Origin
Columbus, MS
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, MS to Tupelo, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
63.9 mi
103 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Tupelo, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbus, MS to Tupelo, MS is 63.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via US 45, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive, making it an easy single-day excursion. Given the short duration, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart at your convenience and arrive with ample time for activities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 52.4 mi | 1h 4m |
| Martin Luther King Drive | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Drive | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| MS 6 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 6th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 3rd Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 52.4 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, MS and Tupelo, MS.
1
Start on North 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
North 6th Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto North 3rd Avenue
387 ft
·
11 sec
·
North 3rd Avenue
3
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 45
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 45
5
Continue on US 45; MS 50
13 mi
·
16 min
·
US 45; MS 50
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 45
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
7
Continue on US 45
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
8
Continue on US 45
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
9
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 45
10
Continue on US 45
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
11
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 45
12
Continue on US 45
30 mi
·
35 min
·
US 45
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 45 North, US 278 West: Tupelo
14
Merge onto US 45; US 278
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
15
Continue on US 45; MS 6
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
16
Take the exit onto MS 6
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
MS 6
Toward MS 6 East: Downtown Tupelo
17
Keep slight left at fork
170 ft
·
7 sec
18
Turn left onto MS 6
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto North Spring Street
230 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Spring Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Spring Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.9 miles from Columbus, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 63.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 3rd Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto North 3rd Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 5th Street
Turn right onto North 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
53.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 45 North, US 278 West: Tupelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45 North, US 278 West: Tupelo
4
62.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
MS 6
Take the exit onto MS 6 toward MS 6 East: Downtown Tupelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 6 East: Downtown Tupelo
4
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.65 one way
$19.30 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $10.59 | $21.19 |
| premium | $4.56 | $11.47 | $22.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.11 | $28.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.71 | $3.07 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.59 | $2.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.95 | $4.09 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Tupelo, MS
Late night in Tupelo on Tuesday
Local time
4:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Aberdeen, MS
32 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 83% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on US 45, which forms the backbone of this trip. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 52.4 miles along US 45, meaning you can settle in for a solid period of driving without frequent turns or town detours. Expect a consistent, efficient pace for the majority of the drive.
83% 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: 52.4 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Martin Luther King Drive. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 3rd Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 63.9 miles you will encounter 8 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 (North 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (North 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Columbus, MS
Full guide →Founded 1821
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.
Top landmarks
- • Friendship Cemetery — cemetery in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States
- • Stephen D. Lee House — historic house in Mississippi, United States
- • Charles McLaran House — human settlement in Mississippi, United States of America
Arriving in Tupelo, MS
Full guide →Tupelo is a city in Northeast Mississippi that is known best for being the birthplace of Elvis Presley.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 63.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.4 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (North 3rd Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (North 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. 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 Tupelo, MS before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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