Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Tupelo, MS to Clarksdale, MS

Drive Time

2h 30m

Distance

112.2 mi

181 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 20m ★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 24m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Tupelo, MS, MS

Tupelo, MS

大 董

Downtown Clarksdale, MS, MS

Clarksdale, MS

Martin Ferreira

Trip Overview

The drive from Tupelo, MS to Clarksdale, MS covers 112.2 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 278, Pontotoc Parkway West, Pontotoc Parkway East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.3 miles on US 278. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.15 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

56.1 miles from Tupelo, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 30m highway drive covering 112.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 278 and Pontotoc Parkway West. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.3 miles on US 278.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 278 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 278 and Pontotoc Parkway West. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Tupelo, MS to Clarksdale, MS is easy. At 2h 30m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Court Street

Turn left onto Court Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Broadway Street

Turn left onto North Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | West Main Street

Turn right onto West Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
23 mi into trip | ~33m in | US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway West

Keep slight right at fork onto US 278; MS 6 / Pontotoc Parkway West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
112.1 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 278 62.3 mi 1h 22m
Pontotoc Parkway West 24.4 mi 28m
Pontotoc Parkway East 11.2 mi 12m
Old Highway 6 5.6 mi 7m
West Main Street 5.6 mi 11m
4th Street 1.9 mi 4m
MS 6 0.5 mi <1m
North Broadway Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 278 — 62.3 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tupelo, MS and Clarksdale, MS.

1

Start on North Spring Street

69 ft · 8 sec · North Spring Street
2

Turn left onto Court Street

279 ft · 18 sec · Court Street
3

Turn left onto North Broadway Street

299 ft · 17 sec · North Broadway Street
4

Turn right onto West Main Street

5.6 mi · 11 min · West Main Street
5

Continue on Old Highway 6

5.6 mi · 7 min · Old Highway 6
6

Take the ramp straight

0.5 mi · 1 min
7

Continue on Pontotoc Parkway East

11 mi · 12 min · Pontotoc Parkway East
8

Keep slight right to continue on Pontotoc Parkway West

24 mi · 28 min · Pontotoc Parkway West
9

Continue straight

0.5 mi · 35 sec
10

Continue straight

62 mi · 1 hr 22 min
11

Continue on 4th Street

1.9 mi · 4 min · 4th Street
12

Turn right

0.1 mi · 44 sec
13

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.1 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.3 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 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 56.1 miles or 1h 13m 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

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksdale, MS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Tupelo, 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 Tupelo, MS

This is one driving day of about 112.2 miles and 2h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tupelo, 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 278 for about 62.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 56.1 mi from Tupelo, MS · 1h 13m into the drive

Downtown Collierville, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Collierville, TN

56 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

Collierville, TN

Fuel and coffee

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

Collierville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.1 miles from Tupelo, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 278 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.3 miles.

Arriving in Clarksdale, MS

The final approach into Clarksdale, 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 Clarksdale, MS.

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.

Tupelo National Battlefield

Tupelo National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

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...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument

National Monument

In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled to Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour Free near mile 104.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.15 one way

$34.30 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $18.81 $37.63
premium $4.61 $20.36 $40.73
diesel $5.64 $24.93 $49.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.7 0 $11.78 $5.39
Efficient EV 28.1 0 $9.82 $4.49
EV Truck/SUV 44.9 0 $15.71 $7.18

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (67% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Tupelo, MS

Late night in Tupelo on Monday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clarksdale, MS

Late night in Clarksdale on Monday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°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

5 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

2h 30m 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 Tupelo, MS to Clarksdale, MS covers 112.2 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 278, Pontotoc Parkway West, Pontotoc Parkway East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.1 miles from Tupelo, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.15 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Tupelo, MS to Clarksdale, MS is easy. At 2h 30m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West Main Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Tupelo, MS to Clarksdale, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Clarksdale, MS

Oxford, MS 235.8 mi · 5h 26m Jackson, MS 157.7 mi · 2h 43m Olive Branch, MS 82 mi · 1h 41m

More from Tupelo, MS

Bay Saint Louis, MS 312.4 mi · 6h 11m Oxford, MS 290.4 mi · 4h 41m McComb, MS 273.4 mi · 5h 16m Summit, MS 270 mi · 5h 11m Rolling Fork, MS 213.6 mi · 4h 37m Belmont, MS 207.7 mi · 4h 13m

More trips to Clarksdale, MS

West Gulfport, MS 311.3 mi Meridian, MS 189.4 mi Brandon, MS 170 mi Jackson, MS 155.4 mi Starkville, MS 144.1 mi Greenville, MS 72.8 mi

Explore more options from Tupelo, MS or browse trips ending in Clarksdale, MS.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse MS road trips.

Explore maps for Tupelo, MS or Clarksdale, MS on MapSof.net.