Origin
Pontotoc, MS
Late night in Pontotoc on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pontotoc, MS to Tupelo, 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
31m
Distance
18.4 mi
30 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pontotoc, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Tupelo, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion in the Southeast, the 18.4-mile journey between Pontotoc and Tupelo, Mississippi, is a straightforward trek that takes approximately 31 minutes. This short distance makes it an ideal day trip, allowing you to easily complete the drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at $3, the route is highly budget-friendly for any traveler. You will primarily navigate via West Main Street, Old Highway 6, and East Oxford Street to reach your destination. Because both cities are located within the same region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. It is a practical, no-fuss connection perfect for those who prefer simple logistics over long-haul planning.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Main Street | 5.7 mi | 11m |
| Old Highway 6 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| East Oxford Street | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Pontotoc Parkway East | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Spring Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Marion Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Main Street
— 5.7 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pontotoc, MS and Tupelo, MS.
1
Start on East Marion Street
54 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Marion Street
2
Turn right onto MS 41
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Turn slight right
175 ft
·
3 sec
4
Turn slight right onto East Oxford Street
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
East Oxford Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
6
Merge onto US 278; MS 6
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pontotoc Parkway East
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
8
Turn straight onto Old Highway 6
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Old Highway 6
9
Continue on West Main Street
5.7 mi
·
11 min
·
West Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto North Spring Street
230 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Spring Street
11
Arrive at destination
North Spring Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MS 41 / South Main Street
Turn right onto MS 41 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway East
Merge onto US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway East
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
18.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
North Spring Street
Turn left onto North Spring Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.78 one way
$5.56 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $3.05 | $6.10 |
| premium | $4.56 | $3.30 | $6.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Late night in Tupelo on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
31m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between local streets and highway segments. With 40% of the route consisting of highway travel, you get a balance of steady cruising and slower, localized traffic. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 5.7 miles you spend on West Main Street. The road character evolves as you move away from the starting point, shifting from smaller thoroughfares to more open stretches. This variety keeps the drive from feeling monotonous, though the brevity of the trip means you will reach Tupelo before you have much time to settle in.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.7 mi on West Main Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 41 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 31m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 41 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway East): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Arriving in Tupelo, MS
Full guide →Tupelo is a city in Northeast Mississippi that is known best for being the birthplace of Elvis Presley.
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 31m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.7 miles on West Main Street. 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: near the start (MS 41 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway East): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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