Origin
Madison, MS
Late night in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Madison, MS to Columbus, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
141.8 mi
228 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Madison, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a straightforward 141.8-mile journey from Madison, MS, to Columbus, MS, a drive that will take approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes. This route is entirely within Mississippi, a Southeast state, making it a convenient one-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The majority of this drive, 82% of it, is on highways, offering a focused and efficient travel experience. Plan for a single, well-timed stop to break up the drive and enjoy the scenery as you transition between these two Mississippi locales.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.9 miles from Madison, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS 25 | 103.8 mi | 1h 57m |
| East Peace Street | 23.4 mi | 34m |
| United States Highway 51 | 9.1 mi | 13m |
| Canton Parkway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Old Sharon Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Depot Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MS 25
— 103.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, MS and Columbus, MS.
1
Start on Depot Drive
36 ft
·
7 sec
·
Depot Drive
2
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 51
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
United States Highway 51
4
Turn right onto MS 16
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Canton Parkway
5
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 43
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Sharon Road
6
Turn right
133 ft
·
5 sec
7
Turn right onto MS 16
23 mi
·
34 min
·
East Peace Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
9
Merge onto MS 25
47 mi
·
53 min
·
MS 25
10
Take the exit onto MS 25
25 mi
·
29 min
·
MS 25
11
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
MS 25
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on MS 25
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
MS 25
13
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
25 mi
·
27 min
·
MS 25
Toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
16
Turn straight onto MS 69
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
17
Enter roundabout onto MS 69; MS 182
63 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
18
Continue on MS 69; MS 182
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto North 6th Street
169 ft
·
9 sec
·
North 6th Street
20
Arrive at destination
North 6th Street
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 2-hour and 56-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion from Madison to Columbus. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your time at your destination, and consider a brief stop around the 103.8-mile mark on MS 25 to stretch your legs. With a fuel cost around $21, it's wise to ensure you start with a full tank, as services might be less frequent on the longest highway stretch. This highway-centric drive allows for flexibility; you can easily adjust your departure or stop times as needed.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.9 miles from Madison, MS, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.8 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 31 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.9 miles or 1h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, MS
This is one driving day of about 141.8 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Madison, 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 25 for about 103.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.9 miles from Madison, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before MS 25 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.8 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 141.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
12.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
MS 16; MS 43 / Old Sharon Road
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 43 / Old Sharon Road
Navigation decision point
6
109.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m 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
115.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m 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
141.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.42 one way
$42.83 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $23.51 | $47.02 |
| premium | $4.56 | $25.45 | $50.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.31 | $62.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.5 | 0 | $14.89 | $6.81 |
| Efficient EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.41 | $5.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.85 | $9.08 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Columbus, MS
Late night in Columbus on Tuesday
Local time
3:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Louisville, MS
71 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
3 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
2h 56m 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?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 82% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 103.8 miles along MS 25, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of your trip. The main roads you'll navigate include MS 25, East Peace Street, and United States Highway 51. Expect a driving personality that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently, with minimal detours or slower local road sections.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.8 mi on MS 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 25 and East Peace Street. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main Street.
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 141.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles (MS 16; MS 43 / Old Sharon Road): Navigation decision point; at 109.4 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Madison, MS to Columbus, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Point along the way.
Point
115.6 mi in
|
~2h 26m
|
via MS 25
About the Cities
Arriving in Columbus, MS
Full guide →Founded 1821
Columbus is a city in eastern Mississippi, near the border with Alabama. In some ways, the history of Columbus parallels that of Jackson's, as both were established around 1820 after Mississippi was admitted to statehood and both served as logistics centers for the Confederacy during the Civil War. However, unlike Jackson, Columbus was largely spared destruction because General Nathan Bedford Forrest prevented Northern forces from accessing it. As a result, Columbus was briefly made Mississippi's capital following Jackson's plight at the hands of Sherman and is noted for its historic preservation. Another unique detail about Columbus is that it features the oldest public school in Mississippi as well as the country's first public women's university, as noted below.
Top landmarks
- • Friendship Cemetery — cemetery in Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States
- • Stephen D. Lee House — historic house in Mississippi, United States
- • Charles McLaran House — human settlement in Mississippi, United States of America
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 2h 56m. Total distance: 141.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.8 miles on MS 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles (MS 16; MS 43 / Old Sharon Road): Navigation decision point; at 109.4 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbus, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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