Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
53.7 mi
86 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carthage, MS
Anton Ivanov
This straightforward 53.7-mile drive from Jackson, Mississippi to Carthage, Mississippi is easily manageable as a day trip, taking about 1 hour and 6 minutes to complete. Primarily utilizing MS Highway 25, Lakeland Drive, and MS 16, you'll find this route is largely highway-focused. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $8, it’s an economical option for a short excursion within Mississippi. The journey is designed for efficiency rather than extensive sightseeing, making it ideal for those who need to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss. Consider this a practical transit rather than a leisurely exploration.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS Hwy 25 | 31.5 mi | 35m |
| Lakeland Drive | 13.1 mi | 16m |
| MS 16 | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| North State Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| East Capitol Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Old Canton Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Pearl Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Lamar Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and Carthage, MS.
Start on East Pearl Street
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Continue on East Capitol Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Continue on East Capitol Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 51
Turn slight right onto Old Canton Road
Turn right onto Lakeland Drive
Continue on MS 25
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto MS 16
Turn left onto MS 35
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Jackson, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 47.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 / North State Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$8.11 one way
$16.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $8.90 | $17.81 |
| premium | $4.56 | $9.64 | $19.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.86 | $23.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.64 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.70 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Carthage on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
84°F
Brandon, MS
27 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a highway-focused experience for about 69% of this 53.7-mile journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.5 miles on MS Highway 25, offering a consistent pace. While the route incorporates some local roads, the dominant characteristic is smooth, open highway driving, allowing for a steady progression towards your destination. This drive doesn't present significant changes in road type, maintaining a predictable feel from start to finish.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS Hwy 25 and Lakeland Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lamar Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lamar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.3 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 53.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Straightforward navigation.
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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