The drive from Ripley, MS to Madison, MS covers 202.5 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on MS 7, MS 30, City Avenue South for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 145.7 miles on MS 7.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.58 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
101.2 miles from Ripley, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 202.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 4h 6m highway drive covering 202.5 miles, with most of the trip on MS 7 and MS 30. The longest continuous stretch is about 145.7 miles on MS 7.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MS 7 is the longest continuous segment at about 145.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
487 ft181 ft
Total Climb
423 ft
Total Descent
576 ft
Highest Point
487 ft
Elevation Range
306 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 7 and MS 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near MS 15 / City Avenue South.
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 6m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (MS 15 / City Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.6 miles (MS 30): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles (MS 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|MS 15 / City Avenue South
Turn right onto MS 15 / City Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
20.6 mi into trip|~31m in|MS 30
Take the ramp onto MS 30 toward I-22 West, US 78 West: Memphis
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-22 West, US 78 West: Memphis
5
22.8 mi into trip|~34m in|MS 30
Take the exit onto MS 30 toward MS 30 West: West New Albany, Oxford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 30 West: West New Albany, Oxford
4
23 mi into trip|~34m in|MS 30
Turn left onto MS 30
Navigation decision point
5
61.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|MS 7
Enter roundabout onto MS 7 toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ripley, MS to Madison, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Oxford along the way.
Oxford
22.8 mi in|~34m|via MS 30
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 7
145.7 mi
2h 41m
MS 30
32.5 mi
47m
City Avenue South
20.1 mi
29m
I 55
1.6 mi
1m
Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.4 mi
1m
West Walnut Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Mississippi Highway 30
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MS 7
— 145.7 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ripley, MS and Madison, MS.
1
Start on West Walnut Street
457 ft·22 sec·West Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Turn right onto MS 15
20 mi·29 min·City Avenue South
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the ramp onto MS 30
2.2 mi·2 min·MS 30
Toward I-22 West, US 78 West: Memphis
5
Take the exit onto MS 30
0.2 mi·38 sec·MS 30
Toward MS 30 West: West New Albany, Oxford
6
Turn left onto MS 30
30 mi·44 min·MS 30
7
Take the ramp onto MS 30
143 ft·11 sec·Mississippi Highway 30
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
9
Merge onto MS 7
8.4 mi·11 min·MS 7
10
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
124 ft·1 sec·MS 7
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
11
Continue on MS 7
36 mi·41 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
12
Take the exit onto MS 7
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·MS 7
13
Continue on I 55
1.6 mi·1 min·I 55
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward MS 463: Madison
15
Keep slight left at fork
357 ft·11 sec
16
Turn left onto MS 463
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
17
Turn slight right
168 ft·7 sec
18
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Main Street
19
Turn left onto Depot Drive
36 ft·1 sec·Depot Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Depot Drive
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 101.2 miles from Ripley, MS, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.7 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 45 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 2h 15m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ripley, 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 Ripley, MS
This is one driving day of about 202.5 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Ripley, 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 145.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.2 mi from Ripley, MS
· 2h 15m into the drive
The midpoint is around 101.2 miles from Ripley, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before MS 7 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.7 miles.
Arriving in Madison, MS
The final approach into Madison, 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 Madison, 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.
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 202.5
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 20.9
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 20.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.58 one way
$61.16 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.57
$67.14
premium
$4.56
$36.35
$72.69
diesel
$5.61
$44.71
$89.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.26
$9.72
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.72
$8.10
EV Truck/SUV
81
1
$28.35
$12.96
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ripley, MS
Late night
in Ripley on Friday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison, MS
Late night
in Madison on Friday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Oxford, MS
101 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
27 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 6m 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 Ripley, MS to Madison, MS covers 202.5 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MS 7, MS 30, City Avenue South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.2 miles from Ripley, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.58 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 straightforward 4h 6m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (MS 15 / City Avenue South): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.6 miles (MS 30): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.8 miles (MS 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Ripley, MS to Madison, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Oxford along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 181 ft to 487 ft elevation with about 423 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Elevation is sampled from
USGS 3DEP.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
