Origin
Tupelo, MS
Night in Tupelo on Sunday
Local time
9:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 41m
Distance
127.7 mi
205 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tupelo, MS
大 董
Philadelphia, MS
Trev W. Adams
Stretching 127.7 miles across Mississippi, the journey from Tupelo to Philadelphia is a straightforward trek that takes approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes. Because this is a compact trip, you can easily complete it in a single day, leaving you plenty of time at your destination. You should budget about $20 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Southeast, the route relies on a combination of MS 25, US Highway 45 Alternate, and MS 15. It is a highly practical drive if you are traveling between these two Mississippi hubs, and its efficiency makes it an ideal candidate for a quick, one-day itinerary.
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
63.8 miles from Tupelo, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of your time spent on main arteries. You will experience a mix of road types, transitioning between these major routes as you head south. Expect a steady pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 47 miles on MS 25. The transition between highways keeps the drive from feeling monotonous, though you should be prepared for the consistent rhythm of state and federal road travel. Overall, it offers a reliable, predictable experience behind the wheel that favors efficiency over technical or winding backroads.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 127.7 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: 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto North Front Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit onto MS 25 toward MS 25 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS 25 | 47 mi | 54m |
| US Highway 45 Alternate | 35.7 mi | 43m |
| MS 15 | 22.2 mi | 33m |
| Martin Luther King Drive | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| US 45 ALT | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Martin Luther King, Junior Drive | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Pecan Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| County Road 561 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tupelo, MS and Philadelphia, MS.
Start on North Spring Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Turn right onto North Front Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 45; MS 6
Continue on US 45; MS 6
Continue on US 45; US 278
Continue on US 45 ALT
Continue on US 45 ALT
Continue on US 45 ALT
Continue on US 45 ALT
Continue on US 45 ALT
Continue on US 45 ALT
Take the exit onto MS 25
Take the exit onto MS 25
Continue on MS 25
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
Take the exit onto MS 25
Take the exit onto MS 15
Turn left onto County Road 561
Turn straight onto Pecan Avenue
Turn right onto MS 16; MS 19; MS 21
Turn left onto Front Street
Arrive at destination
Since the total duration is under three hours, you have significant flexibility with your departure time. Plan for one designated stop to break up the drive, which will help you stay refreshed before arriving in Philadelphia. Keep in mind that while the route is relatively short, maintaining a steady speed is key to staying within your $20 fuel budget. Because you are navigating a series of state highways, stay alert for changes in speed limits when transitioning between MS 25, US 45 Alternate, and MS 15. Checking your navigation before you leave is the best way to ensure a smooth transition between these three specific roads.
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.
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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.8 miles or 1h 17m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, MS than in the middle of the route.
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 127.7 miles and 2h 41m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.8 mi from Tupelo, MS · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 63.8 miles from Tupelo, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$19.52 one way
$39.04 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $21.41 | $42.82 |
| premium | $4.61 | $23.18 | $46.35 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $28.37 | $56.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.41 | $6.13 |
| Efficient EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.17 | $5.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.1 | 0 | $17.88 | $8.17 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Tupelo on Sunday
Local time
9:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
9:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
86°F
Butler, AL
64 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
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