The drive from Walls, MS to Meridian, MS covers 245.2 miles and takes about 4h 50m 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 Highway 45 Aiternate, US Highway 45 Alternate 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 $37.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
122.6 miles from Walls, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 245.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 50m highway drive covering 245.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 78 and US Highway 45 Aiternate. 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 27 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 Highway 45 Aiternate. 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 East Railroad Avenue.
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 245.2 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 (East Railroad Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.8 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Railroad Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto East Railroad Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Turn right onto MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
17.8 mi into trip|~28m in|US 78
Merge onto US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
101.6 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 45
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
245.1 mi into trip|~4h 50m in|25th Avenue
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 78
83.4 mi
1h 29m
US Highway 45 Aiternate
60.6 mi
1h 9m
US Highway 45 Alternate
54.7 mi
1h 6m
Goodman Road West
16.6 mi
25m
US 45
14.1 mi
17m
US 45 ALT
7.2 mi
8m
Old Highway 45 North
4.8 mi
7m
2nd Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 78
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walls, MS and Meridian, MS.
1
Start on McLemore Drive
14 ft·0 sec·McLemore Drive
2
Turn left onto West Railroad Avenue
270 ft·17 sec·West Railroad Avenue
3
At end of road, turn right onto East Railroad Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·East Railroad Avenue
4
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·2nd Street
5
Continue on 2nd Street
93 ft·4 sec·2nd Street
6
Turn left onto MS 161
0.4 mi·45 sec·MS 161
7
Turn right onto MS 302
17 mi·25 min·Goodman Road West
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
9
Merge onto US 78
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 45:south: Tupelo
11
Merge onto US 45
14 mi·17 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
13
Continue on US 45 ALT
2.2 mi·2 min·US 45 ALT
14
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.5 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
15
Continue on US 45 ALT
0.7 mi·49 sec·US 45 ALT
16
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
17
Continue on US 45 ALT
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 45
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·US Highway 45 Aiternate
19
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Highway 45 North
4.8 mi·7 min·Old Highway 45 North
20
Continue on MS 884
0.6 mi·54 sec·Dale Drive
21
Continue on Front Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Front Street
22
Continue on 4th Street
0.1 mi·9 sec·4th Street
23
Turn slight left onto 2nd Street
0.5 mi·49 sec·2nd Street
24
Turn right onto 22nd Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·22nd Avenue
25
Turn left onto 8th Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·8th Street
26
Turn left onto 25th Avenue
272 ft·11 sec·25th Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
25th Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.6 miles from Walls, MS, or about 2h 24m 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 54 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.6 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 57m
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 Walls, 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 Walls, MS
This is one driving day of about 245.2 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Walls, 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 122.6 mi from Walls, MS
· 2h 24m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 101.5
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 101.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.03 one way
$74.06 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$40.65
$81.30
premium
$4.56
$44.01
$88.02
diesel
$5.61
$54.14
$108.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
5 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
ChargePoint Charging Station
Memphis, Tennessee
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Tupelo, Mississippi
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Tupelo, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Tupelo, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Memphis, Tennessee
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 4
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
Efficient EV
61.3
0
$21.46
$9.81
EV Truck/SUV
98.1
1
$34.33
$15.69
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Walls, MS
Morning
in Walls on Friday
Local time
9:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Meridian, MS
Morning
in Meridian on Friday
Local time
9:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
29 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
4h 50m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Walls, MS to Meridian, MS covers 245.2 miles and takes about 4h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 78, US Highway 45 Aiternate, US Highway 45 Alternate. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122.6 miles from Walls, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 245.2 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 (East Railroad Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.8 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.8 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Walls, MS to Meridian, 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.
