Tupelo to Diamondhead is 309.2 miles and takes about 6h 9m via I 59 and US Highway 45 Alternate, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, beginning in the Southeast region and concluding in the same area. It's a primarily highway route, making it a straightforward trip if you're looking for efficiency. Given the relatively short duration, this is a very manageable one-day excursion. You'll want to be prepared for a straightforward drive with minimal deviations from major thoroughfares.
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
154.6 miles from Tupelo, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
121.1 mi
2h 10m
US Highway 45 Aiternate
60.6 mi
1h 9m
US Highway 45 Alternate
54.7 mi
1h 6m
MS 603
19.6 mi
29m
South Main Street
15.7 mi
23m
Martin Luther King Drive
8.7 mi
10m
I 20
8.1 mi
9m
US 45 ALT
7.2 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 121.1 mi, about 2h 10m
Traffic on I-59
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~906 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,135
Quietest
1 AM
~87 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tupelo, MS and Diamondhead, 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
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 45
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·US Highway 45 Aiternate
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
3.9 mi·4 min·US 45
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 59 South, I 20 West: Meridian
18
Merge onto I 20; I 59
6.3 mi·7 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 20; I 59; US 80
1.8 mi·2 min·I 20; I 59; US 80
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 59
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New OrleansUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
22
Turn left onto MS 53
16 mi·23 min·South Main Street
23
Continue on MS 603
20 mi·29 min·MS 603
24
Turn left
0.3 mi·41 sec
25
Merge onto I 10
2.4 mi·2 min·I 10
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward Diamondhead
27
Keep slight left at fork
228 ft·5 sec
28
Keep slight left at fork onto Yacht Club Drive
0.1 mi·16 sec·Yacht Club Drive
29
Continue on Gex Drive
0.1 mi·18 sec·Gex Drive
30
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
143 ft·3 sec·Gex Drive
31
Continue on Gex Drive
448 ft·12 sec·Gex Drive
32
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
104 ft·3 sec·Gex Drive
33
Continue on Gex Drive
0.4 mi·57 sec·Gex Drive
34
Enter roundabout onto Diamondhead Drive North
452 ft·12 sec·Diamondhead Drive North
35
Continue on Diamondhead Drive North
0.3 mi·49 sec·Diamondhead Drive North
36
Turn right onto Analii Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Analii Street
37
Turn right onto Diamondhead Drive North
0.7 mi·1 min·Diamondhead Drive North
38
Turn right
0.2 mi·55 sec
39
At end of road, turn right
382 ft·17 sec
40
Turn right
136 ft·5 sec
41
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider leaving Tupelo in the morning to give yourself ample daylight. Since this route is designed to be completed in a single day, you have flexibility, but it's wise to plan for one stop. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $45, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before heading into more rural stretches. The longest continuous highway segment is over 121 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before hitting the road.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 154.6 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.1 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 68 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.6 miles or 3h 2m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Diamondhead, 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 309.2 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 I 59 for about 121.1 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 307 — 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
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.
8
147 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
6
306.9 mi into trip|~6h 2m in|Gex Drive
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
307 mi into trip|~6h 3m in|Gex Drive
Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.59 one way
$95.17 round trip
$3.91/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.37
$53.22
$106.44
premium
$4.76
$57.96
$115.91
diesel
$5.89
$71.66
$143.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.8
1
$32.47
$14.84
Efficient EV
77.3
0
$27.06
$12.37
EV Truck/SUV
123.7
1
$43.29
$19.79
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Tupelo, MS
Late night
in Tupelo on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Diamondhead, MS
Late night
in Diamondhead on Sunday
Local time
5:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
N 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 5:35AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 3:29AM CDT until October 17 at 3:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
48°F
Waynesboro, MS
155 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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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?
About 90% of this route is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on I 59 and US Highway 45 Alternate. Your longest stretch without a significant change in road type will be 121.1 miles on I 59. The transition from highway to surface roads will occur towards the end of your trip. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent exits on the highway portions.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 121.1 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and US Highway 45 Aiternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 309.2 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: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 147 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
454 ft55 ft
Total Climb
304 ft
Total Descent
527 ft
Highest Point
454 ft
~176.7 mi in
Elevation Range
399 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tupelo, MS and Diamondhead, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans and Necaise.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 309.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 121.1 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Diamondhead, 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 147 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Diamondhead, MS before the return drive.
