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Trip from Tupelo, MS to Richton, MS

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 43m

Distance

171.8 mi

277 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 31m ★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 9m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 50m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 36m

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

Downtown Tupelo, MS, MS

Tupelo, MS

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Richton, MS, MS

Richton, MS

大 董

Trip Overview

This 171.8-mile journey from Tupelo, MS to Richton, MS is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes. With 98% of the route on highways, including I-55 and US 82, you'll cover significant ground efficiently. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $26, making it an economical option. This drive primarily stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience as you head south. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss.

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

85.9 miles from Tupelo, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 43m. Total distance: 171.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this 171.8-mile trip, with 98% of your travel time spent on main roads like I-55 and US 82. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 65.1 miles on I-55, allowing for steady progress. While much of the drive is on faster-paced highways, the integration of the Natchez Trace Parkway adds a different pace to a portion of the journey. This mix means you'll experience both efficient travel and a more contemplative drive.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 65.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and Natchez Trace Parkway. 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.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Tupelo, MS to Richton, MS is easy. At 3h 43m with 98% 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 11 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

5
48.8 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | MS 15

At end of road, turn left onto MS 15

Navigation decision point

5
165.9 mi into trip | ~3h 32m in

Take the exit toward MS 22: Canton, Flora

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

Toward MS 22: Canton, Flora

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 65.1 mi 1h 9m
Natchez Trace Parkway 45.4 mi 1h 8m
US 82 40.2 mi 47m
MS 15 11.5 mi 18m
MS 22 5.5 mi 9m
West Main Street 2.9 mi 6m
County Road 285 0.1 mi <1m
North Broadway Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 65.1 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Spring Street

68 ft · 8 sec · North Spring Street
2

Turn left onto Court Street

280 ft · 17 sec · Court Street
3

Turn left onto North Broadway Street

298 ft · 17 sec · North Broadway Street
4

Turn right onto West Main Street

2.9 mi · 6 min · West Main Street
5

Turn left

0.3 mi · 1 min
6

At end of road, turn left onto Natchez Trace Parkway

45 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Natchez Trace Parkway
7

Turn right onto County Road 285

0.1 mi · 30 sec · County Road 285
8

At end of road, turn left onto MS 15

9.5 mi · 14 min · MS 15
9

Take the ramp onto MS 15

2.0 mi · 3 min · MS 15
10

Continue on US 82

40 mi · 47 min · US 82
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
12

Merge onto I 55

65 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 55
13

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward MS 22: Canton, Flora
14

Turn right onto MS 22

5.5 mi · 9 min · MS 22
15

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour and 43-minute duration, this 171.8-mile route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Tupelo earlier in the day will allow you to arrive in Richton with ample time to spare. With the longest stretch being 65.1 miles, plan for one primary stop around the halfway point to refuel and stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between I-55 and US 82, to ensure you're prepared for the 98% highway driving.

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 85.9 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.1 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 38 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 85.9 miles or 2h 5m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richton, 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 171.8 miles and 3h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 I 55 for about 65.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 85.9 mi from Tupelo, MS · 2h 5m into the drive

town in Mississippi, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Calhoun City, MS

86 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

Houston, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Winona, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.9 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 I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.1 miles.

Arriving in Richton, MS

The final approach into Richton, 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 Richton, MS.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.95 one way

$51.89 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $28.48 $56.96
premium $4.56 $30.84 $61.67
diesel $5.61 $37.93 $75.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.5 0 $18.04 $8.25
Efficient EV 43 0 $15.03 $6.87
EV Truck/SUV 68.7 0 $24.05 $11.00

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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

3:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Richton, MS

Late night in Richton on Friday

Local time

3:18 AM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

23 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 43m 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 Richton, MS covers 171.8 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 55, Natchez Trace Parkway, US 82. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 85.9 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 $25.95 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 drive from Tupelo, MS to Richton, MS is easy. At 3h 43m with 98% 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 Richton, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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