Origin
Meridian, MS
Morning in Meridian on Thursday
Local time
6:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Meridian, MS to Forest, MS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
57m
Distance
49.9 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Meridian, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Forest, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Meridian, MS to Forest, MS covers 49.9 miles and takes about 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, Highway 35 South, 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 $7.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 49.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 57m highway drive covering 49.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and Highway 35 South. 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 14 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 Highway 35 South. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 20; US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
5
49.8 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
North Banks Street
Turn left onto North Banks Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 44.4 mi | 47m |
| Highway 35 South | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 8th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Airport Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Frontage Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 25th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Banks Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 44.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Forest, 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
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 35 South
11
Turn slight right
328 ft
·
12 sec
12
Turn slight right onto US 80
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
West 3rd Street
13
Turn left onto North Banks Street
187 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Banks Street
14
Arrive at destination
North Banks Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.9 mi from Meridian, MS · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.9 miles from Meridian, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forest, MS
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Forest, MS if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.54 one way
$15.07 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.96 | $17.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.02 | $22.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15 | 0 | $5.24 | $2.40 |
| Efficient EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.37 | $2.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20 | 0 | $6.99 | $3.19 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Forest, MS
Morning in Forest on Thursday
Local time
6:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Newton, MS
25 mi in
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
26 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
57m 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 Forest, MS covers 49.9 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, Highway 35 South, 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 24.9 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 $7.54 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 2.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles (I 20; US 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Meridian, MS to Forest, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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