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Create accountDrive Time
3h 24m
Distance
169.9 mi
273 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meridian, MS
RDNE Stock project
Bay Saint Louis, MS
Marie-Claude Vergne
The drive from Meridian, MS to Bay Saint Louis, MS covers 169.9 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, MS 603, South Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.1 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.97 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
85 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
This is a 3h 24m highway drive covering 169.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and MS 603. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.1 miles on I 59.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and MS 603. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (MS 19 / Airport Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto MS 19 / Airport Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Meridian, MS to Bay Saint Louis, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Necaise along the way.
Necaise
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 121.1 mi | 2h 10m |
| MS 603 | 25 mi | 37m |
| South Main Street | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| US 90 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| I 20 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| 8th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Airport Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Bay Saint Louis, MS.
Start on 25th Avenue
Turn left onto 8th Street
Turn left onto MS 19
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
Take the exit
Turn left onto MS 53
Continue on MS 603
Turn left onto US 90
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85 miles or 1h 33m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Saint Louis, MS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS
This is one driving day of about 169.9 miles and 3h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85 mi from Meridian, MS · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 85 miles from Meridian, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 121.1 miles.
The final approach into Bay Saint Louis, 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 Bay Saint Louis, MS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.97 one way
$51.95 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $28.49 | $56.98 |
| premium | $4.61 | $30.84 | $61.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.75 | $75.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51 | 0 | $17.84 | $8.16 |
| Efficient EV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.87 | $6.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68 | 0 | $23.79 | $10.87 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Meridian on Monday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Bay Saint Louis on Monday
Local time
4:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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