Trip from Diamondhead, MS to Auburn, MS

Drive Time

6h 16m

Distance

313.2 mi

504 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

6h 4m ★

6 AM

6h 16m

8 AM

6h 42m

10 AM

6h 25m

12 PM

6h 23m

3 PM

6h 26m

5 PM

6h 40m

8 PM

6h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Auburn, MS

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

The drive from Diamondhead, MS to Auburn, MS covers 313.2 miles and takes about 6h 16m 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 Highway 45 Alternate for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 129.5 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.88 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

156.6 miles from Diamondhead, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 16m highway drive covering 313.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and US 45. The longest continuous stretch is about 129.5 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 29 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 129.5 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 0.3 miles in near Diamondhead Drive West.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 313.2 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: at 0.3 miles (Diamondhead Drive West): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Diamondhead Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 161.4 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Diamondhead Drive West

At end of road, turn right onto Diamondhead Drive West

Navigation decision point

2 mi into trip | ~6m in | Diamondhead Drive

Enter roundabout onto Diamondhead Drive

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

161.4 mi into trip | ~3h 14m 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...

170.4 mi into trip | ~3h 24m 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

235.8 mi into trip | ~4h 39m 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...

Towns Along This Route

Between Diamondhead, MS and Auburn, MS, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa and Tupelo.

Tuscaloosa

161.4 mi in | ~3h 14m | via I 59

Tupelo

235.8 mi in | ~4h 39m | via US 45 ALT

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 59	129.5 mi	2h 20m
US 45	65.1 mi	1h 14m
US Highway 45 Alternate	53 mi	1h 3m
MS 43	19.5 mi	28m
Martin Luther King Drive	18.1 mi	20m
MS 53	15.6 mi	23m
South Eason Boulevard	4.9 mi	7m
I 10	2.2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 59 — 129.5 mi, about 2h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Diamondhead, MS and Auburn, MS.

Start on this road

136 ft · 9 sec · this road

Turn left

382 ft · 21 sec

Turn left

0.2 mi · 54 sec

At end of road, turn right onto Diamondhead Drive West

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Diamondhead Drive West

Continue on Diamondhead Drive West

0.9 mi · 2 min · Diamondhead Drive West

Turn left onto Analii Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Analii Street

At end of road, turn left onto Diamondhead Drive North

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Diamondhead Drive North

Enter roundabout onto Diamondhead Drive

414 ft · 11 sec · Diamondhead Drive

Continue on Diamondhead Drive

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Diamondhead Drive

Enter roundabout onto Gex Drive

114 ft · 3 sec · Gex Drive

Continue on Gex Drive

302 ft · 8 sec · Gex Drive

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 10

2.2 mi · 2 min · I 10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward MS 43, MS 603: Bay Saint Louis, Kiln, Picayune

Keep slight right at fork

252 ft · 6 sec

Turn straight onto MS 43; MS 603

19 mi · 28 min · MS 43; MS 603

Continue on MS 53

16 mi · 23 min · MS 53

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Merge onto I 59

121 mi · 2 hr 9 min · I 59

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Toward US 45 North: Macon Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto US 45

65 mi · 1 hr 14 min · US 45

Use the straight lane.

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, Tupelo Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Continue on US 45 ALT

18 mi · 20 min · Martin Luther King Drive

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Toward Eason Boulevard

Turn straight onto South Eason Boulevard

4.9 mi · 7 min · South Eason Boulevard

Continue on CR 931

1.1 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road

Turn right onto County Road 1438

119 ft · 5 sec · County Road 1438

Arrive at destination

County Road 1438

Trip Plan

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 156.6 miles from Diamondhead, MS, or about 3h 9m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.5 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 156.6 miles or 3h 9m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 5m

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 Diamondhead, 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 Diamondhead, MS

This is one driving day of about 313.2 miles and 6h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Diamondhead, 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 129.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 156.6 mi from Diamondhead, MS · 3h 9m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Butler, AL

157 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

Magee, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Butler, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 156.6 miles from Diamondhead, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.5 miles.

Arriving in Auburn, MS

The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, MS.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.88 one way

$95.76 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 110 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.26	$52.52	$105.03
premium	$4.61	$56.84	$113.69
diesel	$5.64	$69.58	$139.16

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: 109.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	94	1	$32.89	$15.03
Efficient EV	78.3	0	$27.40	$12.53
EV Truck/SUV	125.3	1	$43.85	$20.04

Gas CO2

110 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Diamondhead, MS

Morning in Diamondhead on Monday

Local time

10:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, MS

Morning in Auburn on Monday

Local time

10:56 AM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

86°F

Butler, AL

157 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

3 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

6h 16m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Diamondhead, MS to Auburn, MS covers 313.2 miles and takes about 6h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 59, US 45, US Highway 45 Alternate. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 156.6 miles from Diamondhead, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.

Between Diamondhead, MS and Auburn, MS, road signs point toward Tuscaloosa and Tupelo.

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Return Trip

Auburn, MS to Diamondhead, MS

Plan the drive back the other way.

313.2 mi 6h 16m

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Trip from Diamondhead, MS to Auburn, MS

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Auburn, MS

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Diamondhead, MS

Auburn, MS

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

6h 16m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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