Origin
Jackson, MS
Night in Jackson on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, MS to Carthage, MS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.7 mi
86 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, MS
Anton Ivanov
Trip Overview
This straightforward 53.7-mile drive from Jackson, Mississippi to Carthage, Mississippi is easily manageable as a day trip, taking about 1 hour and 6 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing MS Highway 25, Lakeland Drive, and MS 16, you'll find this route is largely highway-focused. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $8, it’s an economical option for a short excursion within Mississippi. The journey is designed for efficiency rather than extensive sightseeing, making it ideal for those who need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss. Consider this a practical transit rather than a leisurely exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
26.9 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for about 69% of this 53.7-mile journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.5 miles on MS Highway 25, offering a consistent pace. While the route incorporates some local roads, the dominant characteristic is smooth, open highway driving, allowing for a steady progression towards your destination. This drive doesn't present significant changes in road type, maintaining a predictable feel from start to finish.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
MS Hwy 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 31.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS Hwy 25 and Lakeland Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lamar Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lamar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.3 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Lamar Street
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Capitol Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Capitol Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 51 / North State Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 / North State Street
Navigation decision point
4
47.9 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS Hwy 25 | 31.5 mi | 35m |
| Lakeland Drive | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| MS 16 | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| North State Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| East Capitol Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Old Canton Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Pearl Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
MS Hwy 25
— 31.5 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and Carthage, MS.
1
Start on East Pearl Street
452 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Pearl Street
2
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
378 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Lamar Street
3
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Capitol Street
4
Continue on East Capitol Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
East Capitol Street
5
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
51 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Capitol Street
6
Continue on East Capitol Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Capitol Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 51
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North State Street
8
Turn slight right onto Old Canton Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Old Canton Road
9
Turn right onto Lakeland Drive
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Lakeland Drive
10
Continue on MS 25
31 mi
·
35 min
·
MS Hwy 25
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
308 ft
·
8 sec
13
Turn right onto MS 16
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
MS 16
14
Turn left onto MS 35
133 ft
·
2 sec
·
MS 35
15
Arrive at destination
MS 35
Trip Plan
Given the short 1-hour duration, this trip offers plenty of flexibility for your departure time. You won't need to split this drive, so you can leave whenever it suits your schedule. Plan for minimal stops, as the longest stretch on MS Highway 25 is over 30 miles, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge if you plan to make detours before or after reaching Carthage. The estimated fuel cost of $8 suggests this is an economical trip, so topping off your tank before leaving Jackson is a good idea to ensure a smooth ride without any unexpected fuel stops.
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 26.9 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.5 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 12 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 26.9 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carthage, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, MS
This is one driving day of about 53.7 miles and 1h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Jackson, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MS Hwy 25 for about 31.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26.9 mi from Jackson, MS · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Jackson, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carthage, MS
The final approach into Carthage, MS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.11 one way
$16.22 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.90 | $17.81 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.64 | $19.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.86 | $23.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Carthage, MS
Night in Carthage on Wednesday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
56°F
Brandon, MS
27 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
3 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
1h 6m 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 Jackson, MS to Carthage, MS covers 53.7 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are MS Hwy 25, Lakeland Drive, MS 16. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 26.9 miles from Jackson, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.11 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 1h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lamar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.3 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Jackson, MS to Carthage, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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