day, though you might appreciate an early start. With a fuel cost estimated at $53, it's an economical option for covering ground across Mississippi. This trip keeps you within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience. Plan for one primary stop to break up the drive. The overall feel is efficient travel, prioritizing getting you to your destination.
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
174.2 miles from Nicholson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
195.7 mi
3h 31m
US 49
83.7 mi
1h 42m
I 59
66.7 mi
1h 11m
US 11
0.6 mi
<1m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 195.7 mi, about 3h 31m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 57 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,443 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~141 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
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 Nicholson, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on Jackson Landing Road
374 ft·11 sec·Jackson Landing Road
2
Turn right onto US 11
0.6 mi·53 sec·US 11
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
4
Merge onto I 59
67 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: JacksonUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on US 49
1.2 mi·1 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi·6 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi·6 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 49
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi·4 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 49
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
15
Merge onto I 55
196 mi·3 hr 31 min·I 55
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
17
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
18
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
19
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
20
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
21
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 31-minute duration, starting your drive in the early morning is advisable to maximize daylight and arrive at your destination with time to spare. You'll encounter one main stretch of 195.7 miles on I-55, so consider planning your single stop around the midpoint of this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstate highways. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time, but an early start will make for a more relaxed experience.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.2 miles from Nicholson, MS, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.7 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 77 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.2 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 24m
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 Nicholson, 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 Nicholson, MS
This is one driving day of about 348.4 miles and 6h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Nicholson, 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 195.7 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 348.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
67.5 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
5
149.8 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
347.2 mi into trip|~6h 28m 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
348.3 mi into trip|~6h 31m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.36 one way
$96.73 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$54.11
$108.22
premium
$4.29
$58.83
$117.66
diesel
$4.80
$65.78
$131.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.5
1
$36.58
$16.72
Efficient EV
87.1
0
$30.49
$13.94
EV Truck/SUV
139.4
1
$48.78
$22.30
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Nicholson, MS
Evening
in Nicholson on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Evening
in Southaven on Saturday
Local time
8:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph7% 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
18 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
6h 31m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant le...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 156.2
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 276.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 100% highway-focused drive for the entirety of this route. The main arteries you'll be using are I-55, US-49, and I-59. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 195.7 miles, primarily on I-55, so be prepared for extended periods of steady driving. This profile suggests a route designed for direct travel rather than scenic detours, emphasizing consistent speed and ease of navigation. You'll likely find yourself on well-maintained interstates for the bulk of the trip.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 59.
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 11 significant decision points across 348.4 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 0.9 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.8 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
395 ft50 ft
Total Climb
631 ft
Total Descent
370 ft
Highest Point
395 ft
~248.9 mi in
Elevation Range
345 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 Nicholson, MS to Southaven, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 31m. Total distance: 348.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 31m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 195.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas 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.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.8 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Southaven, MS before the return drive.
