Southaven, MS to Madison, MS is 184.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 21 minutes via I 55, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, moving you through the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, meaning you'll spend most of your time on the interstate. If you're looking for a simple, efficient journey with minimal fuss, this route is a solid choice for a single-day drive.
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
92.3 miles from Southaven, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
181.5 mi
3h 14m
Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
Stateline Road West
0.3 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Five Oaks Drive West
0.1 mi
<1m
Depot Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 181.5 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southaven, MS and Madison, 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
182 mi·3 hr 14 min·I 55; I 69
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward MS 463: Madison
8
Keep slight left at fork
357 ft·11 sec
9
Turn left onto MS 463
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
10
Turn slight right
168 ft·7 sec
11
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
12
Turn left onto Depot Drive
36 ft·1 sec·Depot Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Depot Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 21 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to allow for flexibility with any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $28, planning your fuel is straightforward. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 181.5-mile stretch on I 55, as service areas might be spaced out during this long segment. This highway-centric route means rest stops will be readily available, so you can easily break up the drive as needed.
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 92.3 miles from Southaven, MS, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.5 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 41 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.3 miles or 1h 41m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, 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 184.5 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 I 55 for about 181.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 183.2 — 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
4
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|Stateline Road West
Turn right onto Stateline Road West
Navigation decision point
4
182.8 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward MS 463: Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 463: Madison
4
183.2 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.86 one way
$55.73 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.59
$61.18
premium
$4.56
$33.12
$66.23
diesel
$5.61
$40.74
$81.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.37
$8.86
Efficient EV
46.1
0
$16.14
$7.38
EV Truck/SUV
73.8
0
$25.83
$11.81
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Southaven, MS
Morning
in Southaven on Tuesday
Local time
9:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison, MS
Morning
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
9:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Grenada, MS
92 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
1 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
3h 21m 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.
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
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 63.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a primarily highway-focused experience, with 98% of the drive utilizing major roadways like I 55. This means you'll encounter relatively high speeds and consistent conditions for most of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch on this route is a significant 181.5 miles along I 55, so be prepared for extended periods of highway driving. While the majority is interstate, you'll briefly use local roads like Main Street and Stateline Road West at the beginning and end of your trip.
98% 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: 181.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Haleville Drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 21m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Haleville Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Millbranch Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles (Stateline Road West): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 184.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 181.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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 0.1 miles (Haleville Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Millbranch Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.6 miles (Stateline Road West): Navigation decision point.
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 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Madison, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
