Road trip to Southaven, Mississippi: Calculating Your Driving Costs

Are you itching for a quick getaway from Albemarle, North Carolina? Why not drive to Southaven, Mississippi? This town boasts a burgeoning arts scene, great food, and the famous Landers Center, home of the Mississippi Riverkings. But before you pack your bags and hit the road, let's take a look at the driving costs.

Route 1: The Shortest and Cheapest Route

The shortest route from Albemarle to Southaven is via I-40 W and I-55 S. It's a distance of approximately 685 miles, which will take you about 10 hours and 50 minutes to drive. With a current average gas price of $2.76 per gallon, you'll need approximately 20 gallons of fuel to cover the distance, costing you around $55.40.

While this route is the cheapest, it does not have any tolls. However, keep in mind that it is also the longest route, and requires additional driving time.

Route 2: The Quickest Route with Tolls

If you're looking to save time, take I-40 W and I-30 W to US-78 W in St. Francis County. It's a distance of approximately 711 miles and will take around 10 hours and 42 minutes to drive. Although this option saves you about 8 minutes, tolls along the way will add to your expenses.

You will encounter three tolled roadways, one of which is the Thomas E. Zellars Sr. Bridge, costing you $4.00. An EZ Pass could make your travel on these toll roads run smoother. The total toll cost for this route comes out at approximately $19.50, with gasoline costs coming out to around $62.60 (based on the same gas price of $2.76).

Route 3: A Lengthy, Tolls-Free Route

For a longer, albeit tolls-free alternative, consider taking I-40 W and I-30 W to US-49 N in Bryant. From here, take I-55 S to US-51 N in Hernando, Mississippi, and get off at exit 287. This route is the longest distance option, clocking in at approximately 806 miles, which will take around 12 hours and 20 minutes to drive.

Although this route tends to involve more distance and time spent on the road, it also saves you the added expense of toll fees. Based on the same gas price ($2.76), the total gasoline expenses come out to approximately $74.42.

Final Thoughts

So, which route is right for you? Consider your budget, driving preferences, and schedule. Take the time to plan and budget for these possible car-related expenses, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy your road trip to Southaven, Mississippi.