Origin
Meridian, MS
Night in Meridian on Wednesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meridian, MS to Carthage, MS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
76.1 mi
123 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
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.
Meridian, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Carthage, MS
Anton Ivanov
Trip Overview
This 76.1-mile drive from Meridian, MS, to Carthage, MS, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 35 minutes. With 96% of the route on highways, it's a very efficient trip, making it ideal as a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stop. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, which is quite budget-friendly for this distance. This highway-focused drive will take you through the Southeast region of Mississippi, offering a practical and uncomplicated way to get from point A to point B. It's the kind of trip where you can focus on the destination rather than the journey itself.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with a significant 96% share of the drive on main roads like I-20 and State Highway 35. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.4 miles on I-20, providing a period of consistent cruising. This highway-focused profile means you'll likely experience a fairly direct and efficient drive, with minimal time spent on slower, more winding local roads. The character of the drive is geared towards covering distance effectively, rather than exploring intricate local byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 North State Highway 35. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 20; US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
8th Street
Turn left onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 20; US 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 80 toward I 20 West: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Jackson
5
47.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
7
47.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Meridian, MS to Carthage, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Forest along the way.
Forest
47.4 mi in
|
~52m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 44.4 mi | 47m |
| North State Highway 35 | 25.4 mi | 37m |
| Highway 35 South | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 8th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Airport Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Frontage Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 25th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| MS 35 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 44.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Carthage, MS.
1
Start on 25th Avenue
272 ft
·
17 sec
·
25th Avenue
2
Turn left onto 8th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
3
Turn left onto MS 19
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Boulevard
4
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
North Frontage Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 80
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20; I 59; US 80
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 80
43 mi
·
45 min
·
I 20; US 80
Toward I 20 West: Jackson
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
9
Keep slight right at fork
360 ft
·
8 sec
Toward MS 35: Raleigh, Forest
10
Turn straight onto MS 35
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 35 South
11
Continue on MS 35
25 mi
·
37 min
·
North State Highway 35
12
Arrive at destination
MS 35
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 35 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can leave Meridian whenever is most convenient, as it's easily manageable within a single day. With no designated stops in the data, you're free to choose your own break points, perhaps a quick stop for fuel or a snack as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 44.4-mile stretch on I-20, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. The modest fuel cost of $11 also means you won't need to worry excessively about frequent refueling.
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 38.1 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 42m 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 42m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meridian, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Meridian, MS
This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Meridian, 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 38.1 mi from Meridian, MS · 42m 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 38.1 miles from Meridian, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carthage, MS
The final approach into Carthage, 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
$11.49 one way
$22.99 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $12.62 | $25.23 |
| premium | $4.56 | $13.66 | $27.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.80 | $33.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 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 | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.65 | $4.87 |
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
Carthage, MS
Night in Carthage on Wednesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°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 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 35m 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 Meridian, MS to Carthage, MS covers 76.1 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, North State Highway 35, Highway 35 South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38.1 miles from Meridian, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.49 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 20; US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Meridian, MS to Carthage, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Forest along the way.
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