If you are planning a trip from Water Valley to Oxford, be prepared for a journey that covers 239.8 miles and takes approximately 4 hours and 47 minutes. This route is designed as a highway-focused drive, making it well-suited for a one-day excursion. You should budget about $37 for fuel to complete the trip. Because the drive is contained entirely within the Southeast region of Mississippi, the transition between these two points is straightforward and consistent. Given the duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay, though you will want to account for at least one planned stop along the way.
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
119.9 miles from Water Valley, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 7
124.4 mi
2h 15m
I 55
71.6 mi
1h 19m
US 84
22.7 mi
26m
Gloster Road
6.5 mi
15m
Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi
15m
Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi
6m
US 98
1.9 mi
2m
MS 184
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
MS 7
— 124.4 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Water Valley, MS and Oxford, MS.
1
Start on Main Street
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
2
Turn right onto MS 32, MS 315
0.6 mi·59 sec·Frostland Drive
3
Turn left onto MS 7
23 mi·26 min·MS 7
4
Take the exit onto MS 7
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·MS 7
5
Continue on I 55
18 mi·21 min·I 55
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
54 mi·57 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
8
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft·9 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
9
Merge onto US 84
23 mi·26 min·US 84
10
Turn left onto MS 184
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 184
11
Turn left onto US 98
1.9 mi·2 min·US 98
12
Turn right onto Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Yap 3 Road
13
Continue on Gloster Road
3.8 mi·9 min·Gloster Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto Gloster Road
2.8 mi·6 min·Gloster Road
15
Continue on Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi·15 min·Oxford-Meadville Road
16
Arrive at destination
Oxford-Meadville Road
Trip Plan
Because this trip spans nearly five hours, aim to depart early in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and avoid heavy traffic. With only one recommended stop, pacing is key; use that break to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle to stay within your $37 budget. Keep a close watch on your odometer during the 124.4-mile MS 7 stretch, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your travel time. Since the route is primarily highway-based, take advantage of the flexibility this drive offers by keeping your arrival schedule loose. Always verify your fuel gauge before starting that long primary stretch to ensure a smooth, worry-free transit.
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 119.9 miles from Water Valley, MS, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.4 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 53 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.9 miles or 2h 11m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oxford, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Water Valley, 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 Water Valley, MS
This is one driving day of about 239.8 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Water Valley, 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 7 for about 124.4 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 1.4 and 221.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|MS 32, MS 315 / Frostland Drive
Turn right onto MS 32, MS 315 / Frostland Drive
Navigation decision point
6
144.2 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
5
198 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
7
198.3 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
4
221.1 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|MS 184
Turn left onto MS 184
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.22 one way
$72.43 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$39.76
$79.51
premium
$4.56
$43.04
$86.08
diesel
$5.61
$52.94
$105.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.9
0
$25.18
$11.51
Efficient EV
60
0
$20.98
$9.59
EV Truck/SUV
95.9
1
$33.57
$15.35
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Water Valley, MS
Night
in Water Valley on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oxford, MS
Night
in Oxford on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°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
2 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 47m 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.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 140.6
Discover the history of all the peoples of Natchez, Mississippi, from European settlement, African enslavement, the American cotton economy, to the Civil Rights struggle on the lower Mississippi River...
30 mi from route
~75 min detour
Free
near mile 231.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by its highway-focused nature, with 93% of the travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a combination of MS 7, I 55, and US 84 as you move between these two Mississippi towns. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 124.4-mile stretch on MS 7, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the drive. While the route offers a steady pace, the mix of interstate and state highway travel means you should stay alert as the road conditions shift from high-speed corridors to local highway segments.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124.4 mi on MS 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 7 and I 55. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in near MS 32, MS 315 / Frostland Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m 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: at 1.4 miles (MS 32, MS 315 / Frostland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 144.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Water Valley, MS and Oxford, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans and Natchez.
New Orleans
144.2 mi in|~2h 40m|via I 55
Natchez
198 mi in|~3h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 239.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 124.4 miles on MS 7. 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: at 1.4 miles (MS 32, MS 315 / Frostland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 144.2 miles (I 55): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 198 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Natchez National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Oxford, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
