Latimer to Auburn is 296.2 miles and takes about 6h 7m via US 45, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, traveling from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. With the majority of the drive on highways, expect a relatively straightforward cruise. This is a solid option for a single-day excursion when you want to cover a good amount of ground without needing an overnight stay.
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
148.1 miles from Latimer, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
137.2 mi
2h 38m
US Highway 45 Alternate
53 mi
1h 3m
MS 57
32.1 mi
39m
MS 63
18.2 mi
20m
Martin Luther King Drive
18.1 mi
20m
Old Biloxi Road
15.6 mi
27m
MS 26
11.6 mi
17m
South Eason Boulevard
4.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 137.2 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Latimer, MS and Auburn, MS.
1
Start on Allie Byrd Road
151 ft·13 sec·Allie Byrd Road
2
Turn left onto Old Biloxi Road
8.6 mi·15 min·Old Biloxi Road
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Biloxi Road
7.0 mi·12 min·Old Biloxi Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto Vestry Road
0.3 mi·38 sec·Vestry Road
5
Turn right onto Red Creek Road
3.1 mi·5 min·Red Creek Road
6
Continue on Broome School Road
0.1 mi·16 sec·Broome School Road
7
Turn left
0.2 mi·22 sec
8
Turn left onto MS 57
7.9 mi·11 min·MS 57
9
Turn right onto MS 26
12 mi·17 min·MS 26
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·49 sec
11
Merge onto MS 63
18 mi·20 min·MS 63
12
Continue on MS 57
22 mi·24 min·MS 57
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on MS 57
2.3 mi·2 min·MS 57
Use the straight lane.
14
Merge onto US 45
16 mi·19 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 45
0.9 mi·1 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 45
6.1 mi·7 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 45
0.7 mi·49 sec·US 45
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 45
1.7 mi·1 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 45
1.8 mi·2 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 45
6.3 mi·7 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 45
5.6 mi·6 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 45
3.5 mi·4 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 45
4.7 mi·5 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 45
5.3 mi·6 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 45
3.7 mi·4 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
26
Continue on US 45
1.3 mi·1 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 45
79 mi·1 hr 30 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, TupeloUse the straight / slight left lanes.
29
Continue on US 45 ALT
18 mi·20 min·Martin Luther King Drive
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Eason Boulevard
31
Turn straight onto South Eason Boulevard
4.9 mi·7 min·South Eason Boulevard
32
Continue on CR 931
1.1 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
33
Turn right onto County Road 1438
119 ft·5 sec·County Road 1438
34
Arrive at destination
County Road 1438
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Auburn. Plan for one stop to break up the 137.2-mile stretch on US 45. The fuel cost is estimated at $43, so ensure you have that budget in mind. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the end of the longest highway segment, as services might be less frequent on the secondary roads.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.1 miles from Latimer, MS, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.2 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 65 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 3h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Latimer, 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 Latimer, MS
This is one driving day of about 296.2 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Latimer, 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 US 45 for about 137.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.6 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
Tupelo, Mississippi
Hours: 11 AM–9 PM
+16622604423
Grata Grille & Bar
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20 to $30
Tupelo, Mississippi
Hours: 6 AM–9:30 PM
+16622690096
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 218.7 — 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|Old Biloxi Road
Turn left onto Old Biloxi Road
Navigation decision point
4
8.6 mi into trip|~15m in|Old Biloxi Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Biloxi Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
15.6 mi into trip|~27m in|Vestry Road
At end of road, turn left onto Vestry Road
Navigation decision point
5
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 45
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
218.7 mi into trip|~4h 31m in|US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupel...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.12 one way
$82.24 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$46.00
$92.01
premium
$4.29
$50.02
$100.03
diesel
$4.80
$55.93
$111.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.9
1
$31.10
$14.22
Efficient EV
74.1
0
$25.92
$11.85
EV Truck/SUV
118.5
1
$41.47
$18.96
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 17, 2026
Origin
Latimer, MS
Late night
in Latimer on Sunday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
98°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Auburn, MS
Late night
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
93°F
Meridian, MS
148 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
4 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
6h 7m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 296.2
Park Closure: Partial Closure of Rocky Springs Trail
Park Closure: Temporary Blackland Prairie Trail Closure to Equestrians
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 85% of this 296.2-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 137.2 miles, found on US 45. After that, you'll transition to surface roads for the remaining portion. Expect to notice a steady stream of exits and interchanges for much of the drive before the scenery opens up.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.2 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Old Biloxi Road.
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 13 significant decision points across 296.2 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: near the start (Old Biloxi Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (Old Biloxi Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.6 miles (Vestry Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
532 ft61 ft
Total Climb
635 ft
Total Descent
376 ft
Highest Point
532 ft
~148.1 mi in
Elevation Range
471 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Latimer, MS to Auburn, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tupelo along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 296.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.2 miles on US 45. 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 Auburn, 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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Old Biloxi Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.6 miles (Old Biloxi Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.6 miles (Vestry Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Auburn, MS before the return drive.
