Traveling from Brandon to Clarksdale covers 170 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 39 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively straightforward journey, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $26 for fuel to complete the trip. Navigating the route involves a blend of Medgar Evers Boulevard, US 49W, and South Highway 61. Whether you are heading out for a quick getaway or a focused visit, the drive stays entirely within the Southeast region of Mississippi, keeping the travel environment consistent throughout your journey.
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
85 miles from Brandon, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49W
46.7 mi
56m
South Highway 61
43.9 mi
54m
Medgar Evers Boulevard
39.5 mi
48m
North Sunflower Avenue
13.5 mi
23m
I-20
10.1 mi
11m
US 49
5.5 mi
6m
I 20
4.3 mi
5m
MS 161
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 49W
— 46.7 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, MS and Clarksdale, MS.
1
Start on US 80
1.1 mi·1 min·East Government Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
3
Merge onto I 20
10 mi·11 min·I-20
4
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.6 mi·2 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
2.7 mi·3 min·I 20; US 49
Toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
6
Take the exit onto US 49
5.2 mi·6 min·US 49
Toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson, Yazoo City
7
Take the exit onto US 49
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 49
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
8
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·48 min·Medgar Evers Boulevard
9
Take the exit onto US 49W
47 mi·56 min·US 49W
Toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
10
Turn left onto US 82
0.7 mi·1 min·US 82
11
Turn right onto MS 448
13 mi·23 min·North Sunflower Avenue
12
Turn left onto MS 448
1.1 mi·2 min·MS 448
13
Turn right onto US 61; US 278
44 mi·54 min·South Highway 61
14
Turn left onto MS 161
2.1 mi·3 min·MS 161
15
Turn left onto Madison Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Madison Avenue
16
Turn right onto 4th Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·4th Street
17
Turn left onto Issaquena Avenue
436 ft·21 sec·Issaquena Avenue
18
Turn right onto Edwards Alley
158 ft·11 sec·Edwards Alley
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. I recommend accounting for at least one planned stop to break up the 170-mile trek, which helps keep your focus sharp on the highway sections. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Brandon to ensure you have enough to cover the estimated $26 cost comfortably. Because the longest stretch on US 49W is nearly 47 miles, make sure you are prepared for longer intervals without turns or major intersections. Use this efficiency to your advantage by starting early, allowing you to reach Clarksdale with plenty of daylight left for your arrival.
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 85 miles from Brandon, MS, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.7 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 37 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85 miles or 1h 44m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarksdale, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brandon, 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 Brandon, MS
This is one driving day of about 170 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Brandon, 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 US 49W for about 46.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 170 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
13.3 mi into trip|~16m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo...
5
16 mi into trip|~19m in|US 49
Take the exit onto US 49 toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson, Yazoo City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson,...
4
21.3 mi into trip|~25m in|US 49
Take the exit onto US 49 toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
5
61 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|US 49W
Take the exit onto US 49W toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vic...
5
170 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|Edwards Alley
Turn right onto Edwards Alley
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.67 one way
$51.35 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.18
$56.37
premium
$4.56
$30.51
$61.03
diesel
$5.61
$37.53
$75.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51
0
$17.85
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.80
$10.88
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Brandon, MS
Late night
in Brandon on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clarksdale, MS
Late night
in Clarksdale on Sunday
Local time
2:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Indianola, MS
85 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 67% of your travel time will be spent on major routes. You will find a variety of road types, transitioning from urban-adjacent corridors onto longer, more open stretches. The longest uninterrupted portion of the drive spans 46.7 miles along US 49W, allowing for a steady pace once you clear the initial departure area. While you won't face constant stops, the road's personality shifts from the busier streets near Brandon to the more consistent rhythm of the state highways, providing a predictable and efficient drive.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.7 mi on US 49W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49W and South Highway 61. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in near I 20; US 49.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 170 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brandon, MS and Clarksdale, MS, road signs point toward Yazoo City and Vicksburg.
Yazoo City
13.3 mi in|~16m|via I 20; US 49
Vicksburg
61 mi in|~1h 14m|via US 49W
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 39m. Total distance: 170 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.7 miles on US 49W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarksdale, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
