Jackson, MS to University, MS is 161 miles and takes about 3h 3m via I 55 and MS 7, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, primarily highway drive, making it an excellent choice for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. If you're looking for a quick journey between these two points, this route offers efficiency and predictability.
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
80.5 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
112.1 mi
2h 1m
MS 7
43.2 mi
50m
North State Street
2.3 mi
3m
University Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
Lakeland Drive
0.8 mi
1m
East Capitol Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Old Canton Road
0.2 mi
<1m
South 5th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 112.1 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and University, 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
112 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 55
12
Take the exit onto MS 7
36 mi·41 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
13
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
171 ft·2 sec·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
14
Continue on MS 7
6.8 mi·9 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward MS 314, MS 334
16
Enter roundabout onto MS 314
0.2 mi·21 sec·University Avenue
17
Continue on MS 314
1.1 mi·3 min·University Avenue
18
Turn right onto South 5th Street
466 ft·21 sec·South 5th Street
19
Turn right onto Tyler Avenue
51 ft·2 sec·Tyler Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
Tyler Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 3-hour duration, starting your drive anytime in the morning or early afternoon will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one stop likely needed, consider taking a break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The fuel cost estimate of $24 suggests it's a budget-friendly trip, so you won't need to worry about major fuel expenses. Keep an eye on signage as you transition from I 55 to MS 7, as this is where the road character begins to change slightly.
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 80.5 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.1 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 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.5 miles or 1h 30m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near University, 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 161 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 112.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 159.7 — 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
6
159.7 mi into trip|~3h in|MS 314 / University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto MS 314 / University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.31 one way
$48.63 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.69
$53.38
premium
$4.56
$28.90
$57.80
diesel
$5.61
$35.55
$71.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.73
Efficient EV
40.3
0
$14.09
$6.44
EV Truck/SUV
64.4
0
$22.54
$10.30
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
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
University, MS
Late night
in University on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°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
6 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 3m 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 is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey on major roads like I 55 and MS 7. You'll experience a lengthy stretch of 112.1 miles on I 55, indicating a significant portion of the drive will be at higher speeds. While the majority is interstate, the final leg may involve some transitions onto local roads like North State Street as you approach your destination. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.1 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 7. 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 Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Jackson, MS to University, MS is easy. At 3h 3m with 96% 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.
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.
The longest stretch is about 112.1 miles on I 55. 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.
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 — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at University, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
