If you are planning to travel from Auburn to Como, you are looking at a straightforward 95.1-mile journey across Mississippi. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 53 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With 97% of the drive consisting of highway travel, you can anticipate a steady, efficient pace through the Southeast. Budgeting around $15 for fuel should cover your needs for the duration of the trip. Since the drive is relatively short and direct, there is no need to plan for an overnight split, allowing you maximum flexibility for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Auburn, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pontotoc Parkway West
29.8 mi
34m
US 278
25.3 mi
30m
I 55
13.6 mi
14m
I 22
12.8 mi
13m
MS 9
9.8 mi
11m
East Oak Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Auburn Road / County Road 931
0.7 mi
1m
MS 6
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pontotoc Parkway West
— 29.8 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, MS and Como, MS.
1
Start on County Road 1438
119 ft·10 sec·County Road 1438
2
Turn left onto CR 931
0.7 mi·1 min·Auburn Road / County Road 931
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
4
Merge onto I 22; US 78
13 mi·13 min·I 22; US 78
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 76--Toward MS 9 South: Sherman, Pontotoc
6
Turn slight left
131 ft·10 sec
7
Turn left onto MS 9
9.8 mi·11 min·MS 9
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 278 West, MS 6 West: Oxford, University of MississippiUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto US 278; MS 6
5.4 mi·6 min·Pontotoc Parkway West
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 278; MS 6
24 mi·28 min·Pontotoc Parkway West
11
Continue on MS 6; US 278
0.5 mi·35 sec·MS 6; US 278
12
Continue on US 278; MS 6
25 mi·30 min·US 278; MS 6
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
14
Merge onto I 55
14 mi·14 min·I 55
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward MS 310: Como
16
Turn left onto MS 310
0.1 mi·14 sec·MS 310
17
Continue on East Oak Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·East Oak Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East Oak Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever suits your schedule best without needing to worry about complex timing or mid-trip hotel bookings. Because there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily complete the 95.1-mile distance in one go, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $15 estimate. Try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours on I-55 to ensure your travel time stays close to the 1-hour and 53-minute mark. Most importantly, stay alert during the long 29.8-mile stretch on Pontotoc Parkway West, as the consistent pace can make it easy to lose focus on the road ahead.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.5 miles from Auburn, MS, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.8 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Como, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Auburn, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Auburn, MS
This is one driving day of about 95.1 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Auburn, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pontotoc Parkway West for about 29.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 94 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.8 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward MS 9 South: Sherman, Pontotoc
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 76--
Toward MS 9 South: Sherman, Pontotoc
5
14.2 mi into trip|~17m in|MS 9
Turn left onto MS 9
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
24 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward US 278 West, MS 6 West: Oxford, University of Mississippi
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 278 West, MS 6 West: Oxford, Universi...
4
29.8 mi into trip|~36m in|US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway West
Keep slight right at fork onto US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
94 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|MS 310
Turn left onto MS 310
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.36 one way
$28.72 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.77
$31.53
premium
$4.56
$17.07
$34.14
diesel
$5.61
$21.00
$41.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.5
0
$9.99
$4.56
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.32
$3.80
EV Truck/SUV
38
0
$13.31
$6.09
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Auburn, MS
Night
in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Como, MS
Night
in Como on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 5 to 15 mph2% chanceLive forecast
77°F
Oxford, MS
48 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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 6.6
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is designed for those who prioritize efficiency over winding backroads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on main thoroughfares like Pontotoc Parkway West, US 278, and I-55. The most significant stretch of road you will encounter is a 29.8-mile segment on Pontotoc Parkway West, which serves as a primary artery for the first leg of your journey. Because the route is almost entirely highway-based, the drive maintains a consistent, predictable rhythm. Expect a functional transit experience that favors speed and directness as you navigate toward your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.8 mi on Pontotoc Parkway West.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pontotoc Parkway West and US 278. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 95.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles (MS 9): Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
529 ft209 ft
Total Climb
637 ft
Total Descent
610 ft
Highest Point
529 ft
~23.8 mi in
Elevation Range
320 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, MS and Como, MS, road signs point toward Pontotoc and University Of Mississippi.
Pontotoc
13.8 mi in|~16m
University Of Mississippi
24 mi in|~28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 95.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.8 miles on Pontotoc Parkway West. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Como, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: at 13.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.2 miles (MS 9): Lane positioning matters here; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Como, MS before heading back.
