Connecting Columbia to Jackson, this 84.2-mile journey is a straightforward trek through the heart of Southeast Mississippi. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 59 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a quick day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $13, it is an economical route that requires minimal logistical planning. Since the entire trip stays within the same region, you won't experience drastic shifts in landscape or culture. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a visit, this drive is efficient and serves its purpose without needing an overnight stay. It is the kind of practical trip that gets you from point A to point B with no fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Columbia, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 13
50.2 mi
1h 14m
US 49
29.2 mi
36m
Main Street
2.4 mi
3m
South State Street
1.3 mi
2m
I 20
0.3 mi
<1m
East Pearl Street
0.2 mi
<1m
2nd Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Pittman Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MS 13
— 50.2 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on Pittman Street
51 ft·2 sec·Pittman Street
2
Turn left onto 2nd Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn left onto Main Street
2.4 mi·3 min·Main Street
4
Continue on MS 13
22 mi·32 min·MS 13
5
Turn slight right onto MS 13; MS 184
28 mi·42 min·MS 13; MS 184
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
7
Merge onto US 49
27 mi·33 min·US 49
8
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
1.0 mi·1 min·US 49
11
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
0.3 mi·25 sec·I 20; I 55; US 49
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 51 North
13
Turn straight onto US 51
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Street
14
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Pearl Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential traffic when approaching Jackson. Since there are no scheduled stops required for this 84.2-mile distance, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for breaks. However, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Columbia to ensure you don't need to hunt for a station during the 50.2-mile stretch on MS 13. Your best strategy is to maintain a steady pace once you merge onto US 49, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your travel time. Embrace the simplicity of the route and enjoy the convenience of reaching your destination in under two hours.
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 42.1 miles from Columbia, MS, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.2 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 1h 2m 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 42m
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 Columbia, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbia, MS
This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Columbia, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on MS 13 for about 50.2 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 82.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|2nd Street
Turn left onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
52.7 mi into trip|~1h 18m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
4
81.1 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward US 51 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 51 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.72 one way
$25.43 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$13.96
$27.92
premium
$4.56
$15.11
$30.23
diesel
$5.61
$18.59
$37.18
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: 29.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.37
$3.37
EV Truck/SUV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Columbia, MS
Late night
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, MS
Late night
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive 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
1 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
1h 59m 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.
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 95% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares like MS 13 and US 49. You will spend the majority of your time cruising, highlighted by a notable 50.2-mile stretch on MS 13 that allows for steady, consistent driving. As you navigate from Columbia toward Jackson, the road transitions from local access points on Main Street onto these larger, faster-moving highway corridors. Don't expect many technical curves; the character of this route is defined by its focus on speed and efficiency. It is a functional path that prioritizes getting you to your destination as directly as possible.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.2 mi on MS 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 13 and US 49. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2nd Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 84.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 80.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Jackson is the capital of the state of Mississippi. While it may not offer much in terms of tourism today, Jackson can be used as a stopover for getting to other parts of the state or further.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.2 miles on MS 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Jackson, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 80.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, MS before heading back.
