This 275-mile journey from Sumrall, Mississippi, to Southaven, Mississippi, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 15 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-55 and US 49, this route offers a highway-focused experience, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $42, it's an economical option for traversing the Southeast region. You'll find the drive is mostly on high-speed roads, allowing you to cover a significant distance efficiently. Plan for one main stop along the way to break up the 5-hour drive.
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
137.5 miles from Sumrall, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
195.7 mi
3h 31m
US 49
66.5 mi
1h 21m
Main Street
11.2 mi
16m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
<1m
MS 42
0.1 mi
<1m
Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 195.7 mi, about 3h 31m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 57 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,443 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~141 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
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 Sumrall, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on Jackson Street
407 ft·18 sec·Jackson Street
2
Continue on Pennsylvania Avenue
365 ft·18 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
3
Turn right onto Poplar Street
263 ft·16 sec·Poplar Street
4
Turn left onto MS 42
0.1 mi·17 sec·MS 42
5
Turn right onto MS 589
11 mi·16 min·Main Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 49
65 mi·1 hr 19 min·US 49
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
10
Merge onto I 55
196 mi·3 hr 31 min·I 55
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
12
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
13
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
14
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
15
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
16
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 15-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning from Sumrall will allow you to reach Southaven with plenty of daylight. The $42 fuel cost is quite manageable, so ensure your tank is full before departing to maximize your time on the road. With 95% of the drive being on highways, you'll want to plan your one stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye out for the transition onto US 49 from I-55 as this might be your primary road for a significant portion of the trip.
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 137.5 miles from Sumrall, MS, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.7 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 61 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.5 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Southaven, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sumrall, 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 Sumrall, MS
This is one driving day of about 275 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Sumrall, 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 195.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 273.8 — 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|Poplar Street
Turn right onto Poplar Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 42
Turn left onto MS 42
Navigation decision point
6
11.5 mi into trip|~17m in|US 49
At end of road, turn left onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
273.8 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.18 one way
$76.35 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$42.71
$85.42
premium
$4.29
$46.44
$92.87
diesel
$4.80
$51.93
$103.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.5
1
$28.88
$13.20
Efficient EV
68.8
0
$24.06
$11.00
EV Truck/SUV
110
1
$38.50
$17.60
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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 18, 2026
Origin
Sumrall, MS
Late night
in Sumrall on Sunday
Local time
2:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Southaven, MS
Late night
in Southaven on Sunday
Local time
2:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 15m 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 85.3
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 208.6
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 95% highway, meaning you'll be spending most of your time on high-speed, limited-access roads like I-55 and US 49. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is a substantial 195.7 miles on I-55, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a route where efficiency is key, with opportunities for steady progress. While primarily highway, the initial and final segments may involve navigating local roads like Main Street, offering a brief transition.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 195.7 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Poplar Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 15m drive. You will face about 12 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 (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MS 42): Navigation decision point; at 11.5 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
498 ft228 ft
Total Climb
504 ft
Total Descent
488 ft
Highest Point
498 ft
~39.3 mi in
Elevation Range
270 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 Sumrall, MS to Southaven, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
The longest stretch is about 195.7 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MS 42): Navigation decision point; at 11.5 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Southaven, MS before the return drive.
