This 96.6-mile drive from Florence to Oxford, Mississippi, is a manageable journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at around $15, it's an economical option for a quick road trip within the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes I-55, with portions on US-84 and Gloster Road, offering a predominantly highway-focused experience. This drive is well-suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break up the travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.3 miles from Florence, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
46.3 mi
49m
US 84
22.7 mi
26m
Gloster Road
6.5 mi
15m
Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi
15m
Florence Byram Road
3.7 mi
6m
Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi
6m
US 98
1.9 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 46.3 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, MS and Oxford, MS.
1
Start on MS 469
68 ft·3 sec·MS 469
2
Continue on West Main Street
1.7 mi·4 min·West Main Street
3
Continue on Florence Byram Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Florence Byram Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Florence Byram Road
2.9 mi·5 min·Florence Byram Road
5
Continue on Florence-Byram Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Florence-Byram Road
6
Continue on Swinging Bridge Road
0.4 mi·45 sec·Swinging Bridge Road
7
Continue on Old Byram Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Old Byram Road
8
Continue on South Siwell Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Siwell Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
10
Merge onto I 55; US 51
46 mi·49 min·I 55; US 51
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
12
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft·9 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
13
Merge onto US 84
23 mi·26 min·US 84
14
Turn left onto MS 184
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 184
15
Turn left onto US 98
1.9 mi·2 min·US 98
16
Turn right onto Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Yap 3 Road
17
Continue on Gloster Road
3.8 mi·9 min·Gloster Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto Gloster Road
2.8 mi·6 min·Gloster Road
19
Continue on Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi·15 min·Oxford-Meadville Road
20
Arrive at destination
Oxford-Meadville Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour and 15-minute duration of this 96.6-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility in planning your departure. Leaving Florence, MS, in the morning will get you to Oxford with plenty of daylight remaining. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major road change is over 46 miles on I-55, so it's wise to refuel before heading out if you're running low. The estimated $15 fuel cost suggests this is an efficient drive, but always check current gas prices.
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 48.3 miles from Florence, MS, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.3 miles or 59m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oxford, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Florence, 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 Florence, MS
This is one driving day of about 96.6 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Florence, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 46.3 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 77.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in|Florence Byram Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Florence Byram Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
8.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
54.9 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
7
55.1 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
4
77.9 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|MS 184
Turn left onto MS 184
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.59 one way
$29.18 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.02
$32.03
premium
$4.56
$17.34
$34.68
diesel
$5.61
$21.33
$42.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29
0
$10.14
$4.64
Efficient EV
24.2
0
$8.45
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.52
$6.18
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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 15, 2026
Origin
Florence, MS
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oxford, MS
Late night
in Oxford on Sunday
Local time
4:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Brookhaven, MS
48 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
25 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
2h 15m 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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 6.7
Discover the history of all the peoples of Natchez, Mississippi, from European settlement, African enslavement, the American cotton economy, to the Civil Rights struggle on the lower Mississippi River...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 86.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric drive for about 75% of this 96.6-mile trip, mainly along I-55. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 46.3 miles on I-55, which allows for steady progress. The inclusion of US-84 and Gloster Road adds a bit of variety to the driving experience, breaking up the interstate monotony. While largely a highway focus, these other roads offer a change of pace and scenery as you transition between major routes.
75% 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: 46.3 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 84. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near Florence Byram Road.
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 96.6 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.5 miles (Florence Byram Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 54.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Florence, MS to Oxford, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Natchez along the way.
Natchez
54.9 mi in|~1h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 96.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.3 miles on I 55. 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: at 2.5 miles (Florence Byram Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 54.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Natchez National Historical Park. 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 Oxford, MS before heading back.
