Origin
Carthage, MS
Afternoon in Carthage on Saturday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carthage, MS to Southaven, MS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 19m
Distance
164.7 mi
265 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 8m
★
6 AM
3h 20m
8 AM
3h 44m
10 AM
3h 28m
12 PM
3h 26m
3 PM
3h 29m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, MS
Anton Ivanov
Southaven, MS
大 董
Trip Overview
The drive from Carthage, MS to Southaven, MS covers 164.7 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, MS 35, North Jackson Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115.8 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.87 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.3 miles from Carthage, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 115.8 mi | 2h 4m |
| MS 35 | 44.1 mi | 1h 5m |
| North Jackson Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| MS 731 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Stateline Road West | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Millbranch Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Haleville Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Jefferson Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 115.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carthage, MS and Southaven, MS.
1
Start on MS 35
22 mi
·
32 min
·
MS 35
2
Turn left onto MS 731
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
MS 731
3
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Jefferson Street
4
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Jackson Street
5
Continue on MS 35
22 mi
·
33 min
·
MS 35
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
7
Merge onto I 55
116 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
·
I 55
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
9
Turn left onto Stateline Road West
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Stateline Road West
10
Turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Millbranch Road
11
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Haleville Drive
12
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Five Oaks Drive North
13
Arrive at destination
Five Oaks Drive West
Trip Plan
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 82.3 miles from Carthage, MS, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.8 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 36 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 45m
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 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 164.7 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 55 for about 115.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82.3 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 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115.8 miles.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 21.6 and 164.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
21.6 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
MS 731
Turn left onto MS 731
Navigation decision point
4
23 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
East Jefferson Street
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
163.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m 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
4
164.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m in
|
Haleville Drive
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
Navigation decision point
5
164.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
|
Five Oaks Drive North
Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.87 one way
$49.75 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $27.31 | $54.61 |
| premium | $4.56 | $29.56 | $59.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.36 | $72.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.4 | 0 | $17.29 | $7.91 |
| Efficient EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.41 | $6.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.06 | $10.54 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Southaven, MS
Afternoon in Southaven on Saturday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
2 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
3h 19m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 96.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
164.7 mi in 3h 19m, mostly highway — 115.8 mi of that is on I 55.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.8 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 35. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 21.6 miles in near MS 731.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Carthage, MS to Southaven, MS is easy. At 3h 19m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.6 miles (MS 731): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 163.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 164.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.8 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 21.6 miles (MS 731): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 163.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Southaven, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Southaven, MS
More trips to Southaven, MS
Explore more options from Carthage, MS or browse trips ending in Southaven, MS.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MS road trips.