Origin
Petal, MS
Night in Petal on Sunday
Local time
10:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Petal, MS to Meridian, MS
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
85.5 mi
138 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Petal, MS
Boris Hamer
Meridian, MS
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
Connecting Petal to Meridian, this 85.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek through Southeast Mississippi that takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily handle this as a one-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, Highway 11, and I-59 to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. It is a practical route for those traveling within the state, offering a consistent connection between these two communities.
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
42.8 miles from Petal, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Only 18% of your travel occurs on major highways, meaning you will spend most of your time navigating local stretches. Your longest uninterrupted segment is a 67.2-mile stretch along the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, which provides the bulk of your driving time. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than continuous interstate cruising, the character of the drive is more technical than a standard highway commute. You will find that the road transitions from local thoroughfares to a short interstate stint, requiring steady attention throughout the 85.5-mile distance.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 67.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.5 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: near the start (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Central Avenue
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
13 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the ramp toward North I 59, Laurel
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward North I 59, Laurel
5
13.2 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
80.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
7
82.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
Towns Along This Route
Between Petal, MS and Meridian, MS, road signs point toward Laurel and Tuscaloosa.
Laurel
13 mi in
|
~19m
Tuscaloosa
80.4 mi in
|
~1h 32m
|
via I 59
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway | 67.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| Highway 11 | 11.9 mi | 16m |
| I 59 | 2 mi | 2m |
| 8th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| US 11 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Moselle-Seminary Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 25th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
— 67.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petal, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on Morris Street
111 ft
·
9 sec
·
Morris Street
2
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 11
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 11
4
Turn slight left onto Moselle-Seminary Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Moselle-Seminary Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward North I 59, Laurel
6
Merge onto I 59
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the none lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 11
10
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
11
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
272 ft
·
11 sec
·
25th Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable drive of under two hours, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. There are no planned stops on this route, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Petal to avoid mid-trip delays. With a $13 fuel estimate, the cost is predictable, allowing you to focus on the road ahead. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert during the local segments of the drive rather than expecting a monotonous interstate cruise. Use the 67.2-mile stretch on the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway as your primary opportunity to settle into a consistent pace before the final leg of your journey.
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 42.8 miles from Petal, MS, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.2 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 51m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Petal, 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 Petal, MS
This is one driving day of about 85.5 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Petal, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway for about 67.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.8 mi from Petal, MS · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Petal, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.2 miles.
Arriving in Meridian, MS
The final approach into Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.07 one way
$26.14 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $14.34 | $28.67 |
| premium | $4.61 | $15.52 | $31.04 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.00 | $37.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.98 | $4.10 |
| Efficient EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.97 | $5.47 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Meridian, MS
Night in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
10:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
2 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 39m 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 Petal, MS to Meridian, MS covers 85.5 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, Highway 11, I 59. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.8 miles from Petal, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.07 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 85.5 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: near the start (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Petal, MS and Meridian, MS, road signs point toward Laurel and Tuscaloosa.
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