Origin
Auburn, MS
Late night in Auburn on Friday
Local time
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Auburn, MS to Columbus, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
68.1 mi
110 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, MS
Dominik Gryzbon
Columbus, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Auburn to Columbus is 68.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m via US 45 and Martin Luther King Drive, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Most of the route is on highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a duration under two hours, this is a perfect option for a quick day trip or a short leg of a longer adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 52.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| Martin Luther King Drive | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| North Eason Boulevard | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Drive | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Auburn Road / County Road 931 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| North 5th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North 2nd Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 52.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, MS and Columbus, MS.
1
Start on County Road 1438
119 ft
·
10 sec
·
County Road 1438
2
Turn left onto CR 931
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road / County Road 931
3
Continue on North Eason Boulevard
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
North Eason Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward US 45 South, MS 6 West: Columbus, Pontotoc
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 45; MS 6
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
6
Continue on US 45; US 278
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
7
Take the exit onto US 45; US 278
24 mi
·
28 min
·
US 45; US 278
Toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
8
Continue on US 45; MS 8
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 45; MS 8
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 45
10
Continue on US 45
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
11
Continue on US 45
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 45
12
Continue on US 45
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 45
13
Continue on US 45
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 45
14
Continue on US 45
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
15
Continue on US 45
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 45
16
Continue on US 45
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
17
Continue on US 45
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
US 45
18
Continue on US 45; MS 50
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45; MS 50
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on North 5th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto North 2nd Avenue
390 ft
·
19 sec
·
North 2nd Avenue
21
Turn right onto North 6th Street
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
North 6th Street
22
Arrive at destination
North 6th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34 miles from Auburn, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 68 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 931 / Auburn Road / County Road 931
Turn left onto CR 931 / Auburn Road / County Road 931
Navigation decision point
7
6.2 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Turn left toward US 45 South, MS 6 West: Columbus, Pontotoc
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 45 South, MS 6 West: Columbus, Pontot...
5
14.5 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 45; US 278
Take the exit onto US 45; US 278 toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
4
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
North 2nd Avenue
Turn left onto North 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
68 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
North 6th Street
Turn right onto North 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.98 one way
$19.95 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $11.08 | $22.15 |
| premium | $4.49 | $12.03 | $24.05 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $15.01 | $30.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.53 | $4.36 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Columbus, MS
Late night in Columbus on Friday
Local time
3:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Aberdeen, MS
34 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 28m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 78% of the 68.1 miles spent on freeways. You'll experience a long stretch of 52.9 miles on US 45 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a highway feel for the majority of your drive, with urban merging as you approach Columbus on Martin Luther King Drive and North Eason Boulevard.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.9 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Martin Luther King Drive. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 931 / Auburn Road / County Road 931.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Auburn, MS to Columbus, MS is easy. At 1h 28m with 78% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 931 / Auburn Road / County Road 931): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (US 45; US 278): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Auburn, MS to Columbus, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Pontotoc along the way.
Pontotoc
6.2 mi in
|
~11m
About the Cities
Starting in Auburn, MS
Full guide →Arriving in Columbus, MS
Full guide →Founded 1821
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.
Top landmarks
- • Friendship Cemetery — cemetery in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States
- • Stephen D. Lee House — historic house in Mississippi, United States
- • Charles McLaran House — human settlement in Mississippi, United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 68.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.9 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 931 / Auburn Road / County Road 931): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.5 miles (US 45; US 278): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbus, MS before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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