Auburn, MS to Latimer, MS is 296.2 miles and takes about 6h 6m via US 45, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making for a relatively straightforward trip. With a single day recommended, this route is ideal for a quick transition between points in the state, focusing on efficient travel.
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
148.1 miles from Auburn, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
76.4 mi
1h 28m
US Highway 45 Aiternate
60.6 mi
1h 9m
US Highway 45 Alternate
54.7 mi
1h 6m
MS 57
32.6 mi
39m
MS 63
17.6 mi
19m
Old Biloxi Road
15.6 mi
27m
MS 26
11.4 mi
16m
Martin Luther King Drive
7.7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 76.4 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, MS and Latimer, 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, PontotocUse 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
7.7 mi·8 min·Martin Luther King Drive
7
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
8
Continue on US 45 ALT
2.2 mi·2 min·US 45 ALT
9
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.5 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
10
Continue on US 45 ALT
0.7 mi·49 sec·US 45 ALT
11
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
12
Continue on US 45 ALT
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 45
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·US Highway 45 Aiternate
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
19 mi·21 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on US 45
0.7 mi·46 sec·US 45
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 45
3.7 mi·4 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 45
5.4 mi·6 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 45
5.5 mi·6 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 45
2.7 mi·3 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 45
1.7 mi·1 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 45
3.9 mi·4 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 45
9.8 mi·11 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 45
2.0 mi·2 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 45
4.9 mi·5 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 45
17 mi·20 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 57
2.2 mi·2 min·MS 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on MS 57
23 mi·25 min·MS 57
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on MS 63
18 mi·19 min·MS 63
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
30
Keep slight right at fork
335 ft·9 sec
31
Turn straight onto MS 26
11 mi·16 min·MS 26
32
Turn left onto MS 57
7.9 mi·11 min·MS 57
33
Turn right
0.2 mi·18 sec
34
Turn right onto Broome School Road
0.1 mi·13 sec·Broome School Road
35
Keep slight left at fork onto Red Creek Road
3.1 mi·5 min·Red Creek Road
36
At end of road, turn left onto Vestry Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·Vestry Road
37
Turn right onto Old Biloxi Road
16 mi·27 min·Old Biloxi Road
38
Turn right onto Allie Byrd Road
151 ft·6 sec·Allie Byrd Road
39
Arrive at destination
Allie Byrd Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, starting your drive in Auburn, MS after breakfast will put you in Latimer, MS with plenty of afternoon daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a quick fuel and stretch break or wait until you're closer to Latimer. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices before you depart is always a good idea. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your timing as needed, but be mindful of the 76.4-mile stretch on US 45 where services might be less frequent.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.1 miles from Auburn, MS, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 65 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 2h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Latimer, 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 296.2 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 45 for about 76.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 280.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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...
6
138.5 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
214.9 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|MS 57
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 57
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
257.6 mi into trip|~5h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
280.3 mi into trip|~5h 38m in|Vestry Road
At end of road, turn left onto Vestry Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.34 one way
$90.68 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$50.21
$100.43
premium
$4.65
$54.21
$108.43
diesel
$6.28
$73.19
$146.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.9
1
$31.10
$14.22
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.92
$11.85
EV Truck/SUV
118.5
1
$41.47
$18.96
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Auburn, MS
Evening
in Auburn on Thursday
Local time
7:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Latimer, MS
Evening
in Latimer on Thursday
Local time
7:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Meridian, MS
148 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
32 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
6h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Yockanookany Trail Section Closed 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 10.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll encounter mostly highway driving on this trip, with 88% of the 296.2 miles spent on major roadways like US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. The longest uninterrupted stretch on these highways is 76.4 miles on US 45. Expect to transition to surface roads for the remaining portion of the drive, which will likely involve more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and US Highway 45 Aiternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 296.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.9 miles (MS 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 296.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Latimer, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 214.9 miles (MS 57): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Latimer, MS before the return drive.
