Connecting Petal to Meridian, this 85.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek through Southeast Mississippi that takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily handle this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, Highway 11, and I-59 to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. It is a practical route for those traveling within the state, offering a consistent connection between these two communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Petal, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
67.2 mi
1h 12m
Highway 11
11.9 mi
16m
I 59
2 mi
2m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
East Central Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Moselle-Seminary Road
0.4 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
— 67.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petal, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on Morris Street
111 ft·9 sec·Morris Street
2
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·East Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 11
12 mi·16 min·Highway 11
4
Turn slight left onto Moselle-Seminary Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·Moselle-Seminary Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward North I 59, Laurel
6
Merge onto I 59
67 mi·1 hr 12 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
2.0 mi·2 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
10
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
11
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive of under two hours, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. There are no planned stops on this route, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Petal to avoid mid-trip delays. With a $13 fuel estimate, the cost is predictable, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert during the local segments of the drive rather than expecting a monotonous interstate cruise. Use the 67.2-mile stretch on the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway as your primary opportunity to settle into a consistent pace before the final leg of your journey.
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 42.8 miles from Petal, MS, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.2 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 51m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Petal, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Petal, MS
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Petal, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway for about 67.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 82.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Central Avenue
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
13 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the ramp toward North I 59, Laurel
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward North I 59, Laurel
5
13.2 mi into trip|~19m in|I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
7
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.91 one way
$25.83 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.17
$28.35
premium
$4.56
$15.35
$30.69
diesel
$5.61
$18.88
$37.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Petal, MS
Late night
in Petal on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Laurel, MS
43 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
4 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
1h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Only 18% of your travel occurs on major highways, meaning you will spend most of your time navigating local stretches. Your longest uninterrupted segment is a 67.2-mile stretch along the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, which provides the bulk of your driving time. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than continuous interstate cruising, the character of the drive is more technical than a standard highway commute. You will find that the road transitions from local thoroughfares to a short interstate stint, requiring steady attention throughout the 85.5-mile distance.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.2 mi on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.5 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Petal, MS and Meridian, MS, road signs point toward Laurel and Tuscaloosa.
Laurel
13 mi in|~19m
Tuscaloosa
80.4 mi in|~1h 32m|via I 59
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.2 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meridian, MS before heading back.
