Hazlehurst to Tupelo is 229.2 miles and takes about 4 hours 28 minutes via MS Hwy 25 and I-55, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, moving you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the trip, making it a straightforward journey. It's a solid option if you're looking for a single-day drive with minimal navigation challenges.
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
114.6 miles from Hazlehurst, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS Hwy 25
79.6 mi
1h 30m
MS 25
43.5 mi
50m
I 55
36.2 mi
39m
US Highway 45 Alternate
34.6 mi
42m
Martin Luther King Drive
18.1 mi
20m
Lakeland Drive
12.3 mi
14m
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
1.5 mi
2m
Caldwell Drive
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
MS Hwy 25
— 79.6 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hazlehurst, MS and Tupelo, MS.
1
Start on West Gallatin Street
85 ft·6 sec·West Gallatin Street
2
Turn right onto US 51
1.0 mi·1 min·Caldwell Drive
3
Turn left onto MS 28
0.6 mi·1 min·MS 28
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 55
5
Merge onto I 55
30 mi·32 min·I 55
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 55
2.1 mi·2 min·I 55
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
4.2 mi·5 min·I 55
Toward Grenada, Memphis
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MS 25 North: Carthage
9
Turn right onto MS 25
12 mi·14 min·Lakeland Drive
10
Continue on MS 25
80 mi·1 hr 30 min·MS Hwy 25
11
Take the exit onto MS 25
25 mi·29 min·MS 25
12
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
2.4 mi·2 min·MS 25
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on MS 25
3.8 mi·4 min·MS 25
14
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
12 mi·13 min·MS 25
Toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward US 45 Alternate North, MS 25 North: West Point, Tupelo
16
Merge onto US 45 ALT; MS 25
35 mi·42 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 45 ALT
18 mi·20 min·Martin Luther King Drive
18
Continue on US 45; MS 6
1.5 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
19
Take the exit onto MS 6
0.4 mi·49 sec·MS 6
Toward MS 6 East: Downtown Tupelo
20
Keep slight left at fork
170 ft·7 sec
21
Turn left onto MS 6
0.7 mi·1 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto North Spring Street
230 ft·10 sec·North Spring Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Spring Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour 28 minute estimated drive time, starting your journey in the morning is ideal, allowing ample daylight for the 229.2 mile trip. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing, but it’s wise to refuel before hitting that longest stretch of 79.6 miles on MS Hwy 25, especially since the estimated fuel cost is around $35. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition between MS Hwy 25 and I-55, as services can vary. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you can afford to be flexible with your timing.
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 114.6 miles from Hazlehurst, MS, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.6 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 50 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.6 miles or 2h 11m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tupelo, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hazlehurst, 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 Hazlehurst, MS
This is one driving day of about 229.2 miles and 4h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Hazlehurst, 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 MS Hwy 25 for about 79.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.9 and 174 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
33.9 mi into trip|~38m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward Grenada, Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Grenada, Memphis
6
155.2 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|MS 25
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
161.4 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|MS 25
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25 toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West...
5
173.7 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 45 Alternate North, MS 25 North: West Point, Tupelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45 Alternate North, MS 25 North: West...
5
174 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|US 45 ALT; MS 25 / US Highway 45 Alternate
Merge onto US 45 ALT; MS 25 / US Highway 45 Alternate
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.61 one way
$69.23 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$38.00
$76.00
premium
$4.56
$41.14
$82.28
diesel
$5.61
$50.60
$101.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.8
0
$24.07
$11.00
Efficient EV
57.3
0
$20.05
$9.17
EV Truck/SUV
91.7
1
$32.09
$14.67
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Hazlehurst, MS
Late night
in Hazlehurst on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tupelo, MS
Late night
in Tupelo on Tuesday
Local time
4:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
80°F
Philadelphia, MS
115 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
1 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
4h 28m 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.
Tupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 38.6
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with an 85% highway share, so anticipate a good amount of time on faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like the 79.6 miles on MS Hwy 25, which offers a more continuous driving experience before you might merge onto interstates. The character is largely about covering ground efficiently, with MS Hwy 25 likely providing a mix of rural scenery and direct connections, transitioning to the quicker pace of I-55 as you progress toward Tupelo. It's less about winding backroads and more about straightforward travel.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.6 mi on MS Hwy 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS Hwy 25 and MS 25. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.9 miles in near I 55.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 229.2 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: at 33.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.2 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.4 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Hazlehurst, MS and Tupelo, MS, road signs point toward Grenada, Memphis and Point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 28m. Total distance: 229.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.6 miles on MS Hwy 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Tupelo, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.9 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.2 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 161.4 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Tupelo National Battlefield, Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. 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 Tupelo, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
