Greenville, MS to Columbia, MS is 202.7 miles and takes about 4h 27m via Highway 13 North, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The route is a mix of highway and surface roads, suggesting a drive that balances quicker travel with more local cruising. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll likely find it a straightforward trip without needing to book overnight accommodations. It’s a practical option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101.4 miles from Greenville, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Martin Luther King Drive
46.2 mi
55m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
Highway 13 North
28.1 mi
41m
Highway 49 South
27.5 mi
33m
MS 13
23.8 mi
35m
US 82
15.8 mi
19m
US 49
10 mi
13m
MS 182
9.2 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
North Martin Luther King Drive
— 46.2 mi, about 55m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~2,710 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,827
Quietest
2 AM
~220 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenville, MS and Columbia, MS.
1
Start on MS 814
10 ft·7 sec·South Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Turn left onto MS 182
9.2 mi·13 min·MS 182
4
Turn left onto US 82; US 278
16 mi·19 min·US 82; US 278
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto US 49W
46 mi·55 min·North Martin Luther King Drive
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
7
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
8
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
10
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
347 ft·4 sec·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
12
Take the exit onto US 49
0.6 mi·42 sec·US 49
Toward Hattiesburg
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
14
Merge onto US 49
27 mi·33 min·Highway 49 South
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
16
Turn right onto MS 13
28 mi·41 min·Highway 13 North
17
Turn slight left onto MS 13
24 mi·35 min·MS 13
18
Continue on Main Street
0.6 mi·53 sec·Main Street
19
Turn right onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·2nd Street
20
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 27m estimated drive time, leaving Greenville, MS in the morning should allow you to reach Columbia, MS with plenty of daylight to spare. The route has only one recommended stop, so consider making it at a convenient point for a break, especially since the longest stretch without a significant road change is 46.2 miles. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, it's an affordable trip, but always check current prices. Pay attention as you transition between Highway 13 North and other surface roads, as this is where navigation might require more focus.
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 101.4 miles from Greenville, MS, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.2 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 45 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.4 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Greenville, 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 Greenville, MS
This is one driving day of about 202.7 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Greenville, 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 North Martin Luther King Drive for about 46.2 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
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 121.8 — 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|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|MS 182
Turn left onto MS 182
Navigation decision point
5
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|US 49W
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W toward US 49 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
6
121.2 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
6
121.8 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49 toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.14 one way
$56.28 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$31.48
$62.96
premium
$4.29
$34.23
$68.46
diesel
$4.80
$38.27
$76.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.28
$9.73
Efficient EV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
EV Truck/SUV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Greenville, MS
Late night
in Greenville on Monday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Columbia, MS
Late night
in Columbia on Monday
Local time
1:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 7:55PM CDT until July 19 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
93°F
Richton, MS
101 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
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
4h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 111.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 202.7-mile drive is about 57% highway, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads, but expect a shift to surface streets. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 46.2 miles on North Martin Luther King Drive. You'll notice the transition as you move from more open highway cruising to navigating through more populated areas with more frequent intersections. Plan for a mixed driving experience that requires attention as the road type changes.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.2 mi on North Martin Luther King Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 202.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (MS 182): Navigation decision point; at 72.1 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
429 ft111 ft
Total Climb
366 ft
Total Descent
345 ft
Highest Point
429 ft
~159.3 mi in
Elevation Range
318 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greenville, MS and Columbia, MS, road signs point toward Meridian, Hattiesburg and Richland.
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 30,000 in 2020, making it the ninth largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington County.
Top landmarks
•Doe's Eat Place — restaurant in Greenville, Mississippi, United States
•First National Bank of Greenville — historic building in Greenville, Mississippi
•Washington County Courthouse — Courthouse in Greenville, Mississippi
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 27m. Total distance: 202.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.2 miles on North Martin Luther King Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Columbia, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (MS 182): Navigation decision point; at 72.1 miles (US 49W): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbia, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
