Clinton, MS to Kosciusko, MS is 87.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via I-55, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip primarily on interstate highways, making it a convenient option for connecting these two points within Mississippi. You'll be staying within the Southeast region for the entire journey. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, this route is ideal for those looking for an efficient drive with minimal fuss. Consider this a practical leg of a larger trip or a quick transit between locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.6 miles from Clinton, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
51.4 mi
55m
Mississippi State Highway 12
14.5 mi
21m
I 220
8.7 mi
9m
Clinton Boulevard
3.8 mi
6m
MS 12
3.2 mi
4m
West Jefferson Street
2.3 mi
3m
North Jackson Street
0.7 mi
1m
East Leake Street
0.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 51.4 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, MS and Kosciusko, 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
489 ft·9 sec·West Capitol Street
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
9
Merge onto I 220; US 49
8.7 mi·9 min·I 220; US 49
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North
11
Merge onto I 55
51 mi·55 min·I 55
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward MS 12: Durant, Lexington
13
Keep slight left at fork
462 ft·11 sec
14
Turn straight onto MS 12
2.7 mi·4 min·MS 12
15
At end of road, turn right onto US 51; MS 12
0.7 mi·1 min·North Jackson Street
16
Turn left onto MS 12
0.4 mi·37 sec·East Mulberry Street
17
Continue on MS12
15 mi·21 min·Mississippi State Highway 12
18
Continue on MS 12; MS 43
0.5 mi·42 sec·MS 12; MS 43
19
Turn right onto MS 735
2.3 mi·3 min·West Jefferson Street
20
Arrive at destination
East Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this route offers considerable flexibility for departure. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will easily allow you to reach Kosciusko well before evening. Given the relatively short distance and manageable fuel cost of around $13, you likely won't need more than one fuel stop, if any. The longest stretch on I-55 is a good point to consider a quick break if needed, as it's over 50 miles. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-55 to Mississippi State Highway 12; this is where you'll want to be most attentive to navigation as you enter the final approach to Kosciusko.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.6 miles from Clinton, MS, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.4 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.6 miles or 53m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kosciusko, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clinton, MS
This is one driving day of about 87.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Clinton, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 51.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 66 — 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
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Leake Street
Turn left onto East Leake Street
Navigation decision point
5
13.8 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 North
5
65.9 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward MS 12: Durant, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 12: Durant, Lexington
5
66 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.17 one way
$26.34 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.46
$28.91
premium
$4.56
$15.65
$31.30
diesel
$5.61
$19.25
$38.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.2
0
$9.16
$4.19
Efficient EV
21.8
0
$7.63
$3.49
EV Truck/SUV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Clinton, MS
Late night
in Clinton on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kosciusko, MS
Late night
in Kosciusko on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Canton, MS
44 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 89% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I-55 and I-220. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.4 miles on I-55, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While the bulk of the drive is on high-speed interstates, you will transition to Mississippi State Highway 12 as you approach your destination, offering a slight change in scenery and speed before reaching Kosciusko. This blend ensures efficiency without being entirely monotonous.
89% 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: 51.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Mississippi State Highway 12. You will hit about 13 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 Effort6/10
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 87.2 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 0.1 miles (Hester Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Leake Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Kosciusko, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 87.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Kosciusko, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Hester Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Leake Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kosciusko, MS before heading back.
