City of Greenville, MS to Columbia, MS is 202.7 miles and takes about 4h 26m via Highway 13 North, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, traversing the Southeast region. You'll find the drive is a mix of highway and surface roads, making it suitable for a single-day excursion. With a recommended one-day duration and a modest fuel cost, this route offers a straightforward connection between these two Mississippi communities.
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
101.3 miles from City of Greenville, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Martin Luther King Drive
46.2 mi
55m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
Highway 13 North
28.1 mi
41m
Highway 49 South
27.5 mi
33m
MS 13
23.8 mi
35m
US 82
15.8 mi
19m
US 49
10 mi
13m
MS 182
8.3 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
North Martin Luther King Drive
— 46.2 mi, about 55m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,273 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,355
Quietest
2 AM
~278 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between City of Greenville, MS and Columbia, MS.
1
Start on Sandy Avenue
46 ft·3 sec·Sandy Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Reed Road
0.7 mi·1 min·East Reed Road
3
Turn left onto MS 1
1.0 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
4
Continue on MS 182
8.3 mi·12 min·MS 182
5
Turn left onto US 82; US 278
16 mi·19 min·US 82; US 278
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto US 49W
46 mi·55 min·North Martin Luther King Drive
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
8
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
9
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
11
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
347 ft·4 sec·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
13
Take the exit onto US 49
0.6 mi·42 sec·US 49
Toward Hattiesburg
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
15
Merge onto US 49
27 mi·33 min·Highway 49 South
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
17
Turn right onto MS 13
28 mi·41 min·Highway 13 North
18
Turn slight left onto MS 13
24 mi·35 min·MS 13
19
Continue on Main Street
0.6 mi·53 sec·Main Street
20
Turn right onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·2nd Street
21
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 26m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning should comfortably get you to Columbia, MS before evening. With only one recommended stop and a 202.7-mile distance, you have flexibility in pacing. You can take a break about midway or push through if you prefer. Keep in mind that 57% of the route is highway, so plan for potential traffic changes when you transition to surface roads. The estimated fuel cost of $30 is based on the total mileage, so budget accordingly for your gas tank.
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 101.3 miles from City of Greenville, MS, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.2 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 45 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.3 miles or 2h 6m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving City of Greenville, 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 City of Greenville, MS
This is one driving day of about 202.7 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from City of Greenville, 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 North Martin Luther King Drive for about 46.2 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 10 and 121.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
10 mi into trip|~15m in|US 82; US 278
Turn left onto US 82; US 278
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
72 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 49W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W toward US 49 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
4
116.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
121.1 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
6
121.8 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49 toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.55 one way
$63.11 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.79
$69.57
premium
$4.71
$37.60
$75.19
diesel
$6.18
$49.31
$98.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.28
$9.73
Efficient EV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
EV Truck/SUV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
City of Greenville, MS
Morning
in City of Greenville on Monday
Local time
8:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Columbia, MS
Morning
in Columbia on Monday
Local time
8:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
ENE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
86°F
Richton, MS
101 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
4 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 26m 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.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant le...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 111.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 57% highway, meaning you'll experience some dedicated highway cruising before transitioning to surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a surface road is 46.2 miles on North Martin Luther King Drive. Expect to navigate both faster highway sections and potentially slower surface road segments as you make your way south. This profile suggests a drive that shifts between higher speeds and more local traffic conditions.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.2 mi on North Martin Luther King Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in near US 82; US 278.
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 202.7 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 10 miles (US 82; US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 72 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 116.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
428 ft110 ft
Total Climb
365 ft
Total Descent
344 ft
Highest Point
428 ft
~159.3 mi in
Elevation Range
318 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between City of Greenville, MS and Columbia, MS, road signs point toward Meridian, Hattiesburg and Richland.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 202.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.2 miles on North Martin Luther King Drive. 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.
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 Columbia, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 10 miles (US 82; US 278): Lane positioning matters here; at 72 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 116.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbia, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
