Origin
Columbia, MS
Morning in Columbia on Monday
Local time
7:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, MS to Starkville, MS
Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
216.5 mi
348 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 1m
★
6 AM
4h 14m
8 AM
4h 40m
10 AM
4h 23m
12 PM
4h 21m
3 PM
4h 25m
5 PM
4h 39m
8 PM
4h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, MS
Arturo Añez.
Starkville, MS
大 董
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, MS to Starkville, MS covers 216.5 miles and takes about 4h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 59, US 45, US 98 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 91 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
108.2 miles from Columbia, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 14m highway drive covering 216.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and US 45. The longest continuous stretch is about 91 miles on I 59.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 59 is the longest continuous segment at about 91 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and US 45. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Main Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 216.5 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 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.2 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
112.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m 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
121.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m 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
186.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 34m 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...
7
214.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m in
Turn left toward MS 12 West: Ackerman
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward MS 12 West: Ackerman
Towns Along This Route
Between Columbia, MS and Starkville, MS, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa and Tupelo.
Tuscaloosa
112.2 mi in
|
~2h 9m
|
via I 59
Tupelo
186.5 mi in
|
~3h 34m
|
via US 45 ALT
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 91 mi | 1h 39m |
| US 45 | 65.1 mi | 1h 14m |
| US 98 | 26.4 mi | 33m |
| US Highway 45 Alternate | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| MS 182 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Broad Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| MS 12 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Old Hwy 98 East | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 91 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MS and Starkville, MS.
1
Start on Pittman Street
51 ft
·
2 sec
·
Pittman Street
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
2nd Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
409 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on Broad Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Broad Street
5
Continue on MS 198
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Hwy 98 East
6
Take the ramp onto MS 198
187 ft
·
5 sec
·
Old Hwy 98 East
7
Turn left onto US 98
22 mi
·
27 min
·
US 98
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 98
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 98
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 98
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 98
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 98
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 98
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 98
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
US 98
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 59 North: Laurel
13
Merge onto I 59
82 mi
·
1 hr 28 min
·
I 59
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, Tuscaloosa
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
Toward US 45 North: Macon
Use 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
19 mi
·
21 min
·
US Highway 45 Alternate
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Take the exit
6.6 mi
·
7 min
Toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Starkville
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Toward MS 182 West: Starkville
20
Continue on MS 182
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
MS 182
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward MS 12 West: Ackerman
Use the left lane.
22
Turn straight onto MS 12
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
MS 12
23
Turn slight left
78 ft
·
5 sec
24
Turn left onto Eckford Drive
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
Eckford Drive
25
Continue on Victory Lane
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Victory Lane
26
Turn right
214 ft
·
17 sec
27
Turn right
290 ft
·
21 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 108.2 miles from Columbia, MS, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.2 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Starkville, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, MS
This is one driving day of about 216.5 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbia, 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 91 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 108.2 mi from Columbia, MS · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.2 miles from Columbia, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 91 miles.
Arriving in Starkville, MS
The final approach into Starkville, MS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Starkville, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.10 one way
$66.19 round trip
$3.88/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $36.30 | $72.60 |
| premium | $4.61 | $39.29 | $78.59 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $48.10 | $96.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65 | 0 | $22.73 | $10.39 |
| Efficient EV | 54.1 | 0 | $18.94 | $8.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.6 | 1 | $30.31 | $13.86 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Starkville, MS
Morning in Starkville on Monday
Local time
7:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 5 mph
4% chance
Live forecast
Along the Route
86°F
Butler, AL
108 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 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 14m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Columbia, MS to Starkville, MS covers 216.5 miles and takes about 4h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, US 45, US 98. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 108.2 miles from Columbia, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.10 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 216.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 112.2 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 121.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Columbia, MS and Starkville, MS, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa and Tupelo.
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