This 302.1-mile journey from Southaven, Mississippi, to Morgantown, Mississippi, will take you approximately 5 hours and 37 minutes of driving time. Designed as a highway-focused trip, nearly all of your 98% highway travel will occur on major routes like I-55, US-61, and I-20. With a fuel cost estimated around $46, this route is well-suited for a single day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, keeping your travel experience consistent geographically. The drive offers a straightforward way to cover ground efficiently within Mississippi.
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
151.1 miles from Southaven, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
185.9 mi
3h 19m
US 61
66 mi
1h 14m
I 20
32.8 mi
35m
Natchez Trace Parkway
6.4 mi
9m
I 220
5.9 mi
6m
Medgar Evers Boulevard
2 mi
2m
Morgantown Road
0.6 mi
1m
Stateline Road West
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 185.9 mi, about 3h 19m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,069 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,314
Quietest
2 AM
~101 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southaven, MS and Morgantown, 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
186 mi·3 hr 19 min·I 55; I 69
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 220 South: West Jackson
8
Continue on I 220
5.9 mi·6 min·I 220
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
10
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·8 sec
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
11
Merge onto US 49
2.0 mi·2 min·Medgar Evers Boulevard
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward NTP
13
Turn right onto Natchez Trace Parkway
6.4 mi·9 min·Natchez Trace Parkway
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward 20
15
Merge onto I 20; US 80
29 mi·31 min·I 20; US 80
16
Merge onto I 20; US 61; US 80
3.8 mi·4 min·I 20; US 61; US 80
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61
66 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 61
Toward US 61 South: NatchezUse the slight left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right
0.2 mi·36 sec
19
At end of road, turn right onto Morgantown Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Morgantown Road
20
Arrive at destination
Morgantown Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 37-minute duration, starting your drive from Southaven in the morning will allow you to arrive in Morgantown with ample time to spare. The single recommended stop suggests you can plan for one break to refuel or stretch your legs during the longest stretch of 185.9 miles on I-55. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that extended highway segment, as service areas may be spaced out. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, budgeting for this expense is straightforward for this one-day excursion.
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 151.1 miles from Southaven, MS, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 185.9 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 66 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.1 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morgantown, 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 302.1 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 185.9 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 0.1 and 235.4 — 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
193.7 mi into trip|~3h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
5
202.4 mi into trip|~3h 44m in
Take the ramp toward 20
Navigation decision point
Toward 20
7
235.4 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|US 61
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61 toward US 61 South: Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward US 61 South: Natchez
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.94 one way
$83.87 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$46.92
$93.84
premium
$4.29
$51.01
$102.02
diesel
$4.80
$57.04
$114.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.6
1
$31.72
$14.50
Efficient EV
75.5
0
$26.43
$12.08
EV Truck/SUV
120.8
1
$42.29
$19.33
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Sunday
Local time
2:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Morgantown, MS
Late night
in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
2:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
W 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
93°F
Clinton, MS
151 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
2 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
5h 37m 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.
Natchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Discover the history of all the peoples of Natchez, Mississippi, from European settlement, African enslavement, the American cotton economy, to the Civil Rights struggle on the lower Mississippi River...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 302.1
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 197.9
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 62.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this 302.1-mile drive, with 98% of it spent on major interstates and highways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 185.9 miles on I-55, meaning long periods of consistent driving. While the route primarily utilizes high-speed roads like I-55, US-61, and I-20, the character remains consistent for the majority of the trip. This highway-centric profile suggests a focus on efficient travel rather than varied scenery or challenging road conditions.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 185.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 61. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Haleville Drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 302.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 193.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
416 ft103 ft
Total Climb
487 ft
Total Descent
608 ft
Highest Point
416 ft
~107.9 mi in
Elevation Range
312 ft
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 Southaven, MS to Morgantown, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Ntp along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 37m. Total distance: 302.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 185.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 Morgantown, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 193.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Natchez National Historical Park, 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Morgantown, MS before the return drive.
