Origin
Decatur, MS
Late night in Decatur on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, 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
1h 23m
Distance
72.3 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, MS
Ivan Aguilar
Trip Overview
Decatur, MS to Jackson, MS is 72.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 23 minutes via I-20 and Highway 15, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to another Southeast locale. Expect a drive that is almost entirely on major highways, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. Given the short duration, it's a perfect option for a quick day trip or an easy addition to a larger travel plan.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 63.2 mi | 1h 8m |
| Highway 15 | 7 mi | 10m |
| South State Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Pearl Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 63.2 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on West Broad Street
474 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Broad Street
2
Turn right onto MS 15
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 15
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
4
Merge onto I 20
63 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 20
5
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
I 20; I 55; US 49
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward US 51 North
7
Turn straight onto US 51
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South State Street
8
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Pearl Street
9
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Decatur, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 72.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
MS 15 / Highway 15
Turn right onto MS 15 / Highway 15
Navigation decision point
3
7.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
70.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
I 20; I 55; US 49
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
70.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 51 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 51 North
3
72.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
East Pearl Street
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.92 one way
$21.84 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $11.99 | $23.97 |
| premium | $4.56 | $12.98 | $25.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.96 | $31.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.59 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.33 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.12 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Morton, MS
36 mi in
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
4 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
1h 23m 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?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 97% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads like I-20. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 63.2 miles on I-20, which allows for consistent progress. The transition to Highway 15 and then South State Street in Jackson will introduce a slight change in scenery and speed as you enter the urban environment. Overall, anticipate a driving experience characterized by efficiency and speed, with minimal time spent on slower, local roads.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Highway 15. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MS 15 / Highway 15.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Decatur, MS to Jackson, MS is easy. At 1h 23m with 97% 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 (MS 15 / Highway 15): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 70.2 miles (I 20; I 55; US 49): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 72.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.2 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.1 miles (MS 15 / Highway 15): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 70.2 miles (I 20; I 55; US 49): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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