From Jamos (another thread):
I googled up the map Tuscaloosa to Oxford last night and they gave me the route going north, highway 43 to highway 78 instead of going through Columbus. We then get off on highway 9 to your place. Have you ever traveled that route? Time wise it is about the same distance per google, just doesn't have any towns to go through until you exit on to highway 9 in Mississippi.
That route certainly works. I haven't driven it, but if it's the same in time required, take it. Hwy 9 has been widened to 4 lanes. That route you'd miss the Hwy 82 mess of 2-lanes, towns, etc.
BTW, there are no towns after hwy-9 exit either. There is a WalMart and cheaper gas station on hwy 6 (after hwy-9 connects to hwy 6). The exit for gas/WalMart is at hwy 15 exit off hwy 6 (about 7-10 miles west of intersection of hwy 9/ hwy 6). Gas in Oxford is $3.25. It's $3.08 at the Shell on hwy 15. Even cheaper in Tupelo if you go through there, but this route bypasses it (and I would!).