Traveling from Shaw to Meridian covers 193.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 25 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate shot, it is best approached as a manageable one-day trip. Budget approximately $30 for fuel to cover the distance across the Southeast. Navigating this route involves a mix of local roads like East Peeler Avenue and North Martin Luther King Drive before transitioning onto US 49 South. Since the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a straightforward journey that gets you from the Mississippi Delta region to the eastern part of the state without excessive fatigue.
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
100.6 miles from Shaw, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
88 mi
1h 35m
North Martin Luther King Drive
46.2 mi
55m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
MS 448
13.5 mi
23m
US 49
8.7 mi
10m
East Peeler Avenue
1.7 mi
2m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 88 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shaw, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on White Oak Street
386 ft·18 sec·White Oak Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto MS 448
1.7 mi·2 min·East Peeler Avenue
3
Turn right onto MS 448
13 mi·23 min·MS 448
4
Turn left onto US 82
0.7 mi·1 min·US 82
5
Turn right onto US 49W
46 mi·55 min·North Martin Luther King Drive
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
7
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
8
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
10
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
85 mi·1 hr 32 min·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
12
Continue on I 20; I 59; US 80
1.4 mi·1 min·I 20; I 59; US 80
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
15
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
16
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 25-minute duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day with time to spare. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, which will help keep you alert while navigating the more technical, turn-heavy sections of the route. Since you are relying on local roads, check your GPS frequently to ensure you stay on the correct path when transitioning between East Peeler Avenue and US 49 South. If you want to avoid the heaviest local traffic, aim to depart mid-morning after the initial rush. Staying hydrated and keeping your navigation tools updated will make the 193.5-mile journey much smoother.
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 100.6 miles from Shaw, MS, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88 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 44 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.6 miles or 2h 11m 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 22m
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 Shaw, 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 Shaw, MS
This is one driving day of about 201.2 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Shaw, 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 20 for about 88 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 198.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 448 / East Peeler Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto MS 448 / East Peeler Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip|~3m in|MS 448
Turn right onto MS 448
Navigation decision point
5
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|US 49W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W toward US 49 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
6
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
7
198.1 mi into trip|~3h 58m 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
$30.39 one way
$60.77 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.36
$66.71
premium
$4.56
$36.11
$72.23
diesel
$5.61
$44.42
$88.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.13
$9.66
Efficient EV
50.3
0
$17.60
$8.05
EV Truck/SUV
80.5
1
$28.17
$12.88
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 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 20, 2026
Origin
Shaw, MS
Morning
in Shaw on Tuesday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Morning
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
8:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live 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 warmer 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 104.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route is defined by its turn-heavy local character. You will spend your time navigating through community-focused roads rather than monotonous highway miles, as the highway share for this trip sits at zero percent. The path requires your full attention as you transition between local streets and US 49 South. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, the driving rhythm is more constant and engaging than a high-speed motorway sprint. You should be prepared for frequent adjustments and a pace dictated by local road design rather than open-road cruising.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MS 448 / East Peeler Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 201.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (MS 448 / East Peeler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (MS 448): Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Shaw, MS to Meridian, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Hattiesburg along the way.
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 4h 3m. Total distance: 201.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88 miles on I 20. 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.
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 Meridian, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MS 448 / East Peeler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (MS 448): Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home 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 Meridian, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
