Pelahatchie, MS to Southaven, MS is 221 miles and takes about 4h 3m via I 55 and I 20, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily sticks to major highways within Mississippi, making it a straightforward journey. You'll be spending most of your time on interstates, so expect a functional rather than a scenic experience. This route is ideal for a single-day trip, especially if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points in the Southeast region. Consider this trip if you value directness and minimal fuss.
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
110.5 miles from Pelahatchie, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
195.7 mi
3h 31m
I 20
21.5 mi
23m
MS 43
0.9 mi
1m
2nd Street
0.4 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 114 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 Pelahatchie, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on Go Forth Street
127 ft·10 sec·Go Forth Street
2
Turn left onto US 80
0.4 mi·39 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn left onto MS 43
0.9 mi·1 min·MS 43
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
5
Merge onto I 20
21 mi·23 min·I 20
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, GrenadaUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 55
196 mi·3 hr 31 min·I 55
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
9
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
10
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
11
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
12
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
13
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 3m duration and 221-mile length, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Southaven before evening. With only one recommended stop, plan your fuel and rest breaks strategically. The longest stretch without a major road change is 195.7 miles on I 55, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on that segment. Since the drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but keeping an eye on Mississippi traffic patterns, especially around larger towns, is always a good idea.
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 110.5 miles from Pelahatchie, MS, or about 2h 1m 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 49 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.5 miles or 2h 1m 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 17m
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 Pelahatchie, 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 Pelahatchie, MS
This is one driving day of about 221 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Pelahatchie, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 220.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 43
Turn left onto MS 43
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
23.2 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
5
219.8 mi into trip|~3h 59m 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
4
220.7 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|Haleville Drive
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
Navigation decision point
5
220.9 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.68 one way
$61.36 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$34.32
$68.65
premium
$4.29
$37.32
$74.64
diesel
$4.80
$41.73
$83.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.3
0
$23.21
$10.61
Efficient EV
55.3
0
$19.34
$8.84
EV Truck/SUV
88.4
1
$30.94
$14.14
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Pelahatchie, MS
Morning
in Pelahatchie on Tuesday
Local time
6:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
96°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Southaven, MS
Morning
in Southaven on Tuesday
Local time
6:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
W 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
4h 3m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 30.5
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 152.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the route utilizing interstates like I 55 and I 20. You'll encounter long, uninterrupted stretches, including one that spans 195.7 miles on I 55. The character of the drive is consistent for the most part, dominated by fast-paced interstate travel. While MS 43 is part of the route, the vast majority of your time will be spent on the high-speed, multi-lane highways, offering a predictable driving experience.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 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?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near MS 43.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (MS 43): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 219.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
391 ft234 ft
Total Climb
252 ft
Total Descent
298 ft
Highest Point
391 ft
~126.3 mi in
Elevation Range
158 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 Pelahatchie, MS to Southaven, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Grenada along the way.
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 12 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.
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 0.4 miles (MS 43): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 219.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Southaven, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
