This 169.5-mile journey from Southaven, MS, to Starkville, MS, is an achievable day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-55 and US-82, this highway-focused drive will likely cost around $26 in fuel. Given its relatively short duration and straightforward path within the Southeast region, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day without the need for an overnight stop. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these Mississippi locations.
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
84.8 miles from Southaven, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
105.4 mi
1h 52m
US 82
58.6 mi
1h 9m
North Jackson Street
2.9 mi
5m
MS 12
0.3 mi
<1m
Stateline Road West
0.3 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
Victory Lane
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 105.4 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southaven, MS and Starkville, 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
105 mi·1 hr 52 min·I 55; I 69
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
8
Keep slight left at fork
321 ft·8 sec
9
Merge onto US 82
59 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 82
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward MS 389: Downtown Starkville
11
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft·5 sec
12
Turn straight onto MS 389
2.9 mi·5 min·North Jackson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto MS 12
0.3 mi·36 sec·MS 12
14
Turn slight left
78 ft·5 sec
15
Turn left onto Eckford Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Eckford Drive
16
Continue on Victory Lane
0.2 mi·38 sec·Victory Lane
17
Turn right
214 ft·17 sec
18
Turn right
290 ft·21 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour-plus drive, consider leaving in the morning to give yourself plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can be flexible with timing, but it's wise to fuel up before departing Southaven. The longest stretch on I-55 means you'll want to ensure you're comfortable and have any necessities within reach. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 105-mile mark on I-55, as that's the longest segment before potential services.
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 84.8 miles from Southaven, MS, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.4 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 37 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.8 miles or 1h 32m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Starkville, 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 169.5 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 105.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 165.5 — 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
4
0.6 mi into trip|~2m in|Stateline Road West
Turn right onto Stateline Road West
Navigation decision point
5
106.9 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
165.5 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward MS 389: Downtown Starkville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 389: Downtown Starkville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.60 one way
$51.20 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.10
$56.20
premium
$4.56
$30.42
$60.85
diesel
$5.61
$37.42
$74.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.9
0
$17.80
$8.14
Efficient EV
42.4
0
$14.83
$6.78
EV Truck/SUV
67.8
0
$23.73
$10.85
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Late night
in Southaven on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Starkville, MS
Late night
in Starkville on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Winona, MS
85 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
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
3h 15m 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.
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 64.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is 97% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for most of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 105.4 miles on I-55, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent travel. While the majority is interstate, the transition to US-82 and then North Jackson Street in Starkville will introduce slightly different road characteristics as you approach your destination. This is a route designed for making miles efficiently rather than for winding scenic exploration.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 82. You will hit about 14 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 169.5 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.6 miles (Stateline Road West): Navigation decision point.
Starkville is a city in East Mississippi. Mississippi State University is located just to the east of the city limits, and is included in this article.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 169.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.4 miles on I 55. 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 0.6 miles (Stateline Road West): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Starkville, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
