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Trip from Nicholson, MS to Southaven, MS

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

6h 31m

Distance

348.4 mi

561 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$53

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 20m ★
6 AM
6h 32m
8 AM
6h 56m
10 AM
6h 41m
12 PM
6h 38m
3 PM
6h 42m
5 PM
6h 55m
8 PM
6h 25m

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

Downtown Nicholson, MS, MS

Nicholson, MS

大 董

Downtown Southaven, MS, MS

Southaven, MS

大 董

Trip Overview

This 348.4-mile journey from Nicholson, MS to Southaven, MS is a straightforward drive, estimated to take about 6 hours and 31 minutes. It's a highway-focused route that can comfortably be completed in a single day, though you might appreciate an early start. With a fuel cost estimated at $53, it's an economical option for covering ground across Mississippi. This trip keeps you within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience. Plan for one primary stop to break up the drive. The overall feel is efficient travel, prioritizing getting you to your destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

174.2 miles from Nicholson, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 100% highway-focused drive for the entirety of this route. The main arteries you'll be using are I-55, US-49, and I-59. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 195.7 miles, primarily on I-55, so be prepared for extended periods of steady driving. This profile suggests a route designed for direct travel rather than scenic detours, emphasizing consistent speed and ease of navigation. You'll likely find yourself on well-maintained interstates for the bulk of the trip.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 195.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near I 59.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 348.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.8 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | I 59

Merge onto I 59

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
67.5 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Take the exit toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
5
149.8 mi into trip | ~2h 54m in | US 49

Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Jackson
5
347.2 mi into trip | ~6h 28m 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
5
348.3 mi into trip | ~6h 31m in | Five Oaks Drive North

Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North

Navigation decision point

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 Nicholson, MS to Southaven, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.

Jackson

149.8 mi in | ~2h 54m | via US 49

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 195.7 mi 3h 31m
US 49 83.7 mi 1h 42m
I 59 66.7 mi 1h 11m
US 11 0.6 mi <1m
Stateline Road West 0.4 mi <1m
Millbranch Road 0.2 mi <1m
Haleville Drive 0.2 mi <1m
Five Oaks Drive North 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 195.7 mi, about 3h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Nicholson, MS and Southaven, MS.

1

Start on Jackson Landing Road

374 ft · 11 sec · Jackson Landing Road
2

Turn right onto US 11

0.6 mi · 53 sec · US 11
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
4

Merge onto I 59

67 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson Use the slight right lane.
6

Continue on US 49

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
7

Continue on US 49; MS 42

5.4 mi · 6 min · US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on US 49

5.3 mi · 6 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on US 49

0.2 mi · 14 sec · US 49
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on US 49

4.2 mi · 4 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on US 49

66 mi · 1 hr 20 min · US 49
Use the straight lane.
12

Take the exit onto US 49

0.2 mi · 21 sec · US 49
13

Keep slight left at fork onto US 49

0.7 mi · 1 min · US 49
Toward Jackson
14

Keep slight right at fork onto US 49

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 49
15

Merge onto I 55

196 mi · 3 hr 31 min · I 55
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake
17

Turn left onto Stateline Road West

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Stateline Road West
18

Turn left onto Millbranch Road

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Millbranch Road
19

Turn right onto Haleville Drive

0.2 mi · 53 sec · Haleville Drive
20

Turn left onto Five Oaks Drive North

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Five Oaks Drive North
21

Arrive at destination

Five Oaks Drive West

Trip Plan

Given the 6-hour 31-minute duration, starting your drive in the early morning is advisable to maximize daylight and arrive at your destination with time to spare. You'll encounter one main stretch of 195.7 miles on I-55, so consider planning your single stop around the midpoint of this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer stretches, as services can sometimes be spaced out on interstate highways. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time, but an early start will make for a more relaxed experience.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.2 miles from Nicholson, MS, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.7 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 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 174.2 miles or 3h 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 24m

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 Nicholson, 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 Nicholson, MS

This is one driving day of about 348.4 miles and 6h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nicholson, 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 195.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 174.2 mi from Nicholson, MS · 3h 21m into the drive

human settlement in Simpson County, Mississippi, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Magee, MS

174 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

Magee, MS

Fuel and coffee

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

Magee, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 174.2 miles from Nicholson, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 195.7 miles.

Arriving in Southaven, MS

The final approach into Southaven, 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 Southaven, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.62 one way

$105.23 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 122 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $57.76 $115.52
premium $4.56 $62.53 $125.07
diesel $5.61 $76.92 $153.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$53

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$78–$103

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 121.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 104.5 1 $36.58 $16.72
Efficient EV 87.1 0 $30.48 $13.94
EV Truck/SUV 139.4 1 $48.78 $22.30

Gas CO2

122 kg

EV CO2

41 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 12 hours ago

Origin

Nicholson, MS

Morning in Nicholson on Wednesday

Local time

6:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Southaven, MS

Morning in Southaven on Wednesday

Local time

6:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°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

10 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 31m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Nicholson, MS to Southaven, MS covers 348.4 miles and takes about 6h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, US 49, I 59. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 174.2 miles from Nicholson, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.62 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 348.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 149.8 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Nicholson, MS to Southaven, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.

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