If you are planning to travel from Clinton to Columbus, Mississippi, prepare for a 159.8-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes to complete. Because this route relies on local roads like Hester Street, East Leake Street, and West Lakeview Drive rather than major interstates, it is best approached as a focused one-day trip. Budget about $24 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. While the drive is manageable in a single stretch, you should expect a turn-heavy experience that requires your full attention. This trip is ideal for those who prefer navigating local corridors over the monotony of high-speed transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.9 miles from Clinton, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS Hwy 25
79.6 mi
1h 30m
MS 25
56.4 mi
1h 4m
Lakeland Drive
13.1 mi
16m
Clinton Boulevard
3.8 mi
6m
West Woodrow Wilson Avenue
2.9 mi
5m
Bullard Street
1.3 mi
2m
Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Leake Street
0.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
MS Hwy 25
— 79.6 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, MS and Columbus, MS.
1
Start on Dunton Road
452 ft·22 sec·Dunton Road
2
Turn right onto Hester Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Hester Street
3
Turn left onto East Leake Street
310 ft·13 sec·East Leake Street
4
Continue on East Leake Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Leake Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto West Lakeview Drive
0.3 mi·43 sec·West Lakeview Drive
6
Turn left onto Clinton Boulevard
3.8 mi·6 min·Clinton Boulevard
7
Continue on West Capitol Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·West Capitol Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Bullard Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Bullard Street
9
Continue on West Woodrow Wilson Avenue
2.9 mi·5 min·West Woodrow Wilson Avenue
10
Turn left onto US 51
0.3 mi·30 sec·North State Street
11
Turn slight right onto Old Canton Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Old Canton Road
12
Turn right onto Lakeland Drive
13 mi·16 min·Lakeland Drive
13
Continue on MS 25
80 mi·1 hr 30 min·MS Hwy 25
14
Take the exit onto MS 25
25 mi·29 min·MS 25
15
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
2.4 mi·2 min·MS 25
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on MS 25
3.8 mi·4 min·MS 25
17
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
25 mi·27 min·MS 25
Toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
20
Turn straight onto MS 69
0.3 mi·40 sec·Main Street
21
Enter roundabout onto MS 69; MS 182
63 ft·1 sec·Main Street
22
Continue on MS 69; MS 182
0.3 mi·49 sec·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn left onto North 6th Street
169 ft·9 sec·North 6th Street
24
Arrive at destination
North 6th Street
Trip Plan
Since this 3-hour and 12-minute drive involves navigating local streets rather than highways, consider departing early in the morning to avoid local traffic congestion. Planning for at least one stop is a smart strategy to break up the frequent turns and keep your focus sharp. With a fuel budget of $24, it is wise to fill your tank before you leave Clinton to ensure you have plenty of range for the duration of the trip. Because you will be navigating through residential or local areas, pay close attention to changing speed limits and intersection signs along Hester Street and East Leake Street. Embracing the flexibility of this shorter route allows you to adjust your pace or stop for a breather whenever you need to recharge.
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 79.9 miles from Clinton, MS, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.6 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 35 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.9 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clinton, 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 Clinton, MS
This is one driving day of about 159.8 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Clinton, 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 MS Hwy 25 for about 79.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 159.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Hester Street
Turn right onto Hester Street
Navigation decision point
6
127.3 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|MS 25
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
133.5 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|MS 25
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25 toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West...
5
159 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
159.5 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|MS 69; MS 182 / Main Street
Enter roundabout onto MS 69; MS 182 / Main Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.13 one way
$48.27 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.49
$52.99
premium
$4.56
$28.68
$57.36
diesel
$5.61
$35.28
$70.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.9
0
$16.78
$7.67
Efficient EV
40
0
$13.98
$6.39
EV Truck/SUV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.23
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 15, 2026
Origin
Clinton, MS
Late night
in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, MS
Late night
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live 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
24 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
3h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly technical experience behind the wheel, as this route consists entirely of local roads with zero highway share. The path is defined by its turn-heavy nature, requiring you to remain alert as you navigate through various street turns. Unlike a standard interstate cruise, this drive demands active steering and constant engagement with local infrastructure. Because the route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, your pace will remain steady but deliberate throughout the 159.8-mile trek. You will find that the character of the road stays consistent, offering a localized perspective of Mississippi that you won't get on faster, more direct thoroughfares.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.6 mi on MS Hwy 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS Hwy 25 and MS 25. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Hester Street.
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 159.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (Hester Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.3 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.5 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
583 ft200 ft
Total Climb
340 ft
Total Descent
482 ft
Highest Point
583 ft
~102.7 mi in
Elevation Range
383 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clinton, MS to Columbus, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Point along the way.
Columbus is a city in eastern Mississippi, near the border with Alabama.
In some ways, the history of Columbus parallels that of Jackson's, as both were established around 1820 after Mississippi was admitted to statehood and both served as logistics centers for the Confederacy during the Civil War. However, unlike Jackson, Columbus was largely spared destruction because General Nathan Bedford Forrest prevented Northern forces from accessing it. As a result, Columbus was briefly made Mississippi's capital following Jackson's plight at the hands of Sherman and is noted for its historic preservation.
Another unique detail about Columbus is that it features the oldest public school in Mississippi as well as the country's first public women's university, as noted below.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 159.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.6 miles on MS Hwy 25. 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 0.1 miles (Hester Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.3 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 133.5 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbus, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
