This 202.1-mile journey from Tupelo to Cleary, Mississippi, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 4 hours and 7 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 90% of the drive utilizing major roads like MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate. With an estimated fuel cost of $31, this trip offers a budget-friendly option for exploring within Mississippi. It's a straightforward drive that can be completed comfortably in one go, making it an ideal day trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
101 miles from Tupelo, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 25
133.5 mi
2h 33m
US Highway 45 Alternate
35.7 mi
43m
Martin Luther King Drive
8.7 mi
10m
US 45 ALT
7.2 mi
8m
Highway 49 South
5.1 mi
7m
Flowood Drive
4.1 mi
7m
Cleary Road
4 mi
9m
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
2.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
MS 25
— 133.5 mi, about 2h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tupelo, MS and Cleary, 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
90 mi·1 hr 43 min·MS 25
20
Turn left onto Treetop Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Treetop Boulevard
21
Turn right onto MS 468
4.1 mi·7 min·Flowood Drive
22
Continue on Highway 49 South
5.1 mi·7 min·Highway 49 South
23
Turn right onto Cleary Road
4.0 mi·9 min·Cleary Road
24
Arrive at destination
Cleary Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your drive from Tupelo in the morning will allow you to reach Cleary with ample time to spare. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 133.5 miles on MS 25, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before or during this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, it's wise to fill up before departing Tupelo to ensure you have plenty for the journey. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but an early start is recommended to maximize your time upon arrival.
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 101 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.5 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 44 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cleary, 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 202.1 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 133.5 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 11
5 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
$30.52 one way
$61.04 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.51
$67.01
premium
$4.56
$36.27
$72.55
diesel
$5.61
$44.62
$89.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.6
0
$21.22
$9.70
Efficient EV
50.5
0
$17.68
$8.08
EV Truck/SUV
80.8
1
$28.29
$12.93
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Tupelo, MS
Night
in Tupelo on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Cleary, MS
Night
in Cleary on Saturday
Local time
11:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
79°F
Philadelphia, MS
101 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
4 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
4h 7m 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.
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...
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant le...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 188.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this trip, with 90% of your time spent on faster roads. You'll experience a lengthy stretch of 133.5 miles on MS 25, which forms the backbone of this route. While the majority is on highways like MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate, the inclusion of Martin Luther King Drive suggests a transition into more local thoroughfares as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll mostly be covering distance quickly, with opportunities for brief changes in scenery as you navigate the final segments.
90% 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: 133.5 mi on MS 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 Effort5/10
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 202.1 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 202.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 133.5 miles on MS 25. 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.
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 (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 — Tupelo National Battlefield, Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Cleary, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
