Trip from Meridian, MS to Vardaman, MS

Drive Time

2h 56m

Distance

140 mi

225 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 46m ★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Meridian, MS, MS

Meridian, MS

RDNE Stock project

Downtown Vardaman, MS, MS

Vardaman, MS

cottonbro studio

Trip Overview

The drive from Meridian, MS to Vardaman, MS covers 140 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 45, US Highway 45 Alternate, MS 8 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.3 miles on US 45. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.40 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

70 miles from Meridian, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 56m highway drive covering 140 miles, with most of the trip on US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.3 miles on US 45.

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.
US 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th Street.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Meridian, MS to Vardaman, MS is easy. At 2h 56m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (23rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | 8th Street

Turn right onto 8th Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | 23rd Avenue

Turn right onto 23rd Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | Front Street

At end of road, turn left onto Front Street

Navigation decision point

8
68 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate

Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupel...
5
110.8 mi into trip | ~2h 12m in

Take the exit toward MS 8: Houston, Aberdeen

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MS 8: Houston, Aberdeen

Towns Along This Route

Between Meridian, MS and Vardaman, MS, road signs point toward Tupelo and Aberdeen.

Tupelo

68 mi in | ~1h 20m | via US 45 ALT

Aberdeen

110.8 mi in | ~2h 12m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 45 61.3 mi 1h 10m
US Highway 45 Alternate 42.8 mi 52m
MS 8 28.9 mi 42m
Old Highway 45 North 4.4 mi 6m
Front Street 0.7 mi 1m
Dale Drive 0.6 mi <1m
2nd Street 0.5 mi <1m
23rd Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 45 — 61.3 mi, about 1h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Vardaman, MS.

1

Start on 25th Avenue

272 ft · 14 sec · 25th Avenue
2

Turn right onto 8th Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · 8th Street
3

Turn right onto 23rd Avenue

0.2 mi · 27 sec · 23rd Avenue
4

At the end of the road, turn left onto Front Street

394 ft · 9 sec · Front Street
5

Continue on 2nd Street

0.5 mi · 46 sec · 2nd Street
6

Continue on 4th Street

0.1 mi · 9 sec · 4th Street
7

Continue on Front Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Front Street
8

Continue on Dale Drive

0.6 mi · 53 sec · Dale Drive
9

Continue on Old Highway 45 North

4.4 mi · 6 min · Old Highway 45 North
10

Continue straight

61 mi · 1 hr 10 min
11

Keep slight left to continue on US Highway 45 Alternate

43 mi · 52 min · US Highway 45 Alternate
12

Take the exit slight right toward MS 8: Houston, Aberdeen

0.4 mi · 1 min · MS 8: Houston, Aberdeen
13

Turn left

29 mi · 42 min
14

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.3 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 70 miles or 1h 23m 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vardaman, 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.

+

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 140 miles and 2h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Meridian, 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 US 45 for about 61.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 70 mi from Meridian, MS · 1h 23m into the drive

Downtown Butler, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Butler, AL

70 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

Butler, AL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Butler, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70 miles from Meridian, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.3 miles.

Arriving in Vardaman, MS

The final approach into Vardaman, 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 Vardaman, MS.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Tupelo National Battlefield

Tupelo National Battlefield

National Battlefield

In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...

29 mi from route ~72 min detour Free near mile 115.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.40 one way

$42.80 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $23.47 $46.95
premium $4.61 $25.41 $50.82
diesel $5.64 $31.10 $62.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42 0 $14.70 $6.72
Efficient EV 35 0 $12.25 $5.60
EV Truck/SUV 56 0 $19.60 $8.96

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Meridian, MS

Late night in Meridian on Monday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Vardaman, MS

Late night in Vardaman on Monday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Butler, AL

70 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 56m 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 Vardaman, MS covers 140 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 45, US Highway 45 Alternate, MS 8. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70 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 $21.40 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Meridian, MS to Vardaman, MS is easy. At 2h 56m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (23rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point.
Between Meridian, MS and Vardaman, MS, road signs point toward Tupelo and Aberdeen.

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