This straightforward 89.5-mile drive from Laurel to Jackson, Mississippi, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical option for crossing Mississippi. The journey is primarily highway-focused, making it a practical choice for getting between these two Southeast region cities efficiently. You'll spend about 66% of your time on highways, so expect a relatively smooth and direct passage. This route is ideal for those looking for a quick and uncomplicated transit rather than an extended scenic exploration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.8 miles from Laurel, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
58.9 mi
1h 12m
Veterans Memorial Highway
27.2 mi
31m
South State Street
1.3 mi
2m
Sawmill Road
0.6 mi
1m
I 20
0.3 mi
<1m
West 5th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Pearl Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North 5th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 58.9 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurel, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on Yates Avenue
157 ft·8 sec·Yates Avenue
2
Turn right onto North 5th Avenue
264 ft·14 sec·North 5th Avenue
3
Turn left onto Sawmill Road
218 ft·4 sec·Sawmill Road
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Sawmill Road
473 ft·10 sec·Sawmill Road
5
Enter roundabout onto Sawmill Road
72 ft·1 sec·Sawmill Road
6
Continue on Sawmill Road
0.5 mi·59 sec·Sawmill Road
7
Continue on West 5th Street
0.3 mi·41 sec·West 5th Street
8
Continue on US 84; MS 28
27 mi·31 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward US 49 North: Jackson
10
Merge onto US 49
57 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
11
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
1.0 mi·1 min·US 49
14
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
0.3 mi·25 sec·I 20; I 55; US 49
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 51 North
16
Turn straight onto US 51
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Street
17
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Pearl Street
18
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of under two hours, this drive from Laurel to Jackson offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a morning coffee in Laurel, and still arrive in Jackson with ample daylight. The estimated fuel cost of $14 suggests filling up before you leave Laurel is a good idea, as major service areas might be spaced out. While there are no specific stops mandated by the route data, keep an eye on your mileage and consider a brief rest break if needed, especially during the longest 58.9-mile stretch on US 49.
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 44.8 miles from Laurel, MS, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.9 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.8 miles or 53m 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 Jackson, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Laurel, MS so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Laurel, MS
This is one driving day of about 89.5 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Laurel, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 49 for about 58.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 85.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 5th Avenue
Turn right onto North 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Sawmill Road
Keep slight left at fork onto Sawmill Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Sawmill Road
Enter roundabout onto Sawmill Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
28.3 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward US 49 North: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 49 North: Jackson
5
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.52 one way
$27.03 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$14.84
$29.68
premium
$4.56
$16.06
$32.13
diesel
$5.61
$19.76
$39.52
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: 31.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.8
0
$9.40
$4.30
Efficient EV
22.4
0
$7.83
$3.58
EV Truck/SUV
35.8
0
$12.53
$5.73
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Laurel, MS
Late night
in Laurel on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, MS
Late night
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
New Haven, MS
45 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 49m 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 highway-focused experience, with 66% of the drive utilizing faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like the longest uninterrupted segment of 58.9 miles on US 49, providing a consistent pace. The primary roads include US 49, Veterans Memorial Highway, and South State Street, suggesting a mix of major arteries and potentially some more localized sections as you approach Jackson. The profile indicates a generally direct drive without significant diversions or winding country roads.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.9 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and Veterans Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 5th Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.5 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Sawmill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.2 miles (Sawmill Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Laurel is a small city in the inland area of the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi. It's best known in American culture as the home base of husband-and-wife home renovation team Ben and Erin Napier, stars of the HGTV series Home Town.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 89.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.9 miles on US 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Jackson, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Sawmill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 0.2 miles (Sawmill Road): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jackson, MS before heading back.
