Origin
Jackson, MS
Morning in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, MS to University, MS
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
161 mi
259 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 12m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 13m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
University, MS
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Trip Overview
Jackson, MS to University, MS is 161 miles and takes about 3h 3m via I 55 and MS 7, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, primarily highway drive, making it an excellent choice for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. If you're looking for a quick journey between these two points, this route offers efficiency and predictability.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.5 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 161 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey on major roads like I 55 and MS 7. You'll experience a lengthy stretch of 112.1 miles on I 55, indicating a significant portion of the drive will be at higher speeds. While the majority is interstate, the final leg may involve some transitions onto local roads like North State Street as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 112.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 7. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lamar Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Jackson, MS to University, MS is easy. At 3h 3m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 13 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
6
159.7 mi into trip
|
~3h in
|
MS 314 / University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto MS 314 / University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 112.1 mi | 2h 1m |
| MS 7 | 43.2 mi | 50m |
| North State Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| University Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Lakeland Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Capitol Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Old Canton Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 5th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 112.1 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and University, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeland Drive
10
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
11
Merge onto I 55
112 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
·
I 55
12
Take the exit onto MS 7
36 mi
·
41 min
·
MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
13
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
171 ft
·
2 sec
·
MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
14
Continue on MS 7
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward MS 314, MS 334
16
Enter roundabout onto MS 314
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
University Avenue
17
Continue on MS 314
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
University Avenue
18
Turn right onto South 5th Street
466 ft
·
21 sec
·
South 5th Street
19
Turn right onto Tyler Avenue
51 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tyler Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Tyler Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 3-hour duration, starting your drive anytime in the morning or early afternoon will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one stop likely needed, consider taking a break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The fuel cost estimate of $24 suggests it's a budget-friendly trip, so you won't need to worry about major fuel expenses. Keep an eye on signage as you transition from I 55 to MS 7, as this is where the road character begins to change slightly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.5 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.1 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near University, 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.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jackson, MS
This is one driving day of about 161 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Jackson, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 112.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 80.5 mi from Jackson, MS · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 80.5 miles from Jackson, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.1 miles.
Arriving in University, MS
The final approach into University, MS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around University, MS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.31 one way
$48.63 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $26.69 | $53.38 |
| premium | $4.56 | $28.90 | $57.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.55 | $71.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.90 | $7.73 |
| Efficient EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.09 | $6.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.54 | $10.30 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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
University, MS
Morning in University on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
21 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
3h 3m 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 University, MS covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, MS 7, North 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 80.5 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 $24.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Jackson, MS to University, MS is easy. At 3h 3m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 University, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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