If you are planning a trip from Ripley to Southaven, you are looking at a manageable 75.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes to complete. This drive stays entirely within Mississippi, moving you across the Southeast region. Given the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel for the trip, making it an affordable option for your travel plans. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to drive straight through or build in your own breaks as needed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.7 miles from Ripley, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
45.5 mi
48m
Mississippi Highway 2
9.6 mi
16m
Goodman Road
8.3 mi
12m
City Avenue South
6 mi
9m
I 55
1.4 mi
1m
MS 178
0.9 mi
1m
West Palmer Street
0.6 mi
1m
South Main Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 45.5 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ripley, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on West Walnut Street
457 ft·22 sec·West Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Turn right onto MS 15
6.0 mi·9 min·City Avenue South
4
Turn right onto MS 2
0.6 mi·1 min·West Palmer Street
5
Continue on MS 2
8.7 mi·15 min·Mississippi Highway 2
6
Continue on MS 2
0.9 mi·1 min·Mississippi Highway 2
7
At end of road, turn left onto MS 5
0.3 mi·36 sec·MS 5
8
Turn right onto MS 178
0.9 mi·1 min·MS 178
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I-22 West, US 78 West: Memphis
10
Merge onto I 22; US 78
45 mi·48 min·I 22; US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward MS 302: Olive Branch Southaven
12
Keep slight left at fork
195 ft·10 sec
13
Turn left onto MS 302
8.3 mi·12 min·Goodman Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Memphis
15
Merge onto I 55; I 69
1.4 mi·1 min·I 55; I 69
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
Because this route is under two hours, you have the advantage of total scheduling flexibility. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours if you want to ensure the smoothest transition onto Goodman Road, as local road congestion can impact your arrival time. Since the drive is short, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest stops, but carrying a light snack is always a smart move. Make sure your fuel tank is ready for the $12 estimated cost before you leave Ripley to avoid unnecessary stops along the way. Your best strategy is to treat this as a simple point-to-point commute, allowing you to focus on your schedule in Southaven rather than the logistics of the road.
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 37.7 miles from Ripley, MS, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.5 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 17 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.7 miles or 52m 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 20m
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 Ripley, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ripley, MS
This is one driving day of about 75.3 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Ripley, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 45.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.4 and 75.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.4 mi into trip|~31m 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
64 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|MS 302 / Goodman Road
Turn left onto MS 302 / Goodman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 35m 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
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.37 one way
$22.74 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.48
$24.97
premium
$4.56
$13.52
$27.03
diesel
$5.61
$16.63
$33.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.6
0
$7.91
$3.61
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.59
$3.01
EV Truck/SUV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Ripley, MS
Night
in Ripley on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 10 to 15 mph92% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Southaven, MS
Night
in Southaven on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNW 15 mph93% 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
3 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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 5.2
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 77% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of I-22, Mississippi Highway 2, and Goodman Road to reach your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 45.5-mile stretch along I-22, which offers a steady, uninterrupted pace. As you transition from the initial highway segments onto Goodman Road, the driving environment shifts from high-speed interstate travel to a more localized feel. Expect a straightforward experience that keeps you moving efficiently throughout the entire 75.3-mile distance.
77% 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: 45.5 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and Mississippi Highway 2. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.4 miles in near I 22; US 78.
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 75.3 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 18.4 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 64.1 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 75.3 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 (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.5 miles on I 22. 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: at 18.4 miles (I 22; US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 64.1 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. 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.
