Origin
Carthage, MS
Late night in Carthage on Thursday
Local time
3:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
76.4 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, MS
Anton Ivanov
Meridian, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS covers 76.4 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, MS 35, 8th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.4 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.2 miles from Carthage, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 76.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 36m highway drive covering 76.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and MS 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 44.4 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 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 44.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and MS 35. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 28.9 miles in near I 20.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS is easy. At 1h 36m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 28.9 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 73.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.7 miles (US 11): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
28.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
73.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m 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...
3
73.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
US 11
Turn left onto US 11
Navigation decision point
4
74.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
4
76.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
25th Avenue
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 44.4 mi | 47m |
| MS 35 | 28.6 mi | 42m |
| 8th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 11 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| 25th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 44.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on MS 35
29 mi
·
42 min
·
MS 35
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
3
Merge onto I 20
44 mi
·
47 min
·
I 20
4
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 11
6
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
7
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft
·
11 sec
·
25th Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
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 38.2 miles from Carthage, MS, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.2 miles or 53m 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 22m
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carthage, MS
This is one driving day of about 76.4 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Carthage, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 44.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38.2 mi from Carthage, MS · 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.2 miles from Carthage, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.67 | $25.33 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.71 | $27.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.87 | $33.74 |
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: 26.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
| Efficient EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.69 | $3.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.70 | $4.89 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Thursday
Local time
3:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Forest, MS
38 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
20 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
1h 36m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS covers 76.4 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, MS 35, 8th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.2 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 $11.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS is easy. At 1h 36m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 28.9 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 73.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.7 miles (US 11): Navigation decision point.
The route from Carthage, MS to Meridian, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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