Mississippi State Off-Campus Shuttle Guide: SMART Routes by Apartment

SMART (Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit) is Mississippi State's free bus system, and it doubles as the off-campus shuttle for most Starkville apartments. When we matched SMART's own stop data against the 27 places on FMP's Mississippi State page, 23 sat within 0.3 miles of a SMART stop. The catch: campus routes like Blackjack run August through May only, and no SMART route runs on Sunday.

Key Takeaways

• SMART is fare-free for everyone, students and Starkville residents alike.
• Redpoint Starkville has a stop at its front door, and the Starkville East route that serves it comes every 20 minutes on weekdays.
• Four places (Lakeside Living, The Links at Starkville, Charleston Cottages and Philo Starkville) don't have a SMART stop within 0.3 miles.
• The cheapest bus-served beds are $449 at The Social Block and at Yugo Starkville Campus Common.
• City routes run Monday through Saturday until 8 p.m.; campus routes stop at 6 p.m. and take the summer off.
• Skipping a commuter permit saves $100 to $275 a year, depending on the tier.

How SMART Works as a Mississippi State Off-Campus Shuttle

SMART is a public bus network run by Mississippi State, and every ride is free. MSU describes it as "the free service on campus and in the community." You don't need a pass. You just get on.

The system has two kinds of routes. Six Starkville routes run all 12 months: Northwest, Northeast, South, Central and Connector (Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.) plus East (weekdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Four campus routes (MSU Central, MSU North, MSU South and Blackjack) run weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., August through May, per SMART's schedule page.

Most routes meet at two campus hubs, Montgomery Hall and the Old Main Academic Center. Track buses live on SMART's TransLoc map before you walk out the door.

Which Apartments Each SMART Route Serves

We mapped every property on FMP's MSU off-campus housing page to the nearest stop in SMART's public stop data (last updated January 2026). Distances below are straight-line from the listing's map pin to the stop, so add a little for real sidewalks.

Starkville East: Redpoint, Wingo Way and the Highway 12 corridor

This is the best-served pocket in town. The Starkville East route loops between Redpoint and Mitchell Memorial Library every 20 minutes on weekdays, stopping at Church of Christ and Wingo Way on the way. Redpoint Starkville at 50 Warmath Way has its own stop (about 200 feet away) and lists from $525.

The Quarters Starkville on Campus Trail is 0.13 miles from the Wingo Way stop, with four-bedroom plans at $510 per bed. The Walk Starkville is 0.23 miles from the same stop and lists from $700. Varsity Square's four-bedroom house ($1,680 for the whole place) is 0.23 miles from the Church of Christ stop.

Blackjack: The Grand, Revery and Yugo

The Blackjack route is a short loop between The Grand, the Rec Plex and the Wise Center, with a bus at each stop about every 40 minutes. The Grand at Starkville at 2041 Blackjack Road is 0.15 miles from its namesake stop, and its three-bedroom townhomes list from $650 per bed. Revery on Spectra Drive is 0.25 miles from the same stop and lists from $769.

Yugo Starkville Campus Common on Ace Avenue sits 0.24 miles from the Rec Plex stop, and its four-bedroom plans start at $449 a bed. One warning. Blackjack is a campus route, so it stops running in summer.

Starkville South: The Social Block and The Block Townhomes

Starkville South runs hourly, Monday through Saturday, from Highway 12 West past the Sportsplex and down to campus. The Locksley Way stop (spelled "Loxley Way" in SMART's data) is 0.11 miles from The Social Block on Lincoln Green, where a furnished four-bedroom lists at $449 per bed. The Block Townhomes on South Montgomery Street is 0.18 miles away and lists at $614.

Starkville Central: Cotton District, Midtown and University Drive

Starkville Central connects Highway 12 West to downtown, Midtown, the Cotton District and the Old Main hub, hourly, Monday through Saturday. You may not even need it. Maxwell Station (0.04 miles), Vista Starkville on University Drive (0.02 miles) and The Cotton District (0.07 miles) all sit practically on top of a stop and are walkable to campus.

A few blocks south, Midtown Starkville at 401 University Drive and The Balcony on South Montgomery are both about 0.1 miles from the Midtown stop. Midtown's four-bedroom lists at $835 per bed.

Starkville Connector: West Wood Street and the Louisville Street side

The Connector runs hourly through Louisville Street, downtown, Santa Anita and Garrard Road. Brownsville Station Apartments at 210 W Wood Street is 0.1 miles from the Louisville Street North stop, with a one-bedroom at $825. The five-bedroom house at 202 W. Wood St (0.14 miles) and the Overstreet Drive two-bedroom near the Santa Anita stop (0.2 miles) are also on this line.

Starkville Northeast: The Flatts

The Flatts Starkville on Highway 12 East has a stop with its own name, about 300 feet from the building. Plans there drop from $1,021 for a studio to $691 per bed in a four-bedroom, so that's per-person pricing.

Starkville Apartments Without a Close SMART Stop

Four places on FMP's MSU page sit more than 0.3 miles from any regular SMART stop. Lakeside Living on Old Highway 12 is about 0.65 miles from the Highway 12 West stop. The Links at Starkville on Player Lane is about 0.8 miles from it, and Charleston Cottages is about 0.44 miles from the Academy Road stop.

Philo Starkville on Dawg Drive is the exception that doesn't matter much. It's about a third of a mile from the Oak Hall stop, but it's close enough to campus that walking is usually the easier option. For the other three, budget for a car or a long walk to the bus, and factor that into the rent. Lakeside's $494 four-bedroom isn't as cheap once you add a $275 parking permit and gas.

When SMART Won't Get You There

SMART has three gaps that catch people. There's no Sunday service on any route. Campus routes, including Blackjack, stop after 6 p.m. and don't run from June through July. And during the December break, Starkville routes drop to one bus per route from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., while campus routes don't run on holidays at all.

Living on Blackjack Road with a 7 p.m. lab? You'll need a ride home. Picking an apartment on a 12-month Starkville route (East, South, Central, Connector or Northeast) is the safer bet if you'll stay for summer classes. For timing your search, see our guide on when to look for off-campus housing at Mississippi State.

Is Skipping the Parking Permit Worth It?

For most students on a SMART route, yes. MSU's 2026-27 commuter permits cost $275 for Tier 1, $225 for Tier 2, $175 for Tier 3 and $100 for Tier 4. A bus-served apartment lets you skip that, plus gas and the hunt for a spot near the Drill Field.

Keep a car if you work off campus, have night classes or go home most weekends. Starkville is small, but the routes are built around campus, not around your shift at the Walmart on Highway 12. Want rent ranges by floor plan? Our Mississippi State off-campus housing cost breakdown has them.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Mississippi State Off-Campus Shuttle

Is the SMART bus free for Mississippi State students?

Yes. SMART is free for everyone, not only students. You don't need to show an ID or buy a pass.

Which Starkville apartments have their own SMART stop?

Redpoint Starkville, The Grand at Starkville and The Flatts Starkville all have stops named after them. The Quarters and The Walk share the nearby Wingo Way stop, and the Cotton District has its own stop too.

Does SMART run in the summer?

Partly. The six Starkville routes run all year. The four campus routes, including Blackjack, run August through May only, so Grand and Yugo residents lose their closest route in summer.

Does SMART run on weekends?

Saturday, yes, on five of the six Starkville routes until 8 p.m. (Starkville East is weekdays only.) Sunday, no. Nothing runs.

Do I need a car to live off campus at Mississippi State?

Not if you pick one of the 23 places within 0.3 miles of a SMART stop and keep a daytime schedule. If you live at Lakeside Living or The Links, or work nights, plan on a car.