Origin
Forest, MS
Night in Forest on Wednesday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest, MS to Jackson, MS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
53m
Distance
46.5 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Forest, MS to Jackson, MS covers 46.5 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, Highway 35 South, South State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.2 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
23.3 miles from Forest, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 53m highway drive covering 46.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and Highway 35 South. The longest continuous stretch is about 42.2 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 42.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Highway 35 South. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 80 / West 3rd Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 80 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (MS 35 / Highway 35 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 80 / West 3rd Street
Turn right onto US 80 / West 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MS 35 / Highway 35 South
Turn left onto MS 35 / Highway 35 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
3
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
44.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 20; I 55; US 49
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
44.7 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward US 51 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 51 North
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 42.2 mi | 45m |
| Highway 35 South | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West 3rd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Pearl Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| North Banks Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 42.2 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on North Banks Street
187 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Banks Street
2
Turn right onto US 80
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
West 3rd Street
3
Turn left onto MS 35
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 35 South
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
5
Merge onto I 20
42 mi
·
45 min
·
I 20
6
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 20; I 55; US 49
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 51 North
8
Turn straight onto US 51
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South State Street
9
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Pearl Street
10
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 23.3 miles from Forest, MS, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.2 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 10 miles or 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.3 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Forest, MS.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forest, MS
This is one driving day of about 46.5 miles and 53m.
At 46.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 42.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.3 mi from Forest, MS · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from Forest, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jackson, MS
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Jackson, MS if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.02 one way
$14.05 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $7.71 | $15.42 |
| premium | $4.56 | $8.35 | $16.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.27 | $20.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Jackson, MS
Night in Jackson on Wednesday
Local time
11:58 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
56°F
Brandon, MS
23 mi in
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
10 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
53m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Forest, MS to Jackson, MS covers 46.5 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, Highway 35 South, South State Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.3 miles from Forest, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 80 / West 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (MS 35 / Highway 35 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Forest, MS to Jackson, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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