Pontotoc, MS to Oxford, MS is 289.4 miles and takes about 5h 47m via MS 7 and I 55, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a mostly highway drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major roads, so plan for efficient travel. Consider this route if you need to get between these two points without much fuss.
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
144.7 miles from Pontotoc, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 7
143.9 mi
2h 38m
I 55
71.6 mi
1h 19m
Pontotoc Parkway West
26.5 mi
30m
US 84
22.7 mi
26m
Gloster Road
6.5 mi
15m
Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi
15m
Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi
6m
MS 15
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
MS 7
— 143.9 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pontotoc, MS and Oxford, MS.
1
Start on East Marion Street
54 ft·3 sec·East Marion Street
2
Turn right onto MS 41
0.4 mi·43 sec·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto MS 9
0.7 mi·1 min·West Oxford Street
4
Turn right onto MS 336
0.4 mi·43 sec·Turnpike Road
5
Turn right onto MS 15
2.2 mi·3 min·MS 15
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 278 West, MS 6 West: OxfordUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto US 278; MS 6
2.1 mi·2 min·Pontotoc Parkway West
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 278; MS 6
24 mi·28 min·Pontotoc Parkway West
9
Continue on MS 6; US 278
0.5 mi·35 sec·MS 6; US 278
10
Continue on US 278; MS 6
1.0 mi·1 min·US 278; MS 6
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward MS 7: Holly Springs, Water Valley
12
Keep slight left at fork
171 ft·7 sec
13
Merge onto MS 7
6.5 mi·8 min·MS 7
14
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
124 ft·1 sec·MS 7
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
15
Continue on MS 7
36 mi·41 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
16
Take the exit onto MS 7
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·MS 7
17
Continue on I 55
18 mi·21 min·I 55
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
54 mi·57 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
20
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft·9 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
21
Merge onto US 84
23 mi·26 min·US 84
22
Turn left onto MS 184
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 184
23
Turn left onto US 98
1.9 mi·2 min·US 98
24
Turn right onto Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Yap 3 Road
25
Continue on Gloster Road
3.8 mi·9 min·Gloster Road
26
At end of road, turn right onto Gloster Road
2.8 mi·6 min·Gloster Road
27
Continue on Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi·15 min·Oxford-Meadville Road
28
Arrive at destination
Oxford-Meadville Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 47-minute drive, departing in the morning is your best bet to ensure you have ample daylight. Since it's a single-day trip and you'll be on highways for most of the way, you might only need one stop for fuel or a quick break. The longest stretch without exiting is over 140 miles on MS 7, so be sure to fill up before you begin that segment. The estimated fuel cost of $44 is a good baseline for your budget.
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 144.7 miles from Pontotoc, MS, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.9 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 64 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.7 miles or 2h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oxford, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pontotoc, 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 Pontotoc, MS
This is one driving day of about 289.4 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Pontotoc, 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 7 for about 143.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 247.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.6 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward US 278 West, MS 6 West: Oxford
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 278 West, MS 6 West: Oxford
5
31.9 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward MS 7: Holly Springs, Water Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 7: Holly Springs, Water Valley
5
32.1 mi into trip|~40m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
193.9 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
7
247.9 mi into trip|~4h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.71 one way
$87.41 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$47.98
$95.96
premium
$4.56
$51.94
$103.89
diesel
$5.61
$63.90
$127.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
ChargePoint Charging Station
Pontotoc, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Pilot Flying J Charging Station
Winona, Mississippi
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Grenada, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 2
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.8
1
$30.39
$13.89
Efficient EV
72.4
0
$25.32
$11.58
EV Truck/SUV
115.8
1
$40.52
$18.52
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Pontotoc, MS
Night
in Pontotoc on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oxford, MS
Night
in Oxford on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Madison, MS
145 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 94% of this route on highways, you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 143.9 miles on MS 7. Expect a very limited amount of time on surface roads, likely near your start and end points. The prevalence of highway driving means fewer turns and more direct travel.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 143.9 mi on MS 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 7 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
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 20 significant decision points across 289.4 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 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pontotoc, MS and Oxford, MS, road signs point toward Water Valley, New Orleans and Natchez.
Water Valley
31.9 mi in|~39m
New Orleans
193.9 mi in|~3h 40m|via I 55
Natchez
247.7 mi in|~4h 38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 289.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 143.9 miles on MS 7. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Oxford, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oxford, MS before the return drive.
