Union, MS to Meridian, MS is 80.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway and US 84, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi's Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive across the state. It's a relatively short distance, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, so expect a predictable and efficient transit. Consider this route for a quick hop between these two points, perfect for a business trip or a brief visit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Union, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
50.8 mi
54m
US 84
16.7 mi
19m
MS 532
5.9 mi
10m
I 59
2 mi
2m
8th Street
1.4 mi
2m
US 11
1.2 mi
1m
Sawmill Road
0.8 mi
1m
West 5th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
— 50.8 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on Jones Chapel Road
81 ft·3 sec·Jones Chapel Road
2
Turn right onto MS 532
5.9 mi·10 min·MS 532
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
17 mi·19 min·US 84
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on West 5th Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·West 5th Street
5
Continue on Sawmill Road
0.5 mi·58 sec·Sawmill Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Sawmill Road
163 ft·3 sec·Sawmill Road
7
Continue on Sawmill Road
0.3 mi·31 sec·Sawmill Road
8
Continue on North Magnolia Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Magnolia Street
9
Turn right onto Teresa Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Teresa Street
10
Turn left onto US 11
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cross Street
11
Turn right onto Chantilly Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·Chantilly Street
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
13
Merge onto I 59
51 mi·54 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
2.0 mi·2 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
17
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·8th Street
18
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just under 1 hour and 35 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility for when to depart. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon allows ample time to reach Meridian before evening. The estimated fuel cost is around $12, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave Union, as stops are not indicated on this short route. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads, as this is where you'll need to adjust your speed and awareness. Given the short duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing overnight accommodations.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.3 miles from Union, MS, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.8 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 18 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union, MS
This is one driving day of about 80.6 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Union, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway for about 50.8 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 5.9 and 77.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.9 mi into trip|~10m in|US 84
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
23.4 mi into trip|~31m in|Sawmill Road
Enter roundabout onto Sawmill Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
24.7 mi into trip|~33m in|I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
75.5 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
7
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.17 one way
$24.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.36
$26.72
premium
$4.56
$14.47
$28.93
diesel
$5.61
$17.80
$35.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.05
$3.22
EV Truck/SUV
32.2
0
$11.28
$5.16
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 21, 2026
Origin
Union, MS
Late night
in Union on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
3:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Laurel, MS
40 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
4 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
1h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 32% of this 80.6-mile route is highway driving. You'll experience a longest stretch of 50.8 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a mix of highway cruising and more typical surface road conditions, especially as you approach Meridian. This transition means you'll go from higher-speed travel to navigating local traffic and intersections. The profile indicates a mixed highway and surface road experience, so be prepared for varying speed limits and road types.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.8 mi on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in near US 84.
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 80.6 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 5.9 miles (US 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (Sawmill Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.7 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Union, MS to Meridian, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tuscaloosa along the way.
Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 80.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.8 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles (US 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (Sawmill Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 24.7 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Meridian, MS before heading back.
