Origin
Carthage, MS
Evening in Carthage on Sunday
Local time
7:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS
Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
209.2 mi
337 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 49m
★
6 AM
4h 2m
8 AM
4h 28m
10 AM
4h 11m
12 PM
4h 8m
3 PM
4h 12m
5 PM
4h 27m
8 PM
3h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, MS
大 董
Meridian, MS
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
Connecting Carthage to Meridian via a 209.2-mile journey, this route takes you through the heart of Southeast Mississippi. You should expect roughly 4 hours and 1 minute of driving time, making it a manageable day trip that fits easily into a single day of travel. With a fuel budget of approximately $32, the trip remains an affordable way to navigate between these two points. Because you spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, the journey is straightforward and efficient. While you could easily complete this in one go, planning for at least one stop will help you stay refreshed for the duration of the 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
104.6 miles from Carthage, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 94% of your travel takes place on high-speed roads. You will utilize a combination of I-20, I-55, and US-84 to cover the distance, resulting in a consistent and fast-paced environment. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on I-20, where you will spend 86.9 miles focused on steady interstate driving. This is not a route defined by winding local backroads, but rather by the utility of major highway infrastructure. Behind the wheel, you will find the transition between these major arteries to be the primary change in the road's personality throughout the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 86.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 55. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near Carthage Point Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 209.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.2 miles (Carthage Point Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.1 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 119.2 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Carthage Point Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Carthage Point Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
117.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
|
I 55
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
119.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
7
206.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m 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...
4
207.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 59m in
|
8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Hattiesburg along the way.
Hattiesburg
119.2 mi in
|
~2h 22m
|
via I 20; US 49
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 86.9 mi | 1h 33m |
| I 55 | 55.3 mi | 59m |
| US 84 | 53.2 mi | 1h 1m |
| Seargent Prentiss Drive | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| Carthage Point Road | 2.3 mi | 8m |
| 8th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 11 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Highland Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 86.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on this road
45 ft
·
2 sec
·
this road
2
Turn straight onto Carthage Point Road
2.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Carthage Point Road
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Carthage Point Road
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Carthage Point Road
4
Turn straight onto Lower Woodville Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Lower Woodville Road
5
Turn right onto Highland Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Highland Boulevard
6
Turn left onto US 61
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Seargent Prentiss Drive
7
Take the exit onto US 84
53 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
US 84
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
9
Merge onto I 55
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 55
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 55
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
85 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
12
Continue on I 20; I 59; US 80
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20; I 59; US 80
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 11
15
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
16
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft
·
11 sec
·
25th Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a four-hour trek, departing in the morning allows you to arrive in Meridian with plenty of daylight to spare. You have the flexibility to tackle the drive in one push, but incorporating your single planned stop midway will help break up the monotony of the interstate sections. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when transitioning between I-55 and US-84 to ensure you don't run low during the longer highway segments. Because the route relies so heavily on I-20, check for traffic alerts on that specific stretch before you leave Carthage. Enjoy the efficiency of this route, which prioritizes speed and direct access over slower, secondary roads.
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 104.6 miles from Carthage, MS, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.9 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.6 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 19m
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 Carthage, 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 Carthage, MS
This is one driving day of about 209.2 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Carthage, 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 20 for about 86.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.6 mi from Carthage, MS · 2h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.6 miles from Carthage, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.9 miles.
Arriving in Meridian, MS
The final approach into Meridian, MS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Meridian, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.98 one way
$63.96 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $35.08 | $70.16 |
| premium | $4.61 | $37.97 | $75.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.48 | $92.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.97 | $10.04 |
| Efficient EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.7 | 1 | $29.29 | $13.39 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Evening in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
7:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 1m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS covers 209.2 miles and takes about 4h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, I 55, US 84. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.6 miles from Carthage, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 209.2 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (Carthage Point Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 117.1 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 119.2 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Hattiesburg along the way.
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