Jackson, MS to Oxford, MS is 98.5 miles and takes about 2h 12m via South State Street and I 55, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a mixed drive that isn't overly long, making it a manageable one-day excursion. You'll spend a good portion of your time on I-55, but the journey begins and ends with local road travel. This route is ideal if you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.3 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South State Street
49.3 mi
54m
US 84
22.7 mi
26m
I 55
6.9 mi
7m
Gloster Road
6.5 mi
15m
Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi
15m
Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi
6m
US 98
1.9 mi
2m
MS 184
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
South State Street
— 49.3 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and Oxford, MS.
1
Start on East Pearl Street
443 ft·15 sec·East Pearl Street
2
Turn left onto South Lamar Street
372 ft·17 sec·South Lamar Street
3
Turn left onto East Pascagoula Street
0.3 mi·43 sec·East Pascagoula Street
4
Turn right onto US 51
49 mi·54 min·South State Street
5
Continue on I 55
6.9 mi·7 min·I 55
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
7
Keep slight right at fork
409 ft·9 sec
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
8
Merge onto US 84
23 mi·26 min·US 84
9
Turn left onto MS 184
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 184
10
Turn left onto US 98
1.9 mi·2 min·US 98
11
Turn right onto Yap 3 Road
2.6 mi·6 min·Yap 3 Road
12
Continue on Gloster Road
3.8 mi·9 min·Gloster Road
13
At end of road, turn right onto Gloster Road
2.8 mi·6 min·Gloster Road
14
Continue on Oxford-Meadville Road
6.3 mi·15 min·Oxford-Meadville Road
15
Arrive at destination
Oxford-Meadville Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 12m duration, this is a perfect day trip, allowing you to leave Jackson, MS, anytime in the morning or afternoon and still have plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated around $15, you won't need to worry too much about frequent fill-ups, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. The longest stretch is on South State Street, so be mindful of local traffic and speed limits during that portion. Since Oxford, MS, is only 98.5 miles away, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops if you see something interesting along US 84 or I-55.
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 49.3 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.3 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 22 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.3 miles or 54m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oxford, 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 98.5 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Jackson, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South State Street for about 49.3 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 0.1 and 57 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Lamar Street
Turn left onto South Lamar Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Pascagoula Street
Turn left onto East Pascagoula Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 51 / South State Street
Turn right onto US 51 / South State Street
Navigation decision point
5
56.7 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
7
57 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 84: South Brookhaven, Natchez
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.88 one way
$29.75 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.33
$32.66
premium
$4.56
$17.68
$35.36
diesel
$5.61
$21.75
$43.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.34
$4.73
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.62
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.79
$6.30
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (65% 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
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oxford, MS
Late night
in Oxford on Tuesday
Local time
3:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Brookhaven, MS
49 mi in
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 12m 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...
Discover the history of all the peoples of Natchez, Mississippi, from European settlement, African enslavement, the American cotton economy, to the Civil Rights struggle on the lower Mississippi River...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 88.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a blend of highway and local road experiences. Approximately 33% of your journey will be on the interstate, specifically I-55. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 49.3 miles on South State Street, which will likely feel more like a local thoroughfare than a highway. The profile is described as a 'Mixed drive,' suggesting you'll transition between faster interstate speeds and potentially slower, more scenic local roads as you travel. Be prepared for this variation in pace and road type.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.3 mi on South State Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 0.1 miles in near South Lamar Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 12m drive. You will face about 10 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 Pascagoula Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 51 / South State 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 Oxford, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Natchez 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.
Oxford is a historic, picturesque town in North Central Mississippi. With its scenic town square, acclaimed restaurants, unique boutiques, oak-shaded neighborhoods, and friendly people, Oxford is the model Southern town. Named after Oxford, England, in hopes of attracting a university, the town was selected as the home of the University of Mississippi in 1848, which dominates life here today.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.3 miles on South State Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 0.1 miles (South Lamar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Pascagoula Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 51 / South State Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Natchez National Historical Park. 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 Oxford, MS before heading back.
