Union, MS to Southaven, MS is 259.2 miles and takes about 4h 57m via I 55 and US 49, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region towards the northern part of the state. Since it's a mostly highway drive, expect a straightforward trip with minimal detours. It's a solid choice if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without much fuss. Plan for about 5 hours of driving time, making it easily manageable as a single-day excursion.
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
129.6 miles from Union, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
195.7 mi
3h 31m
US 49
50.8 mi
1h 2m
MS 532
10.2 mi
17m
MS 35
1.2 mi
1m
Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Haleville Drive
0.2 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 114 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 Union, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on Jones Chapel Road
81 ft·10 sec·Jones Chapel Road
2
Turn sharp left onto MS 532
10 mi·17 min·MS 532
3
Turn left onto MS 35
1.2 mi·1 min·MS 35
4
Turn right onto US 49
49 mi·59 min·US 49
5
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
8
Merge onto I 55
196 mi·3 hr 31 min·I 55
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
10
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi·53 sec·Stateline Road West
11
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·Millbranch Road
12
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
13
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi·28 sec·Five Oaks Drive North
14
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 57m duration, leaving Union, MS in the morning allows ample time to reach Southaven, MS before evening. With only one recommended stop and a 100% highway profile, you can easily adjust your schedule on the fly. The primary roads are I 55 and US 49, so keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially on I 55 as it's your longest stretch. Ensure you have enough fuel before departing, as major service areas might be spaced out on the longer highway segments.
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 129.6 miles from Union, MS, or about 2h 35m 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 57 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.6 miles or 2h 35m 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 5m
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 Union, 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 Union, MS
This is one driving day of about 259.2 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Union, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 259 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 532
Turn sharp left onto MS 532
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
60.6 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
4
61.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
257.9 mi into trip|~4h 54m 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
5
259 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.98 one way
$71.96 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$40.26
$80.52
premium
$4.29
$43.77
$87.54
diesel
$4.80
$48.94
$97.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.8
0
$27.22
$12.44
Efficient EV
64.8
0
$22.68
$10.37
EV Truck/SUV
103.7
1
$36.29
$16.59
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Union, MS
Evening
in Union on Monday
Local time
7:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Southaven, MS
Evening
in Southaven on Monday
Local time
7:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
93°F
Madison, MS
130 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
4h 57m 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 62.6
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 196.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 100% highway, meaning you'll be on freeways for the entire 259.2 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 195.7 miles on I 55. You'll experience a consistent cruising pace for the bulk of your travel. Expect numerous exits and potential for merging traffic as you approach more populated areas.
100% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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 early in the drive near MS 532.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 57m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 532): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 60.6 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
423 ft247 ft
Total Climb
385 ft
Total Descent
472 ft
Highest Point
423 ft
~18.5 mi in
Elevation Range
176 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 Union, 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.
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: near the start (MS 532): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 60.6 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Southaven, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
