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Trip from Walnut Grove, MS to Auburn, MS

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 12m

Distance

156.5 mi

252 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 0m ★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 5m

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

Downtown Walnut Grove, MS, MS

Walnut Grove, MS

Zulfugar Karimov

Downtown Auburn, MS, MS

Auburn, MS

Dominik Gryzbon

Trip Overview

This 156.5-mile drive from Walnut Grove to Auburn, Mississippi, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 12 minutes. You'll primarily be on MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate, with a short stint on Martin Luther King Drive. With 83% of the journey on highways, expect a fairly direct travel experience. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $24, making it an economical option for a short getaway within the Southeast region. One stop is recommended along the way, providing a good balance between covering distance and taking a brief break.

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

78.3 miles from Walnut Grove, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 156.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 83% of the drive utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 83.4 miles on MS 25, offering a consistent pace for a considerable portion of your journey. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of US Highway 45 Alternate and Martin Luther King Drive suggests a transition in road type as you approach your destination. This blend means you'll likely enjoy efficient travel without the monotony of an all-interstate route.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 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 83.4 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 78.7 miles in near MS 25.

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 156.5 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 78.7 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.9 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

6
78.7 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | MS 25

Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
84.9 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | MS 25

Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25 toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West...
5
97.2 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Take the exit toward US 45 Alternate North, MS 25 North: West Point, Tupelo

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

Toward US 45 Alternate North, MS 25 North: West...
5
97.5 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | US 45 ALT; MS 25 / US Highway 45 Alternate

Merge onto US 45 ALT; MS 25 / US Highway 45 Alternate

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
150.2 mi into trip | ~3h in

Take the exit toward Eason Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward Eason Boulevard

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Walnut Grove, MS and Auburn, MS, road signs point toward Point and Tupelo.

Point

84.9 mi in | ~1h 42m | via MS 25

Tupelo

97.2 mi in | ~1h 56m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
MS 25 83.4 mi 1h 35m
US Highway 45 Alternate 34.6 mi 42m
Martin Luther King Drive 18.1 mi 20m
North State Highway 35 12.3 mi 18m
South Eason Boulevard 4.9 mi 7m
Auburn Road 1.1 mi 2m
Main Street 1 mi 1m
Chadwick Avenue <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: MS 25 — 83.4 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Walnut Grove, MS and Auburn, MS.

1

Start on Chadwick Avenue

338 ft · 6 sec · Chadwick Avenue
2

Turn right onto Main Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
3

Turn right onto MS 35

12 mi · 18 min · North State Highway 35
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 54 sec
5

Merge onto MS 25

40 mi · 45 min · MS 25
6

Take the exit onto MS 25

25 mi · 29 min · MS 25
7

Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25

2.4 mi · 2 min · MS 25
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on MS 25

3.8 mi · 4 min · MS 25
9

Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25

12 mi · 13 min · MS 25
Toward US 82 East, MS 25 North: Columbus, West Point
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward US 45 Alternate North, MS 25 North: West Point, Tupelo
11

Merge onto US 45 ALT; MS 25

35 mi · 42 min · US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on US 45 ALT

18 mi · 20 min · Martin Luther King Drive
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward Eason Boulevard
14

Turn straight onto South Eason Boulevard

4.9 mi · 7 min · South Eason Boulevard
15

Continue on CR 931

1.1 mi · 2 min · Auburn Road
16

Turn right onto County Road 1438

119 ft · 5 sec · County Road 1438
17

Arrive at destination

County Road 1438

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour and 12-minute duration, this route is perfect for a single-day adventure. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time for your one recommended stop without feeling rushed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 83.4 miles on MS 25, so plan your fuel needs accordingly before embarking on this segment. Considering the $24 fuel cost, it's an affordable trip, but always good to have a buffer. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you can adjust your schedule on the fly, perhaps lingering longer at your chosen break spot.

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 78.3 miles from Walnut Grove, MS, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 34 miles or 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 78.3 miles or 1h 35m 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 35m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Walnut Grove, 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 Walnut Grove, MS

This is one driving day of about 156.5 miles and 3h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Walnut Grove, 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 83.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 78.3 mi from Walnut Grove, MS · 1h 35m into the drive

city in Mississippi, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Starkville, MS

78 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

Philadelphia, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Starkville, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 78.3 miles from Walnut Grove, 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 83.4 miles.

Arriving in Auburn, MS

The final approach into Auburn, 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 Auburn, 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

$23.64 one way

$47.27 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 55 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $25.95 $51.89
premium $4.56 $28.09 $56.18
diesel $5.61 $34.55 $69.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.9 0 $16.43 $7.51
Efficient EV 39.1 0 $13.69 $6.26
EV Truck/SUV 62.6 0 $21.91 $10.02

Gas CO2

55 kg

EV CO2

18 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 12, 2026

Origin

Walnut Grove, MS

Morning in Walnut Grove on Thursday

Local time

11:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Auburn, MS

Morning in Auburn on Thursday

Local time

11:58 AM

CDT

Current temp

78°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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 12m 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 Walnut Grove, MS to Auburn, MS covers 156.5 miles and takes about 3h 12m 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, Martin Luther King Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.3 miles from Walnut Grove, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.64 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 156.5 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 78.7 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.9 miles (MS 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Walnut Grove, MS and Auburn, MS, road signs point toward Point and Tupelo.

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