Trip from Tupelo, MS to Hillsboro, MS

Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology

Drive Time

3h 24m

Distance

164.3 mi

264 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

3h 12m ★

6 AM

3h 25m

8 AM

3h 49m

10 AM

3h 33m

12 PM

3h 31m

3 PM

3h 34m

5 PM

3h 48m

8 PM

3h 17m

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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Tupelo, MS

Wikimedia Commons

Hillsboro, MS

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Tupelo, MS to Hillsboro, MS covers 164.3 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on MS 25, US Highway 45 Alternate, MS 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84 miles on MS 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.81 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

82.1 miles from Tupelo, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 164.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 24m highway drive covering 164.3 miles, with most of the trip on MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate. The longest continuous stretch is about 84 miles on MS 25.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

MS 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 84 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.3 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

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

Turn right onto Court Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | North Front Street

Turn right onto North Front Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Main Street

Turn left onto East Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

54.9 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | MS 25

Take the exit onto MS 25 toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Starkville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Sta...

66.6 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | MS 25

Take the exit onto MS 25 toward MS 25 South: Louisville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward MS 25 South: Louisville

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
MS 25	84 mi	1h 36m
US Highway 45 Alternate	35.7 mi	43m
MS 35	23.2 mi	34m
Martin Luther King Drive	8.7 mi	10m
US 45 ALT	7.2 mi	8m
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive	2.3 mi	2m
Old Jackson Road	1.7 mi	4m
East Main Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: MS 25 — 84 mi, about 1h 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on North Spring Street

68 ft · 5 sec · North Spring Street

Turn right onto Court Street

317 ft · 16 sec · Court Street

Turn right onto North Front Street

287 ft · 15 sec · North Front Street

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec

Merge onto US 45; MS 6

1.0 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive

Continue on US 45; MS 6

2.3 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King, Junior Drive

Continue on US 45; US 278

7.7 mi · 8 min · Martin Luther King Drive

Continue on US 45 ALT

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 45 ALT

Continue on US 45 ALT

2.2 mi · 2 min · US 45 ALT

Continue on US 45 ALT

1.5 mi · 1 min · US 45 ALT

Continue on US 45 ALT

0.7 mi · 49 sec · US 45 ALT

Continue on US 45 ALT

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 45 ALT

Continue on US 45 ALT

36 mi · 43 min · US Highway 45 Alternate

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto MS 25

12 mi · 13 min · MS 25

Toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Starkville

Take the exit onto MS 25

5.0 mi · 6 min · MS 25

Toward MS 25 South: Louisville

Continue on MS 25

1.9 mi · 2 min · MS 25

Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25

25 mi · 28 min · MS 25

Take the exit onto MS 25

40 mi · 46 min · MS 25

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 48 sec

Keep slight left at fork

207 ft · 7 sec

Turn left

121 ft · 3 sec

Turn slight left onto MS 35

23 mi · 34 min · MS 35

Turn right onto Old Jackson Road

1.7 mi · 4 min · Old Jackson Road

Turn right onto Hillsboro-Ludlow Road

423 ft · 18 sec · Hillsboro-Ludlow Road

Arrive at destination

Hillsboro-Ludlow Road

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 82.1 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 1h 39m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84 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 36 miles or 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 82.1 miles or 1h 39m 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro, 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 164.3 miles and 3h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 MS 25 for about 84 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 82.1 mi from Tupelo, MS · 1h 39m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Starkville, MS

82 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

West Point, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Starkville, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.1 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 MS 25 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84 miles.

Arriving in Hillsboro, MS

The final approach into Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, 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

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

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

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.81 one way

$49.63 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.21	$27.24	$54.48
premium	$4.56	$29.49	$58.98
diesel	$5.61	$36.28	$72.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	49.3	$17.25	$7.89
Efficient EV	41.1	$14.38	$6.57
EV Truck/SUV	65.7	$23.00	$10.52

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Tupelo, MS

Late night in Tupelo on Friday

Local time

12:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hillsboro, MS

Late night in Hillsboro on Friday

Local time

12:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°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

18 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

3h 24m 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 Hillsboro, MS covers 164.3 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are MS 25, US Highway 45 Alternate, MS 35. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 82.1 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 $24.81 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.

The route from Tupelo, MS to Hillsboro, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.

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