Mississippi State University is in Starkville, Mississippi, in the Golden Triangle region of northeast Mississippi. Campus has its own address, “Mississippi State, MS 39762,” but it sits right on the edge of Starkville, about 25 miles west of Columbus and two hours northeast of Jackson.
Mississippi State was founded in 1878 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of the State of Mississippi, which is why older Egg Bowl records list the Bulldogs as “Mississippi A&M.” It became Mississippi State College in 1932 and Mississippi State University in 1958. Fall 2025 enrollment hit a record 23,563.
Starkville itself has about 24,000 residents. It’s the largest city in the Golden Triangle, along with Columbus and West Point, and the walkable Cotton District sits between campus and downtown.
How far is Starkville from…
| From | Drive time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus, MS | about 30 minutes | about 25 miles |
| Tupelo, MS | about 1 hour 25 minutes | about 66 miles |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | about 1 hour 30 minutes | about 83 miles |
| Oxford, MS | about 1 hour 45 minutes | about 93 miles |
| Jackson, MS | about 2 hours 15 minutes | about 127 miles |
| Birmingham, AL | about 2 hours 25 minutes | about 141 miles |
| Memphis, TN | about 3 hours | about 185 miles |
| Atlanta, GA | about 4 hours 30 minutes | about 287 miles |
| New Orleans, LA | about 4 hours 45 minutes | about 296 miles |
Drive times are for normal traffic. On football Saturdays, expect Highway 82 and Highway 12 to slow down for a few hours before kickoff.
Where are Mississippi State’s stadiums?
- Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field Football, on the west side of campus, about half a mile from the Cotton District.
- Humphrey Coliseum Basketball, a short walk from the stadium on Coliseum Boulevard.
- The Junction The main tailgating area, next to the stadium.
Flying in
Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) is the closest, about 15 miles east of campus, with flights to Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth. The free SMART bus meets every arriving flight. Birmingham (BHM), Jackson (JAN) and Memphis (MEM) are all two to three hours away by car and have far more flights.
Visiting for a game?
Starkville hotels book up fast on football weekends. See our guide to where to stay for Mississippi State games, including Columbus and the other towns fans use when Starkville sells out, and check the upcoming home schedule below. Headed to Oxford for the Egg Bowl? Here’s where Ole Miss is.
