This 94.1-mile drive from Jackson to Moorhead, Mississippi, is a manageable 2-hour trip, making it ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate US 49W and MS 3, with a section along Medgar Evers Boulevard in Jackson. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $14, offering a budget-friendly option for exploring Mississippi. Given its short duration and straightforward route, this drive works perfectly as a day trip without needing an overnight stop. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entirety of your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.1 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49W
40.2 mi
48m
Medgar Evers Boulevard
39.5 mi
48m
MS 3
7.4 mi
13m
West Capitol Street
3.2 mi
5m
I 220
2.1 mi
2m
East Pearl Street
0.5 mi
<1m
West Amite Street
0.4 mi
<1m
US 49
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49W
— 40.2 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and Moorhead, MS.
1
Start on East Pearl Street
0.5 mi·58 sec·East Pearl Street
2
Turn right onto South Gallatin Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·South Gallatin Street
3
Turn left onto West Amite Street
0.4 mi·43 sec·West Amite Street
4
Turn right onto West Capitol Street
3.2 mi·5 min·West Capitol Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
6
Merge onto I 220; US 49
2.1 mi·2 min·I 220; US 49
7
Take the exit onto US 49
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 49
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
8
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·48 min·Medgar Evers Boulevard
9
Take the exit onto US 49W
40 mi·48 min·US 49W
Toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
10
Turn right onto MS 3
7.4 mi·13 min·MS 3
11
Arrive at destination
MS 3
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour journey, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Moorhead and explore without feeling rushed. Since the drive is short and covers only 94.1 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive rest stops, though you can certainly pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the estimated cost is $14. A practical tip for this route is to be aware of the transition from highway to potentially slower local roads as you get closer to Moorhead, allowing for a smooth arrival.
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 47.1 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.2 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 1h 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moorhead, 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 94.1 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Jackson, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 49W for about 40.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 46.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in|South Gallatin Street
Turn right onto South Gallatin Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|West Amite Street
Turn left onto West Amite Street
Navigation decision point
3
1 mi into trip|~2m in|West Capitol Street
Turn right onto West Capitol Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.7 mi into trip|~11m in|US 49
Take the exit onto US 49 toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
5
46.5 mi into trip|~1h in|US 49W
Take the exit onto US 49W toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vic...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.21 one way
$28.42 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$15.60
$31.20
premium
$4.56
$16.89
$33.78
diesel
$5.61
$20.78
$41.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.88
$4.52
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.23
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Jackson, MS
Late night
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Moorhead, MS
Late night
in Moorhead on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
27 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 1m 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.
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 route offers a mixed driving experience, with 53% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving, including a significant 40.2-mile segment on US 49W where you can maintain a steady pace. The road will transition, offering a blend of highway travel and potentially more local road conditions as you approach your destination in Moorhead. Expect a varied feel as you move from the urban edge of Jackson to the more rural landscapes of the Mississippi Delta.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.2 mi on US 49W.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near South Gallatin Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 1m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (South Gallatin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West Amite Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (West Capitol Street): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Jackson, MS to Moorhead, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Vicksburg along the way.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.2 miles on US 49W. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.5 miles (South Gallatin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (West Amite Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (West Capitol Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Moorhead, MS before heading back.
