The drive from Jackson, MS to Pearlington, MS covers 171.1 miles and takes about 3h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 49 South, Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, Shuttle Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
85.6 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
66.4 mi
1h 11m
Shuttle Parkway
6.8 mi
12m
State Highway 607
5.7 mi
6m
MS 604
4.6 mi
8m
US 49
2.2 mi
3m
MS 607
1.4 mi
2m
I 55
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,273 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,355
Quietest
2 AM
~278 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Pearlington, 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
0.5 mi·1 min·East Pascagoula Street
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
6
Merge onto I 55
0.8 mi·1 min·I 55
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
9
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf CoastUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 59
66 mi·1 hr 11 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 11, MS 607: NASA John C. Stennis Space Center
15
Keep slight left at fork
75 ft·5 sec
16
Turn left onto US 11
0.1 mi·9 sec·US 11
17
Continue on State Highway 607
5.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 607
18
Continue on Shuttle Parkway
6.8 mi·12 min·Shuttle Parkway
19
Continue on MS 607
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 607
20
Turn right onto MS 604
4.6 mi·8 min·MS 604
21
Arrive at destination
MS 604
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.6 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 38 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.6 miles or 1h 46m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearlington, 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 171.1 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 Highway 49 South for about 80.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 85.6 miles from Jackson, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Highway 49 South if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 86.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattie...
6
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49 toward Richland, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in|US 49 / Highway 49 South
Merge onto US 49 / Highway 49 South
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
6
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.07 one way
$50.13 round trip
$3.72/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.13
$27.83
$55.65
premium
$4.49
$30.22
$60.44
diesel
$5.60
$37.72
$75.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.3
0
$17.97
$8.21
Efficient EV
42.8
0
$14.97
$6.84
EV Truck/SUV
68.4
0
$23.95
$10.95
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Jackson, MS
Morning
in Jackson on Friday
Local time
6:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 8:27PM CDT until September 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 7:45PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Pearlington, MS
Morning
in Pearlington on Friday
Local time
6:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
E 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 8:27PM CDT until September 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 7:45PM CDT until September 5 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
71°F
Sumrall, MS
86 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
3h 28m on the road
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.
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?
171.1 mi in 3h 28m — 59% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Highway 49 South.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.3 mi on Highway 49 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 171.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (US 49 / Highway 49 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
397 ft9 ft
Total Climb
275 ft
Total Descent
545 ft
Highest Point
397 ft
~36.7 mi in
Elevation Range
387 ft
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 Pearlington, MS, road signs point toward Gulf Coast and Mississippi Gulf Coast.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 171.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pearlington, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (US 49 / Highway 49 South): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Pearlington, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
