Origin
Starkville, MS
Afternoon in Starkville on Thursday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Starkville, MS to Bay Saint Louis, MS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 20m
Distance
267.9 mi
431 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 7m
★
6 AM
5h 20m
8 AM
5h 47m
10 AM
5h 30m
12 PM
5h 27m
3 PM
5h 31m
5 PM
5h 46m
8 PM
5h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Starkville, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Bay Saint Louis, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Starkville, MS to Bay Saint Louis, MS covers 267.9 miles and takes about 5h 20m 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 Highway 45 Aiternate, MS 603 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.1 miles on I 59. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.46 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
134 miles from Starkville, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 20m. Total distance: 267.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 20m highway drive covering 267.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 59 and US Highway 45 Aiternate. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.1 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 25 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 121.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and US Highway 45 Aiternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 267.9 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 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
4.3 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward US 82 East, MS 12 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 82 East, MS 12 East, MS 25 North: Col...
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate
Merge onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
93.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South, I 20 West: Meridian
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 59 South, I 20 West: Meridian
5
94.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
I 20; I 59
Merge onto I 20; I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
102.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Starkville, MS and Bay Saint Louis, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans and Necaise.
New Orleans
102.5 mi in
|
~2h 2m
|
via I 59
Necaise
223.6 mi in
|
~4h 13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 121.1 mi | 2h 10m |
| US Highway 45 Aiternate | 60.6 mi | 1h 9m |
| MS 603 | 25 mi | 37m |
| US Highway 45 Alternate | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| South Main Street | 15.7 mi | 23m |
| I 20 | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| US 82 | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| US 45 | 3.9 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 121.1 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Starkville, MS and Bay Saint Louis, MS.
1
Start on this road
290 ft
·
26 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
214 ft
·
16 sec
3
Continue on Victory Lane
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Victory Lane
4
Continue on Eckford Drive
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Eckford Drive
5
Turn right onto MS 12
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
MS 12
6
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward MS 182 East
7
Turn straight onto MS 182
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive East
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Continue on MS 182
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 182 East
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward US 82 East, MS 12 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 82; MS 12; MS 25
5.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 82; MS 12; MS 25
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward US 45 Alternate South: Meridian
12
Merge onto US 45 ALT
18 mi
·
21 min
·
US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Continue on US 45
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
US Highway 45 Aiternate
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 45
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 59 South, I 20 West: Meridian
16
Merge onto I 20; I 59
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 20; I 59; US 80
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 20; I 59; US 80
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
121 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
I 59
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward MS 53: Poplarville, Necaise
20
Turn left onto MS 53
16 mi
·
23 min
·
South Main Street
21
Continue on MS 603
25 mi
·
37 min
·
MS 603
22
Turn left onto US 90
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
US 90
23
Turn right onto Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
24
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
South 2nd Street
25
Arrive at destination
South 2nd 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 134 miles from Starkville, MS, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.1 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 59 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bay Saint Louis, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Starkville, 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 Starkville, MS
This is one driving day of about 267.9 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Starkville, 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 121.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 134 mi from Starkville, MS · 2h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
134 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 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 134 miles from Starkville, 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 121.1 miles.
Arriving in Bay Saint Louis, MS
The final approach into Bay Saint Louis, 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 Bay Saint Louis, 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
$40.46 one way
$80.92 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
94 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $44.41 | $88.83 |
| premium | $4.56 | $48.08 | $96.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $59.15 | $118.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 80.4 | 0 | $28.13 | $12.86 |
| Efficient EV | 67 | 0 | $23.44 | $10.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 107.2 | 1 | $37.51 | $17.15 |
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 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
Bay Saint Louis, MS
Afternoon in Bay Saint Louis on Thursday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°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
37 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
5h 20m 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 Starkville, MS to Bay Saint Louis, MS covers 267.9 miles and takes about 5h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 59, US Highway 45 Aiternate, MS 603. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 134 miles from Starkville, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.46 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 14 significant decision points across 267.9 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 4.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Starkville, MS and Bay Saint Louis, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans and Necaise.
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