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Columbus, MS Road Trips

With 8 routes heading out and 4 heading in, Columbus, MS works well as a modest departure point in the Southeast. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 64-mile quick runs to 256-mile cross-state drives. Routes from Columbus, MS spread mainly west and south, covering a wide geographic range.

county seat of Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

12

Longest Drive

255.7 mi

Biloxi, MS

Quickest Drive

32m

Starkville, MS

Plan Around Columbus, MS

Trips from Columbus, MS

Driving from Columbus, MS

Expect an average of 161 miles and about 3h 10m behind the wheel when leaving Columbus, MS. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 256 miles (4h 56m), while the shortest is just 64 miles.

Popular Destinations

Top road trip destinations from Columbus, MS are Biloxi, MS (255.7 mi, 4h 56m), Gulfport, MS (250.4 mi, 4h 50m), City of Greenville, MS (162.7 mi, 3h 19m), Horn Lake, MS (161.3 mi, 3h 12m), and Jackson, MS (153.5 mi, 2h 58m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in MS currently averages around $3.79 per gallon. For the typical 161-mile trip from Columbus, MS, budget about $24 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

Most routes head west — leaving in the morning keeps the sun behind you for a more comfortable drive. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 8 mapped routes leaving Columbus, MS and 4 routes heading into Columbus, MS, covering 12 total connections. Distances range from 64 to 256 miles.

The longest mapped route from Columbus, MS covers 256 miles and takes approximately 4h 56m. Shorter options start at just 64 miles.

The average route from Columbus, MS runs about 161 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 10m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $3.79/gallon for regular), the average 161-mile trip from Columbus, MS costs roughly $24 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Columbus, MS include Biloxi, MS, Gulfport, MS, City of Greenville, MS and Horn Lake, MS. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Columbus, MS by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

23,616

Median Income

$40,588

Median Home Value

$121,200

Median Age

39.6

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Columbus, MS at a Glance

Founded

1821

Elevation

217 ft

Area

23 mi²

Notable People from Columbus, MS

A sampling of people born in Columbus, MS.

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams

1911–1983

American playwright (1911–1983)

Henry Armstrong

Henry Armstrong

1912–1988

American boxer (1912–1988)

Andrew Wood

Andrew Wood

1966–1990

American musician and singer (1966–1990)

Jacob M. Dickinson

Jacob M. Dickinson

1851–1928

Confederate Army soldier (1851-1928)

James E. Darnell

James E. Darnell

1930

American biologist

Jasmine Murray

Jasmine Murray

1992

singer

Andre Rush

Andre Rush

1974

American chef

Leslie Frazier

Leslie Frazier

1959

American football player and coach (born 1959)

Charles Fredericks

Charles Fredericks

1918–1970

American actor (1918-1970)

Landmarks & Historic Sites

Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Columbus, MS.

Friendship Cemetery

Friendship Cemetery

cemetery in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place
Stephen D. Lee House

Stephen D. Lee House

historic house in Mississippi, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place Mississippi Landmark
Charles McLaran House

Charles McLaran House

human settlement in Mississippi, United States of America

National Register of Historic Places listed place National Historic Landmark
Old Fort House

Old Fort House

listed on the NRHP in Mississippi

National Register of Historic Places listed place

City data from Wikidata (Q985648), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.

Traveler Guide to Columbus, MS

Columbus is a city in eastern Mississippi, near the border with Alabama. In some ways, the history of Columbus parallels that of Jackson's, as both were established around 1820 after Mississippi was admitted to statehood and both served as logistics centers for the Confederacy during the Civil War. However, unlike Jackson, Columbus was largely spared destruction because General Nathan Bedford Forrest prevented Northern forces from accessing it. As a result, Columbus was briefly made Mississippi's capital following Jackson's plight at the hands of Sherman and is noted for its historic preservation. Another unique detail about Columbus is that it features the oldest public school in Mississippi as well as the country's first public women's university, as noted below.

Tennessee Williams Home, 300 Main St, ☏ +1-662-328-0222. M-Sa 8:30AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. The first home of playwright Tennessee Williams serves as the official welcome center in town. It is designated a National Literary Landmark. 1 Friendship Cemetery, Fourth Street South. Home to the first Memorial Day (then called Decoration Day) in 1866. 2 Mississippi University for Women, 1100 College St, ☏ +1 662-329-4750, toll-free: +1-877-GO-2-THEW (46-2-8439). The oldest public college for women in America, founded in 1884 (and coeducational since 1982) . It has several buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. (updated Mar 2025) Waverley Mansion (in the community of Waverly, 10 miles east of West Point). Noted for its octagonal cupola.

Columbus Spring Pilgrimage. Information available at the Visitor's Center, 300 Main Street +1-662-329-3533. In April several package tours are offered of local historic homes. Walking tours of neighborhoods, candlelight tours of homes and cemetery tours are also offered. Musical presentations and living history exhibits are also showcased throughout town for this yearly event. Historic Homes Tours. Several area homes from the antebellum period are open year round. The Visitor's Center can arrange tours of these homes. Prices vary according to how many and which homes you want to view. Ghost and Legends Tour. It is one of the most exciting evenings of the year. This October, embark on an escorted bus journey through Columbus' haunted past. Tales From the Crypt. This graveyard tour promises to be a memorable experience for lovers of history and drama, for it is a combination of both. Tales from the Crypt recreates the lives of noted local personalities interred at the historic Friendship Cemetery, site of the Confederate Decoration Day that inspired the poem, "The Blue and the Gray." River Walk Trail, trailhead at College St and 1st St S, below Island Road bridge, a 2.5 mile paved trailway along the Tennessee Tomigbee Waterway where you can get closely acquainted with this big muddy.

Chain restaurants operating in town include Chili's and Applebee's. Other options include: Cafe on Main. For traditional southern cuisine (now open for lunch and dinner). Little Kitchen. Chinese and Southern cuisine. J. Broussard's Restaurant of Columbus. New Orleans Cuisine. Good, but high price. Harvey's. Decent but moderately to high priced. Zachary's (Downtown). Smoker friendly, 21 and over.

Zachary's The Princess Theater, 215 5th Ave S. Used to offer up a pizza buffet in addition to being a karaoke bar in an old theater space, may be undergoing a transition.

Best Western Executive Suites, 303 Shoney Dr, ☏ +1 662-329-2255. A hotel with an indoor pool and grandiose complimentary breakfast. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham, 1200 Hwy 45 N, ☏ +1 662-240-2454. Just a typical hotel with an outdoor pool and breakfast. $76. Shadowlawn Bed and Breakfast, 1024 College St, ☏ +1 662 327-3600. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Elegant accommodations including WiFi, king rooms, gourmet breakfast. Christian owned and operated.

From points north and south, take US Route 45 From Tuscaloosa, Alabama: take Hwy 82 W. 1 Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR IATA), 2080 Airport Rd, ☏ +1 662-327-4422. The Golden Triangle Regional Airport is centrally located between Columbus, Starkville and West Point. The airport is about 15 minutes from the Mississippi University for Women and Old Waverly Golf Club. Commercial flights are provided by Delta Connection. For passenger service, the nearest Amtrak stop is in Tuscaloosa, which is about a 60-minute drive to Columbus.

Travel tips adapted from Columbus (Mississippi) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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