If you are planning a trip from Auburn to Greenville, Mississippi, you are looking at a 193-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 5 minutes. Because this route is entirely within the Southeast, you will remain within the same regional landscape for the duration of your travel. It is a straightforward drive that works perfectly as a one-day excursion, meaning you won’t need to worry about booking overnight lodging unless you prefer a more leisurely pace. You should budget approximately $30 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, it is a practical choice for travelers prioritizing efficiency over scenic detours.
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
96.5 miles from Auburn, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 278
126.7 mi
2h 41m
Pontotoc Parkway West
29.8 mi
34m
I 22
12.8 mi
13m
MS 9
9.8 mi
11m
MS 182
8.7 mi
12m
North Broad Street
1.4 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
Old Hwy 61
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 278
— 126.7 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, MS and Greenville, 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
62 mi·1 hr 22 min·US 278; MS 6
13
Take the exit onto US 278
65 mi·1 hr 19 min·US 278
14
Turn right onto Griffin Road
145 ft·7 sec·Griffin Road
15
Turn left onto Old Hwy 61
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Hwy 61
16
Turn straight onto North Broad Street
1.4 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
17
Turn right onto MS 182
8.7 mi·12 min·MS 182
18
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.9 mi·2 min·South Main Street
19
Turn right onto MS 814
10 ft·0 sec·South Broadway Street
20
Arrive at destination
MS 814
Trip Plan
To keep your trip stress-free, plan for at least one stop during the four-hour duration to stretch your legs and refresh. Since you have a $30 fuel budget, consider topping off your tank before departing to avoid searching for stations during the long 126.7-mile stretch on US 278. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to navigate the highway-heavy segments before traffic patterns shift. Because this is a manageable single-day drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal preference. Keep a close eye on your mileage, as the limited number of planned stops means you should capitalize on the one break you have scheduled.
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 96.5 miles from Auburn, MS, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.7 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 42 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 2h 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenville, 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.
+
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 Auburn, MS
This is one driving day of about 193 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Auburn, 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 278 for about 126.7 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 181.3 — 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
4
181.3 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|Griffin Road
Turn right onto Griffin Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.15 one way
$58.30 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.00
$63.99
premium
$4.56
$34.64
$69.28
diesel
$5.61
$42.61
$85.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.89
$7.72
EV Truck/SUV
77.2
0
$27.02
$12.35
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Auburn, MS
Night
in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Greenville, MS
Night
in Greenville on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
6 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 5m 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.
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 6.7
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...
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled to Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 119.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 98% of this trip is spent on high-speed roads. Your journey is anchored by US 278, Pontotoc Parkway West, and I-22, providing a consistent driving environment that favors steady progress. You will spend a significant chunk of your time on the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 126.7 miles along US 278. While the drive is largely functional rather than technical, the transition between these major arteries keeps the route moving quickly. Behind the wheel, you will find a predictable, high-speed flow that allows you to cover the 193-mile distance without navigating complex local road networks.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.7 mi on US 278.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 278 and Pontotoc Parkway West. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in.
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 193 miles you will encounter 13 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.
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 Greenville, MS, road signs point toward Pontotoc and University Of Mississippi.
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 30,000 in 2020, making it the ninth largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington County.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 193 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 126.7 miles on US 278. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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, Tupelo National Battlefield and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Greenville, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
