This 85.4-mile drive from Magnolia to Jackson, Mississippi, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes to complete. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the interstate, making it a straightforward journey. With a fuel cost estimated at around $13, this is an economical trip. The drive is focused on efficient travel, so don't expect many opportunities for detours or prolonged sightseeing. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B within the Southeast region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Magnolia, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 46m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 85.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a highway-focused experience on this route, with 94% of your journey taking place on major roadways like I-55. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 80.6 miles on I-55, indicating a significant period of consistent, high-speed travel. While the profile suggests a straightforward drive, this means you'll be largely on a limited-access highway, which can be monotonous but also efficient. The road character remains fairly consistent, prioritizing speed over scenic variety.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 7 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 80.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and South State Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 48 / East Bay Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Magnolia, MS to Jackson, MS is easy. At 1h 34m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 48 / East Bay Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 82 miles (US 51 / South State Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 48 / East Bay Street
Turn left onto MS 48 / East Bay Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|I 55
Merge onto I 55
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
82 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 51 / South State Street
Keep slight left at fork onto US 51 / South State Street toward US 51 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 51 North
3
85.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|East Pearl Street
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
80.6 mi
1h 26m
South State Street
3.1 mi
4m
East Bay Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Pearl Street
0.2 mi
<1m
West Railroad Avenue North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 80.6 mi, about 1h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Magnolia, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on West Railroad Avenue North
79 ft·9 sec·West Railroad Avenue North
2
Turn left onto MS 48
1.2 mi·2 min·East Bay Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
4
Merge onto I 55
81 mi·1 hr 26 min·I 55
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 51
3.1 mi·4 min·South State Street
Toward US 51 North
6
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Pearl Street
7
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under 1.5 hours, this drive is easily manageable in a single day. You can depart at your leisure, though leaving in the morning will give you more flexibility in Jackson. With no designated stops provided, plan for a fuel and rest break before you leave Magnolia or shortly after arriving in Jackson. The longest stretch of 80.6 miles on I-55 means you can settle in for a solid period of driving, so ensure you have snacks and drinks if needed. A practical tip: keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Jackson, as services can be more spread out outside the immediate city center.
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 42.7 miles from Magnolia, MS, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.6 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jackson, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Magnolia, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Magnolia, MS
This is one driving day of about 85.4 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Magnolia, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 55 for about 80.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.7 mi from Magnolia, MS
· 46m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant le...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.90 one way
$25.79 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.16
$28.32
premium
$4.56
$15.33
$30.66
diesel
$5.61
$18.86
$37.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.97
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.47
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.96
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Magnolia, MS
Late night
in Magnolia on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, MS
Late night
in Jackson on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Hazlehurst, MS
43 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 34m 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 Magnolia, MS to Jackson, MS covers 85.4 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, South State Street, East Bay 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 42.7 miles from Magnolia, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.90 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.
The drive from Magnolia, MS to Jackson, MS is easy. At 1h 34m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 48 / East Bay Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 55): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 82 miles (US 51 / South State Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Magnolia, MS to Jackson, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
