If you are planning a trip from Columbia to Brandon, you are looking at a straightforward 80.6-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about two hours on the road, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Your route primarily utilizes MS 13, Highway 18, and Louis Wilson Drive to bridge the distance between these two Mississippi locations. Budgeting roughly $12 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since the entire drive stays within the same region, you will experience a consistent atmosphere throughout the transit. This highway-focused path is efficient and practical for anyone needing to move between these points without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.3 miles from Columbia, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 13
59.2 mi
1h 28m
Highway 18
16 mi
23m
Louis Wilson Drive
2.6 mi
4m
Main Street
2.4 mi
3m
East Government Street
0.3 mi
<1m
2nd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Pittman Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MS 13
— 59.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MS and Brandon, MS.
1
Start on Pittman Street
51 ft·2 sec·Pittman Street
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn left onto Main Street
2.4 mi·3 min·Main Street
4
Continue on MS 13
22 mi·32 min·MS 13
5
Turn slight right onto MS 13; MS 184
37 mi·55 min·MS 13; MS 184
6
Turn left onto MS 18
16 mi·23 min·Highway 18
7
Turn right onto Louis Wilson Drive
2.6 mi·4 min·Louis Wilson Drive
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 80
0.3 mi·23 sec·East Government Street
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
US 80
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire trip in one go, as there are no mandatory stops required to reach your destination. Keep in mind that since the majority of your time is spent on highways, maintaining a steady speed will help you stay within your estimated $12 fuel budget. If you prefer to avoid heavy traffic, try to time your departure to miss typical commuting hours. A good rule of thumb for this route is to check your fuel levels before hitting the 59.2-mile stretch on MS 13, ensuring you have enough gas to carry you through the heart of the journey.
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 40.3 miles from Columbia, MS, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.2 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 18 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.3 miles or 1h 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brandon, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, MS
This is one driving day of about 80.6 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Columbia, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MS 13 for about 59.2 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 80.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|2nd Street
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
61.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|MS 18 / Highway 18
Turn left onto MS 18 / Highway 18
Navigation decision point
6
80.4 mi into trip|~2h in|US 80 / East Government Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 80 / East Government Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.17 one way
$24.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.36
$26.72
premium
$4.56
$14.47
$28.93
diesel
$5.61
$17.80
$35.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.2
0
$8.46
$3.87
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.05
$3.22
EV Truck/SUV
32.2
0
$11.28
$5.16
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Columbia, MS
Late night
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brandon, MS
Late night
in Brandon on Tuesday
Local time
4:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
2 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
2h 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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 80.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by its highway-focused nature, with 93% of the journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 59.2 miles along MS 13. While the drive remains consistent, the transition between these major routes keeps the pace steady and predictable. You won't encounter significant technical challenges here, as the road is designed for efficient transit rather than winding exploration. It is a functional, no-nonsense path that allows you to cover the 80.6 miles with minimal distraction.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.2 mi on MS 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 13 and Highway 18. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2nd Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, MS to Brandon, MS is easy. At 2h with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.8 miles (MS 18 / Highway 18): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
509 ft148 ft
Total Climb
497 ft
Total Descent
174 ft
Highest Point
509 ft
~34.5 mi in
Elevation Range
361 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 80.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 59.2 miles on MS 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.8 miles (MS 18 / Highway 18): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brandon, MS before heading back.
