The drive from Southaven, MS to Aberdeen, MS covers 133.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 78, US 45, Goodman Road West for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.4 miles on US 78.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.12 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
66.6 miles from Southaven, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 133.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 37m highway drive covering 133.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 78 and US 45. The longest continuous stretch is about 83.4 miles on US 78.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 78 is the longest continuous segment at about 83.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 78 and US 45. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Haleville Drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 133.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Haleville Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Millbranch Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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|Haleville Drive
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Millbranch Road
At end of road, turn left onto Millbranch Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|MS 302 / Goodman Road West
At end of road, turn left onto MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
11.5 mi into trip|~19m in|US 78
Merge onto US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 78
83.4 mi
1h 29m
US 45
33.8 mi
40m
Goodman Road West
8.3 mi
12m
Old US Hwy 45
3.1 mi
5m
I 55
1.2 mi
1m
West Commerce Street
0.9 mi
1m
Stateline Road West
0.3 mi
<1m
Millbranch Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 78
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southaven, MS and Aberdeen, MS.
1
Start on Five Oaks Drive West
0.1 mi·30 sec·Five Oaks Drive West
2
Turn right onto Haleville Drive
0.2 mi·53 sec·Haleville Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Millbranch Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Millbranch Road
4
Turn right onto Stateline Road West
0.3 mi·29 sec·Stateline Road West
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
6
Merge onto I 55; I 69
1.2 mi·1 min·I 55; I 69
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
8
At end of road, turn left onto MS 302
8.3 mi·12 min·Goodman Road West
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
10
Merge onto US 78
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 45:south: Tupelo
12
Merge onto US 45
13 mi·15 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 45; US 278
21 mi·25 min·US 45; US 278
Toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
14
Turn left onto MS 145
3.1 mi·5 min·Old US Hwy 45
15
Continue on MS 145
0.9 mi·1 min·West Commerce Street
16
Turn right onto South Meridian Street
80 ft·2 sec·South Meridian Street
17
Arrive at destination
South Meridian Street
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 66.6 miles from Southaven, MS, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 29 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.6 miles or 1h 18m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aberdeen, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southaven, 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 Southaven, MS
This is one driving day of about 133.2 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Southaven, 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 78 for about 83.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.6 mi from Southaven, MS
· 1h 18m into the drive
The midpoint is around 66.6 miles from Southaven, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 78 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.4 miles.
Arriving in Aberdeen, MS
The final approach into Aberdeen, 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 Aberdeen, 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
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...
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40
0
$13.99
$6.39
Efficient EV
33.3
0
$11.65
$5.33
EV Truck/SUV
53.3
0
$18.65
$8.52
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Southaven, MS
Evening
in Southaven on Friday
Local time
7:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aberdeen, MS
Evening
in Aberdeen on Friday
Local time
7:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
New Albany, MS
67 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
21 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
2h 37m 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 Southaven, MS to Aberdeen, MS covers 133.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 78, US 45, Goodman Road West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.6 miles from Southaven, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.12 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 133.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Haleville Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Millbranch Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Southaven, MS to Aberdeen, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
