Origin
Tupelo, MS
Morning in Tupelo on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tupelo, MS to Carthage, 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 49m
Distance
142 mi
229 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 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 55m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tupelo, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Carthage, MS
Anton Ivanov
Trip Overview
This straightforward 142-mile drive from Tupelo, MS, to Carthage, MS, is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 49 minutes. With 91% of the journey on highways, you'll spend most of your time on major roads like MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate. The estimated fuel cost for this Southeast to Southeast route is around $21, making it an economical choice for a quick getaway. This route offers a focused highway experience, perfect for those who prefer covering ground efficiently. Given the relatively short duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in one go without needing an overnight stop.
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
71 miles from Tupelo, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS 25 | 84 mi | 1h 36m |
| US Highway 45 Alternate | 35.7 mi | 43m |
| Martin Luther King Drive | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| US 45 ALT | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| MS 35 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Drive | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Court Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MS 25
— 84 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tupelo, MS and Carthage, MS.
1
Start on North Spring Street
68 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Spring Street
2
Turn right onto Court Street
317 ft
·
16 sec
·
Court Street
3
Turn right onto North Front Street
287 ft
·
15 sec
·
North Front Street
4
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
6
Merge onto US 45; MS 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
7
Continue on US 45; MS 6
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
8
Continue on US 45; US 278
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Martin Luther King Drive
9
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45 ALT
10
Continue on US 45 ALT
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45 ALT
11
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45 ALT
12
Continue on US 45 ALT
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 45 ALT
13
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45 ALT
14
Continue on US 45 ALT
36 mi
·
43 min
·
US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit onto MS 25
12 mi
·
13 min
·
MS 25
Toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Starkville
16
Take the exit onto MS 25
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
MS 25
Toward MS 25 South: Louisville
17
Continue on MS 25
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
MS 25
Use the left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
25 mi
·
28 min
·
MS 25
19
Take the exit onto MS 25
40 mi
·
46 min
·
MS 25
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
21
Keep slight left at fork
207 ft
·
7 sec
22
Turn left
121 ft
·
3 sec
23
Turn slight left onto MS 35
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
MS 35
24
Arrive at destination
MS 35
Trip Plan
For this approximately 2 hour and 49 minute drive, departing in the morning is recommended to allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $21, you can easily manage this trip without extensive planning. The longest stretch without a major change is 84 miles on MS 25, so consider taking a brief break before or during this segment to stay refreshed. Since this is a manageable 142-mile route, you have the advantage of being able to adjust your pace as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on that 84-mile stretch on MS 25.
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 71 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71 miles or 1h 26m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, 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.
+
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 Tupelo, MS
This is one driving day of about 142 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Tupelo, 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 84 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 71 miles from Tupelo, 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 84 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 66.6 — 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
|
Court Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Front Street
Turn right onto North Front Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Main Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
MS 25
Take the exit onto MS 25 toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Starkville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Sta...
4
66.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m in
|
MS 25
Take the exit onto MS 25 toward MS 25 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 25 South: Louisville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.45 one way
$42.89 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $23.54 | $47.08 |
| premium | $4.56 | $25.49 | $50.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.35 | $62.70 |
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: 49.7 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 | 42.6 | 0 | $14.91 | $6.82 |
| Efficient EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.42 | $5.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.88 | $9.09 |
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
Carthage, MS
Morning in Carthage on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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 49m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this 142-mile route. You'll be navigating main roads including MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate for the vast majority of your journey, with 91% of the trip taking place on highways. The drive features a significant uninterrupted stretch of 84 miles on MS 25, indicating long periods of consistent travel. While primarily highway, the route may offer a mix of speeds and road types as you transition between different sections and approach your destination. This profile suggests a journey where forward momentum is key.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84 mi on MS 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 142 miles you will encounter 11 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 (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting 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 2h 49m. Total distance: 142 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84 miles on MS 25. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Carthage, 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: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carthage, 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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