Origin
Horn Lake, MS
Morning in Horn Lake on Wednesday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Horn Lake, MS to Tupelo, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
97.4 mi
157 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
2h 0m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 10m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Horn Lake, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Tupelo, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Horn Lake, MS to Tupelo, MS covers 97.4 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 78, Goodman Road West, US 45 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.4 miles on US 78. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Horn Lake, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 78 | 83.4 mi | 1h 29m |
| Goodman Road West | 10.2 mi | 15m |
| US 45 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North Front Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Hurt Road | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| West Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Spring Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Camelot Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 78
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Horn Lake, MS and Tupelo, MS.
1
Start on Camelot Road
193 ft
·
13 sec
·
Camelot Road
2
Turn left onto Hurt Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Hurt Road
3
Turn right onto MS 302
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Goodman Road West
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
5
Merge onto US 78
83 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 45:south: Tupelo
7
Merge onto US 45
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Downtown Tupelo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on North Front Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Front Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
10
Turn right onto West Main Street
322 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto North Spring Street
230 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Spring Street
12
Arrive at destination
North Spring Street
Trip Plan
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 48.7 miles from Horn Lake, MS, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 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 32m
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 Horn Lake, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Horn Lake, MS
This is one driving day of about 97.4 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Horn Lake, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 78 for about 83.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.7 miles from Horn Lake, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 78 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 97.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Turn right onto MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 78
Merge onto US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
94.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
US 45
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
96.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Tupelo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Downtown Tupelo
5
97.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.27 one way
$28.54 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $15.84 | $31.68 |
| premium | $4.49 | $17.20 | $34.40 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.47 | $42.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.23 | $4.68 |
| Efficient EV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.52 | $3.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39 | 0 | $13.64 | $6.23 |
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.
Destination
Tupelo, MS
Morning in Tupelo on Wednesday
Local time
6:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°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
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
1h 53m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
97.4 mi in 1h 53m, mostly highway — 83.4 mi of that is on US 78.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.4 mi on US 78.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 78 and Goodman Road West. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near MS 302 / Goodman Road West.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 97.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.5 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.9 miles (US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
502 ft
278 ft
Total Climb
442 ft
Total Descent
460 ft
Highest Point
502 ft
~36.7 mi in
Elevation Range
224 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Horn Lake, MS
Full guide →Southaven is a city in Mississippi. Known as the "Top of Mississippi," the city is the gateway to the Mississippi Delta and minutes from Memphis.
Arriving in Tupelo, MS
Full guide →Founded 1860
Tupelo is a city in Northeast Mississippi that is known best for being the birthplace of Elvis Presley.
Top landmarks
- • Tupelo National Battlefield — battlefield in Mississippi, United States
- • First Methodist Church — historic church in Tupelo, Mississippi, USA
- • Stewart-Anderson House — historic mansion in Tupelo, Mississippi
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 97.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.4 miles on US 78. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.9 miles (US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tupelo, MS before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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