Spanning 211.5 miles through the heart of Mississippi, this drive connects Grenada to Oxford in approximately 4 hours and 14 minutes. While both cities sit within the Southeast, the route requires a significant commitment of time, making it a manageable day trip if you prefer to keep your itinerary compact. Budgeting around $32 for fuel will cover your transit across the state. Because the journey is primarily highway-focused, you can expect a consistent pace throughout the drive. It is a straightforward trip that serves as a reliable connection between these two points without the need for an overnight stay unless you prefer a more leisurely pace.
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
105.8 miles from Grenada, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
167.1 mi
3h 1m
US 84
22.7 mi
26m
Gloster Road
6.5 mi
15m
Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi
15m
Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi
6m
Sunset Drive
2.4 mi
3m
US 98
1.9 mi
2m
MS 184
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 167.1 mi, about 3h 1m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 55 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,793 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Grenada, MS and Oxford, MS.
1
Start on MS 8; MS 333 Scenic
2.4 mi·3 min·Sunset Drive
2
Turn left
0.3 mi·34 sec
3
Merge onto I 55
113 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 55
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
54 mi·57 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
6
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft·9 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
7
Merge onto US 84
23 mi·26 min·US 84
8
Turn left onto MS 184
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 184
9
Turn left onto US 98
1.9 mi·2 min·US 98
10
Turn right onto Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Yap 3 Road
11
Continue on Gloster Road
3.8 mi·9 min·Gloster Road
12
At end of road, turn right onto Gloster Road
2.8 mi·6 min·Gloster Road
13
Continue on Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi·15 min·Oxford-Meadville Road
14
Arrive at destination
Oxford-Meadville Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, departing early allows you to maximize your time once you reach Oxford. Plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the 4-hour drive and stretch your legs, especially during the long 167.1-mile interstate segment. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial stretch on I-55 to ensure you aren't caught off guard before hitting the secondary roads. Because the route relies so heavily on major highways, check for construction or traffic updates before you leave to ensure your 4-hour and 14-minute estimate holds steady. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so use the single planned stop as a reset point to keep your energy high for the final leg of the journey.
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 105.8 miles from Grenada, MS, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.1 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 47 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 1h 56m 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 10m
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 Grenada, 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 Grenada, MS
This is one driving day of about 211.5 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Grenada, 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 I 55 for about 167.1 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 116 and 194.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
116 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
5
169.8 mi into trip|~3h 5m 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
170 mi into trip|~3h 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
192.8 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|MS 184
Turn left onto MS 184
Navigation decision point
4
194.3 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|US 98
Turn left onto US 98
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.36 one way
$58.72 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$32.85
$65.70
premium
$4.29
$35.71
$71.43
diesel
$4.80
$39.94
$79.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.21
$10.15
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.51
$8.46
EV Truck/SUV
84.6
1
$29.61
$13.54
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 18, 2026
Origin
Grenada, MS
Afternoon
in Grenada on Sunday
Local time
3:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
WNW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Oxford, MS
Afternoon
in Oxford on Sunday
Local time
3:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Clear
W 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
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
1 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 14m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 109.4
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
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 204.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive dominated by highway travel, with 91% of your time spent on major roads like I-55 and US 84. You will spend the bulk of your journey on a long, 167.1-mile stretch of I-55, which provides a steady, high-speed rhythm to your trip. As you transition toward the end of the route, you will eventually leave the interstate to navigate local paths like Gloster Road. This creates a distinct shift from the monotonous, long-distance interstate grind to a more localized driving experience as you approach your destination. The character of the road is functional and efficient, designed for steady progress rather than winding exploration.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 167.1 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 116 miles in near I 55.
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 211.5 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 116 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 170 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
470 ft216 ft
Total Climb
631 ft
Total Descent
418 ft
Highest Point
470 ft
~166.2 mi in
Elevation Range
254 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Grenada, MS and Oxford, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans and Natchez.
Oxford is a historic, picturesque town in North Central Mississippi. With its scenic town square, acclaimed restaurants, unique boutiques, oak-shaded neighborhoods, and friendly people, Oxford is the model Southern town. Named after Oxford, England, in hopes of attracting a university, the town was selected as the home of the University of Mississippi in 1848, which dominates life here today.
Top landmarks
•Rowan Oak — William Faulkner's former home in Oxford, Mississippi
•Barnard Observatory — observatory at the University of Mississippi, USA
•Lyceum-The Circle Historic District — collection of historic buildings at the University of Mississippi in Oxford (USA...
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 14m. Total distance: 211.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 167.1 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 116 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 170 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Oxford, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
