Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 30m
Distance
73.5 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Auburn, MS
Dominik Gryzbon
Water Valley, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn to Water Valley is 73.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via Pontotoc Parkway West and MS 7, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive. Plan for a quick transit between these two locations, making it ideal for a same-day excursion without needing to plan for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.7 miles from Auburn, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pontotoc Parkway West | 29.8 mi | 34m |
| MS 7 | 16.1 mi | 19m |
| I 22 | 12.8 mi | 13m |
| MS 9 | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| North Main Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 278 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Auburn Road / County Road 931 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| MS 6 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Auburn, MS and Water Valley, MS.
Start on County Road 1438
Turn left onto CR 931
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Take the exit
Turn slight left
Turn left onto MS 9
Take the exit
Merge onto US 278; MS 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 278; MS 6
Continue on MS 6; US 278
Continue on US 278; MS 6
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto MS 7
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
Continue on MS 7
Turn left onto North Main Street
Arrive at destination
For this 1 hour 30 minute drive, leaving anytime after sunrise should give you ample time to reach Water Valley before dusk. Since the route is under 2 hours and has a low fuel cost of around $11, you won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops. The longest stretch is under 30 miles, so you can easily complete this in one go without feeling fatigued. As you approach Water Valley, be aware of the transition from highway to local roads, as this is where you'll encounter more frequent turns.
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.
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 16 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.7 miles or 44m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Water Valley, MS than in the middle of the route.
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 73.5 miles and 1h 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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.
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.7 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 55.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward MS 9 South: Sherman, Pontotoc
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto MS 9
Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward MS 7: Holly Springs, Water Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$10.77 one way
$21.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $11.95 | $23.91 |
| premium | $4.49 | $12.98 | $25.96 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $16.20 | $32.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.72 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Auburn on Friday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 30 at 7:13PM CDT until August 31 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Night in Water Valley on Friday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 30 at 7:13PM CDT until August 31 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Battlefield
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.
You'll spend about 95% of this 73.5-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 29.8 miles on Pontotoc Parkway West. After that, you'll transition to MS 7 and I 22, which means you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising for the majority of the drive. Expect minimal interruptions from surface streets until the very end.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pontotoc Parkway West and MS 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.5 miles you will encounter 12 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
323 ft
Total Descent
366 ft
Highest Point
470 ft
~47.2 mi in
Elevation Range
201 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Auburn, MS and Water Valley, MS, road signs point toward Pontotoc and University Of Mississippi.
Pontotoc
University Of Mississippi
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 73.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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