Origin
Clarksdale, MS
Late night in Clarksdale on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clarksdale, MS to Jackson, MS
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
157.7 mi
254 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 33m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksdale, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 157.7-mile drive from Clarksdale, MS to Jackson, MS is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 43 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region of Mississippi. The route primarily uses local roads like Issaquena Avenue, 4th Street, and Riverside Avenue, indicating a more connected, community-focused journey rather than a high-speed transit. This drive offers a chance to experience the local flavor of Mississippi without the demands of a multi-day commitment.
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
78.9 miles from Clarksdale, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Issaquena Avenue | — | — |
| 4th Street | — | — |
| Riverside Avenue | — | — |
| Madison Avenue | — | — |
| South State Street | — | — |
| East Peeler Avenue | — | — |
| North Martin Luther King Drive | — | — |
| US 49 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Issaquena Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksdale, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on the route
157 ft
·
17 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto Issaquena Avenue
436 ft
·
21 sec
·
Issaquena Avenue
3
Turn right onto 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
4th Street
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Riverside Avenue
197 ft
·
5 sec
·
Riverside Avenue
5
Continue on Madison Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Madison Avenue
6
Turn right onto South State Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South State Street
7
Turn right
44 mi
·
54 min
8
Turn left onto East Peeler Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East Peeler Avenue
9
Turn right
13 mi
·
23 min
10
Turn left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
11
Turn right onto North Martin Luther King Drive
46 mi
·
55 min
·
North Martin Luther King Drive
12
Keep slight right to continue on US 49 South: Jackson
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 49 South: Jackson
13
Merge slight right onto Jerry Clower Boulevard
39 mi
·
47 min
·
Jerry Clower Boulevard
14
Take the exit slight right
2.6 mi
·
3 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward Capitol Street, Clinton Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Capitol Street, Clinton Boulevard
16
Turn right onto West Capitol Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Capitol Street
17
Keep slight right to continue on West Capitol Street
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
West Capitol Street
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward East Capitol Street
49 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Capitol Street
19
Exit the roundabout onto East Capitol Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Capitol Street
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Capitol Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Capitol Street
21
Exit the roundabout onto East Capitol Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
East Capitol Street
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South West Street
10 ft
·
South West Street
23
Exit the roundabout onto South West Street
387 ft
·
15 sec
·
South West Street
24
Turn right onto East Pearl Street
154 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Pearl Street
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 43-minute duration, this 157.7-mile trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for the numerous turns characteristic of this route. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility to add others as you discover points of interest along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes be less predictable for refueling than major highways, and the estimated $24 fuel cost is based on average prices.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.9 miles from Clarksdale, MS, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.9 miles or 1h 21m 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 14m
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 Clarksdale, 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 Clarksdale, MS
This is one driving day of about 157.7 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Clarksdale, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 78.9 miles from Clarksdale, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.82 one way
$47.63 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $26.14 | $52.29 |
| premium | $4.56 | $28.31 | $56.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.82 | $69.64 |
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: 55.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.56 | $7.57 |
| Efficient EV | 39.4 | 0 | $13.80 | $6.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.08 | $10.09 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Jackson, MS
Late night in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 43m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy' local drive for the entire 157.7 miles, as this route features 0% highway share. You'll navigate through towns and communities, with frequent turns guiding your way along Issaquena Avenue, 4th Street, and Riverside Avenue. There isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving noted, suggesting a continuous engagement with the local road network. This character means you'll be consistently experiencing the nuances of Mississippi's smaller roads, offering a different driving rhythm than a typical interstate journey.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Issaquena Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Clarksdale, MS to Jackson, MS is easy. At 2h 43m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clarksdale, MS to Jackson, MS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 157.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clarksdale, MS to Jackson, MS is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, MS before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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