Grenada, MS to Starkville, MS is 86.5 miles and takes about 1h 46m via US 82 and I-55, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. You'll experience a typical highway-focused drive, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B. Consider this route if you need a quick and practical transit between these two Mississippi locations, with minimal fuss and a predictable travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Grenada, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
58.6 mi
1h 9m
I 55
20.9 mi
22m
North Jackson Street
2.9 mi
5m
Sunset Drive
2.4 mi
3m
MS 12
0.3 mi
<1m
Victory Lane
0.2 mi
<1m
Eckford Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 58.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grenada, MS and Starkville, 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
21 mi·22 min·I 55
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
5
Keep slight left at fork
321 ft·8 sec
6
Merge onto US 82
59 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 82
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward MS 389: Downtown Starkville
8
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft·5 sec
9
Turn straight onto MS 389
2.9 mi·5 min·North Jackson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn right onto MS 12
0.3 mi·36 sec·MS 12
11
Turn slight left
78 ft·5 sec
12
Turn left onto Eckford Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Eckford Drive
13
Continue on Victory Lane
0.2 mi·38 sec·Victory Lane
14
Turn right
214 ft·17 sec
15
Turn right
290 ft·21 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given its short duration of under two hours, this trip is ideal for a morning or afternoon departure, allowing for flexibility. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, so there's no need to plan for overnight stays. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, planning your fuel stops won't be a major concern, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transition onto North Jackson Street as you enter Starkville, as this section may involve more local traffic.
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 43.2 miles from Grenada, MS, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.6 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 50m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Starkville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Grenada, MS
This is one driving day of about 86.5 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Grenada, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 82 for about 58.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 23.8 and 86.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
23.8 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward MS 389: Downtown Starkville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 389: Downtown Starkville
4
82.8 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|Eckford Drive
Turn left onto Eckford Drive
Navigation decision point
4
86.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.06 one way
$26.13 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.34
$28.68
premium
$4.56
$15.53
$31.05
diesel
$5.61
$19.10
$38.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.08
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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
Grenada, MS
Late night
in Grenada on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Starkville, MS
Late night
in Starkville on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 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
4 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
1h 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily towards highway travel, with 92% of the journey on major roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 58.6 miles on US 82, offering a significant period of consistent speed and minimal interruptions. The inclusion of I-55 and North Jackson Street means you'll navigate both interstate speeds and potentially some urban surface street driving as you approach your destination. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over scenic detours, allowing you to cover ground quickly.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.6 mi on US 82.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and I 55. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 23.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 86.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 23.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 82.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Starkville is a city in East Mississippi. Mississippi State University is located just to the east of the city limits, and is included in this article.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 86.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.6 miles on US 82. 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.
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 Starkville, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 23.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 82.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Starkville, MS before heading back.
