Traveling from Southaven to Caledonia covers 153 miles across northern Mississippi, typically requiring about 3 hours and 11 minutes of driving time. Because this is a relatively straightforward journey, it is easily managed as a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize US 78 and US 45 to navigate between these two points, starting your journey via Goodman Road West. Budgeting roughly $23 for fuel should be sufficient for this one-way trip. Whether you are traveling for business or visiting family, the route is efficient and keeps you within the Southeast region for the entire duration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.5 miles from Southaven, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 78
83.4 mi
1h 29m
US 45
48.5 mi
59m
Goodman Road West
8.3 mi
12m
Caledonia Road
4.5 mi
10m
Hamilton Road
2.5 mi
6m
I 55
1.2 mi
1m
Lawrence Bridge Road
1.2 mi
2m
Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 78
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southaven, MS and Caledonia, MS.
1
Start on Five Oaks Drive West
0.1 mi·30 sec·Five Oaks Drive West
2
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Millbranch Road
4
Turn right onto Stateline Road West
0.3 mi·29 sec·Stateline Road West
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
6
Merge onto I 55; I 69
1.2 mi·1 min·I 55; I 69
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
8
At end of road, turn left onto MS 302
8.3 mi·12 min·Goodman Road West
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
10
Merge onto US 78
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 45:south: Tupelo
12
Merge onto US 45
13 mi·15 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 45; US 278
24 mi·28 min·US 45; US 278
Toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
14
Continue on US 45; MS 8
5.6 mi·7 min·US 45; MS 8
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi·52 sec·US 45
16
Continue on US 45
2.2 mi·2 min·US 45
17
Continue on US 45
2.6 mi·3 min·US 45
18
Continue on US 45
0.4 mi·37 sec·US 45
19
Turn left onto Hamilton Road
2.5 mi·6 min·Hamilton Road
20
Turn right onto Caledonia Road
4.5 mi·10 min·Caledonia Road
21
Continue on Lawrence Bridge Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Lawrence Bridge Road
22
Turn left onto Main Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Since the drive is just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule to avoid peak local traffic. I recommend planning for one strategic stop to stretch your legs and refuel, as this breaks up the monotony of the highway stretches. Keep in mind that while $23 is a solid fuel estimate, traffic conditions on US 78 can occasionally impact your total travel time. Since the majority of your miles are on high-speed roads, ensure your vehicle is prepared for consistent highway cruising before you head out. Use the Goodman Road West exit early in your trip to get positioned on the main highway quickly, allowing for a smooth start to your 153-mile journey.
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 76.5 miles from Southaven, MS, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.5 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Caledonia, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southaven, 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 Southaven, MS
This is one driving day of about 153 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Southaven, 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 US 78 for about 83.4 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 11.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Haleville Drive
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Millbranch Road
At end of road, turn left onto Millbranch Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|MS 302 / Goodman Road West
At end of road, turn left onto MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
11.5 mi into trip|~19m in|US 78
Merge onto US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.11 one way
$46.21 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.37
$50.73
premium
$4.56
$27.46
$54.92
diesel
$5.61
$33.78
$67.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.9
0
$16.06
$7.34
Efficient EV
38.3
0
$13.39
$6.12
EV Truck/SUV
61.2
0
$21.42
$9.79
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Southaven, MS
Morning
in Southaven on Tuesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Caledonia, MS
Morning
in Caledonia on Tuesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
New Albany, MS
77 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
20 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
3h 11m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 94.9
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 100.2
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 87% of your time spent on major routes. You will find yourself settling into a rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which covers 83.4 miles on US 78. While the pace is generally fast and consistent, expect the character of the road to shift as you transition from the initial stretches to the US 45 corridor. You won't face many technical challenges, as the route is designed for steady progress rather than winding backroads. It is a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.4 mi on US 78.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 78 and US 45. 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 Haleville Drive.
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 153 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 (Haleville Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Millbranch Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
519 ft219 ft
Total Climb
613 ft
Total Descent
588 ft
Highest Point
519 ft
~38.2 mi in
Elevation Range
300 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 153 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.4 miles on US 78. 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.
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 0.1 miles (Haleville Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Millbranch Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Caledonia, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
