Tupelo to Ackerman is 76 miles and takes about 1 hour 58 minutes via Natchez Trace Parkway and MS 15, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, relatively short trip, making it an easy same-day excursion. The route offers a mix of parkway driving and state highway travel, suitable for those looking for a brief escape without a major time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38 miles from Tupelo, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Tupelo, MS and Ackerman, MS.
1
Start on North Spring Street
68 ft·8 sec·North Spring Street
2
Turn left onto Court Street
280 ft·17 sec·Court Street
3
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
298 ft·17 sec·North Broadway Street
4
Turn right onto West Main Street
2.9 mi·6 min·West Main Street
5
Turn left
0.3 mi·1 min
6
At end of road, turn left onto Natchez Trace Parkway
45 mi·1 hr 8 min·Natchez Trace Parkway
7
Turn right onto County Road 285
0.1 mi·30 sec·County Road 285
8
At end of road, turn left onto MS 15
9.5 mi·14 min·MS 15
9
Take the ramp onto MS 15
1.1 mi·2 min·MS 15
10
Turn left onto MS 15
16 mi·24 min·Horton Street
11
Turn left onto West Main Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·West Main Avenue
12
Turn right onto South Louisville Street
115 ft·5 sec·South Louisville Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Louisville Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under 2 hours, this trip is best tackled in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You'll want to ensure you have enough fuel before you begin, as there are no designated stops mentioned on this particular route. The majority of the drive being on the Natchez Trace Parkway means you'll want to be mindful of its specific speed limits and any restrictions. Consider starting your journey mid-morning to allow for a leisurely pace and arrive in Ackerman with plenty of daylight left.
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 38 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.4 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 17 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38 miles or 1h 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ackerman, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Tupelo, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tupelo, MS
This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Tupelo, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Natchez Trace Parkway for about 45.4 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 76 — 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|Court Street
Turn left onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North Broadway Street
Turn left onto North Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
48.8 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|MS 15
At end of road, turn left onto MS 15
Navigation decision point
5
76 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|South Louisville Street
Turn right onto South Louisville Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.48 one way
$22.96 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$12.60
$25.20
premium
$4.56
$13.64
$27.28
diesel
$5.61
$16.78
$33.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.98
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.65
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.64
$4.86
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Tupelo, MS
Late night
in Tupelo on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ackerman, MS
Late night
in Ackerman on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Houston, MS
38 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
5 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
1h 58m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 74% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 45.4 miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway, which typically offers a more relaxed and scenic driving experience compared to interstates. As you transition to MS 15, expect a more typical state highway feel. The overall character is one of efficient travel with a brief interlude on a designated parkway.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.4 mi on Natchez Trace Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Natchez Trace Parkway and Horton Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 58m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 45.4 miles on Natchez Trace Parkway. 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 (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Ackerman, MS before heading back.
