Origin
Waynesboro, MS
Late night in Waynesboro on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waynesboro, MS to Meridian, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waynesboro, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Meridian, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Waynesboro to Meridian, you are looking at a straightforward 52.2-mile trek through the heart of Southeast Mississippi. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 6 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget approximately $8 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Because the route stays entirely within the state, you won't experience significant regional transitions, ensuring a consistent driving experience. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two points, perfect for travelers prioritizing efficiency over complex sightseeing. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick visit, this route offers a reliable and predictable path.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 43.2 mi | 50m |
| MS 145 | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| Mississippi Drive | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Azalea Drive | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 25th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 43.2 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waynesboro, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on MS 184
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Azalea Drive
2
Turn left onto MS 145
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Mississippi Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 45
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 45
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 45
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 45
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 45
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 45
5.6 mi
·
6 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 45
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 45
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 45
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 45
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 45
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 45
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
US 45
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Toward MS 145: Meridian
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
At end of road, turn left onto MS 145
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
MS 145
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
8th Street
18
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
272 ft
·
11 sec
·
25th Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Waynesboro, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 52.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MS 145 / Mississippi Drive
Turn left onto MS 145 / Mississippi Drive
Navigation decision point
5
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 45
At end of road, turn left onto US 45
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
46.8 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward MS 145: Meridian
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward MS 145: Meridian
6
47.2 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
MS 145
At end of road, turn left onto MS 145
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
25th Avenue
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.88 one way
$15.77 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.65 | $17.31 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.37 | $18.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Meridian, MS
Late night in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Quitman, MS
26 mi in
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 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 6m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 92% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on US 45, which accounts for a 43.2-mile stretch of the journey, providing a steady pace behind the wheel. The road transitions from this primary artery into MS 145 and Mississippi Drive as you approach your final destination. Because it is largely a highway drive, the character is functional rather than technical, favoring consistent speed over winding, scenic detours. You can anticipate a smooth, uninterrupted flow that allows you to cover the distance without the fatigue associated with navigating complex local road networks.
92% 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: 43.2 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and MS 145. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near MS 145 / Mississippi Drive.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 6m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (MS 145 / Mississippi Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (US 45): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Waynesboro, MS
Full guide →Arriving in Meridian, MS
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 52.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.2 miles on US 45. 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 0.3 miles (MS 145 / Mississippi Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles (US 45): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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