Union, MS to Auburn, MS is 227.3 miles and takes about 4h 30m via US 45, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, traversing the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a good option for a single-day journey. If you're looking for a relatively quick and uncomplicated drive within the state, this route fits the bill.
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
113.6 miles from Union, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
65.1 mi
1h 14m
US Highway 45 Alternate
53 mi
1h 3m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
50.8 mi
54m
Martin Luther King Drive
18.1 mi
20m
US 84
16.7 mi
19m
I 59
9 mi
10m
MS 532
5.9 mi
10m
South Eason Boulevard
4.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 65.1 mi, about 1h 14m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 5 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,821 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,146
Quietest
2 AM
~211 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Union, MS and Auburn, MS.
1
Start on Jones Chapel Road
81 ft·3 sec·Jones Chapel Road
2
Turn right onto MS 532
5.9 mi·10 min·MS 532
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
17 mi·19 min·US 84
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on West 5th Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·West 5th Street
5
Continue on Sawmill Road
0.5 mi·58 sec·Sawmill Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Sawmill Road
163 ft·3 sec·Sawmill Road
7
Continue on Sawmill Road
0.3 mi·31 sec·Sawmill Road
8
Continue on North Magnolia Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Magnolia Street
9
Turn right onto Teresa Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Teresa Street
10
Turn left onto US 11
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cross Street
11
Turn right onto Chantilly Street
0.3 mi·29 sec·Chantilly Street
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
13
Merge onto I 59
51 mi·54 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
9.0 mi·10 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 45 North: MaconUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto US 45
65 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, TupeloUse the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Continue on US 45 ALT
18 mi·20 min·Martin Luther King Drive
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward Eason Boulevard
20
Turn straight onto South Eason Boulevard
4.9 mi·7 min·South Eason Boulevard
21
Continue on CR 931
1.1 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
22
Turn right onto County Road 1438
119 ft·5 sec·County Road 1438
23
Arrive at destination
County Road 1438
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 30-minute duration, leaving Union, MS in the morning is ideal for a single-day trip. You'll have plenty of daylight to complete the 227.3 miles without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, flexibility is key; plan your break when you feel ready. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you approach Auburn, MS, as the $33 budget is an estimate. The longest stretch on US 45 is over 65 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before heading into that segment.
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 113.6 miles from Union, MS, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.1 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 2h 12m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, 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 Union, MS
This is one driving day of about 227.3 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Union, 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 US 45 for about 65.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.6 mi from route
~11 min detour
$10 to $20
Tupelo, Mississippi
Hours: 11 AM–9 PM
+16622604423
Grata Grille & Bar
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~12 min detour
Home stretch
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$20 to $30
Tupelo, Mississippi
Hours: 6 AM–9:30 PM
+16622690096
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 149.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.9 mi into trip|~10m in|US 84
At end of road, turn left onto US 84
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
23.4 mi into trip|~31m in|Sawmill Road
Enter roundabout onto Sawmill Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
75.5 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
6
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 45 North: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 45 North: Macon
8
149.9 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupel...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.55 one way
$63.11 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$35.30
$70.61
premium
$4.29
$38.38
$76.76
diesel
$4.80
$42.92
$85.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.2
0
$23.87
$10.91
Efficient EV
56.8
0
$19.89
$9.09
EV Truck/SUV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Union, MS
Night
in Union on Sunday
Local time
10:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
NNW 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Auburn, MS
Night
in Auburn on Sunday
Local time
10:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 5 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:23PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 12:07PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
92°F
Livingston, AL
114 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
2 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
4h 30m 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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 219.5
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...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 227.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on the highway for about 66% of this 227.3-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on US 45 is 65.1 miles, so expect some extended highway cruising. As you transition off the main highways, the driving environment will change to more typical surface roads. The prevalence of highway driving suggests a consistent pace, punctuated by transitions to local routes.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.1 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and US Highway 45 Alternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in near US 84.
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 14 significant decision points across 227.3 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: at 5.9 miles (US 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (Sawmill Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 75.5 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
398 ft234 ft
Total Climb
235 ft
Total Descent
301 ft
Highest Point
398 ft
Elevation Range
164 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union, MS and Auburn, MS, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa and Tupelo.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 227.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.1 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Auburn, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles (US 84): Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (Sawmill Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 75.5 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Auburn, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
