Origin
Jackson, MS
Morning in Jackson on Friday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jackson, MS to Charleston, MS
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
143.7 mi
231 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
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.
Jackson, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Charleston, MS
Elly Sartain
Trip Overview
Jackson, MS to Charleston, MS is 143.7 miles and takes about 2h 43m via I 55 and MS 32, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Given that it's entirely within one state and takes under three hours, this is a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it an efficient option if you're looking for a quick connection between these two Mississippi locales.
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
71.9 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 127.4 mi | 2h 17m |
| MS 32 | 12 mi | 17m |
| North State Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Lakeland Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Capitol Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Old Canton Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Pearl Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 127.4 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,895 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~167 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and Charleston, MS.
1
Start on East Pearl Street
452 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Pearl Street
2
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
378 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Lamar Street
3
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
7 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Capitol Street
4
Continue on East Capitol Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
East Capitol Street
5
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
51 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Capitol Street
6
Continue on East Capitol Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Capitol Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 51
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North State Street
8
Turn slight right onto Old Canton Road
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Old Canton Road
9
Turn right onto Lakeland Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lakeland Drive
10
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
11
Merge onto I 55
127 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
I 55
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward Oakland, Water Valley
13
Turn sharp left onto MS 32; MS 32 Scenic
12 mi
·
17 min
·
MS 32; MS 32 Scenic
14
Continue on MS 32
426 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
15
Turn right onto South Panola Street
77 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Panola Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Panola Street
Trip Plan
With a driving time under three hours and a fuel cost around $21, this is a trip you can easily complete in a single day. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. Since the longest stretch on the highway is over 127 miles, plan for a fuel stop before you begin if your tank is low, or at one of the many exits along I 55. The transition to surface roads near the end means you’ll want to be more aware of local speed limits as you approach Charleston.
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 71.9 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.4 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.9 miles or 1h 20m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jackson, 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 Jackson, MS
This is one driving day of about 143.7 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Jackson, 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 I 55 for about 127.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.9 miles from Jackson, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 127.4 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 131.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Lamar Street
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Capitol Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Capitol Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 51 / North State Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 / North State Street
Navigation decision point
5
131.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward Oakland, Water Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Oakland, Water Valley
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.05 one way
$42.10 round trip
$3.72/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $23.37 | $46.74 |
| premium | $4.49 | $25.38 | $50.76 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $31.68 | $63.35 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.09 | $6.90 |
| Efficient EV | 35.9 | 0 | $12.57 | $5.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.12 | $9.20 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Charleston, MS
Morning in Charleston on Friday
Local time
6:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°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
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
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?
This drive is heavily focused on the interstate, with 97% of the route being highway. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway at 127.4 miles on I 55. After this extended highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads, specifically MS 32 and North State Street, for the final portion of the trip. Expect a predominantly rural cruising experience with frequent exits along I 55 before reaching your destination.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 127.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 32. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lamar Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Jackson, MS to Charleston, MS is easy. At 2h 43m 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 (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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
413 ft
180 ft
Total Climb
435 ft
Total Descent
498 ft
Highest Point
413 ft
~71.9 mi in
Elevation Range
233 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jackson, MS and Charleston, MS, road signs point toward Oakland and Water Valley.
Oakland
131.5 mi in
|
~2h 25m
Water Valley
131.5 mi in
|
~2h 25m
About the Cities
Starting in Jackson, MS
Full guide →Founded 1822
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.
Top landmarks
- • Mississippi State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Mississippi
- • Union Station — train station in Jackson, Mississippi
- • Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument — national monument in Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Arriving in Charleston, MS
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 143.7 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 (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 127.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charleston, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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