Origin
Horn Lake, MS
Evening in Horn Lake on Wednesday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Horn Lake, MS to Columbus, MS
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
161.1 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 1m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Horn Lake, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Columbus, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Horn Lake, MS to Columbus, MS covers 161.1 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 78, US 45, Goodman Road West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 83.4 miles on US 78. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.33 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.6 miles from Horn Lake, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 12m highway drive covering 161.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 78 and US 45. The longest continuous stretch is about 83.4 miles on US 78.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 78 is the longest continuous segment at about 83.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 78 and US 45. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near MS 302 / Goodman Road West.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 161.1 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.9 miles (US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Turn right onto MS 302 / Goodman Road West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 78
Merge onto US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
94.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
US 45
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
107.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
|
US 45; US 278
Take the exit onto US 45; US 278 toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
5
161.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 12m in
|
North 6th Street
Turn right onto North 6th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 78 | 83.4 mi | 1h 29m |
| US 45 | 65.5 mi | 1h 20m |
| Goodman Road West | 10.2 mi | 15m |
| North 5th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Hurt Road | 0.5 mi | 2m |
| North 2nd Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 6th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Camelot Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 78
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Horn Lake, MS and Columbus, MS.
1
Start on Camelot Road
193 ft
·
13 sec
·
Camelot Road
2
Turn left onto Hurt Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Hurt Road
3
Turn right onto MS 302
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Goodman Road West
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
5
Merge onto US 78
83 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 45:south: Tupelo
7
Merge onto US 45
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 45; US 278
24 mi
·
28 min
·
US 45; US 278
Toward US 45 South, US 278 East: Nettleton
9
Continue on US 45; MS 8
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 45; MS 8
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
US 45
11
Continue on US 45
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
12
Continue on US 45
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 45
13
Continue on US 45
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 45
14
Continue on US 45
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 45
15
Continue on US 45
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
16
Continue on US 45
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 45
17
Continue on US 45
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
US 45
18
Continue on US 45
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
US 45
19
Continue on US 45; MS 50
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 45; MS 50
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on North 5th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto North 2nd Avenue
390 ft
·
19 sec
·
North 2nd Avenue
22
Turn right onto North 6th Street
285 ft
·
12 sec
·
North 6th Street
23
Arrive at destination
North 6th Street
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 80.6 miles from Horn Lake, MS, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.6 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Horn Lake, 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 Horn Lake, MS
This is one driving day of about 161.1 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Horn Lake, 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 78 for about 83.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.6 mi from Horn Lake, MS · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.6 miles from Horn Lake, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 78 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.4 miles.
Arriving in Columbus, MS
The final approach into Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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
$24.33 one way
$48.66 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $26.71 | $53.42 |
| premium | $4.56 | $28.92 | $57.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.57 | $71.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.92 | $7.73 |
| Efficient EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.10 | $6.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.55 | $10.31 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Columbus, MS
Evening in Columbus on Wednesday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Saltillo, MS
81 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
1 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
3h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Horn Lake, MS to Columbus, MS covers 161.1 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 78, US 45, Goodman Road West. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.6 miles from Horn Lake, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.33 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 161.1 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (MS 302 / Goodman Road West): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.1 miles (US 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.9 miles (US 45): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Horn Lake, MS to Columbus, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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