Connecting New Albany to Jackson, this 193.1-mile journey is a straightforward trek across Mississippi. You can expect to spend approximately 3 hours and 49 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable day trip that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes MS 7, MS 30, and I-55 to navigate the Southeast region. Budgeting about $30 for fuel should cover your travel costs, provided your vehicle maintains standard efficiency. Because this drive is entirely within the state, it offers a consistent regional feel from start to finish. If you prefer a focused, efficient transit between these two cities, this highway-centric path is your best option.
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
96.5 miles from New Albany, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 7
145.7 mi
2h 41m
MS 30
30.1 mi
44m
I 55
14.2 mi
16m
West Bankhead Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Pearl Street
0.6 mi
1m
Highway 30 West
0.4 mi
<1m
North Railroad Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Mississippi Highway 30
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MS 7
— 145.7 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Albany, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on Highland Street
96 ft·9 sec·Highland Street
2
Turn left onto North Railroad Avenue
210 ft·13 sec·North Railroad Avenue
3
Turn right onto MS 178
1.1 mi·2 min·West Bankhead Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto Highway 30 West
0.4 mi·43 sec·Highway 30 West
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on MS 30
30 mi·44 min·MS 30
6
Take the ramp onto MS 30
143 ft·11 sec·Mississippi Highway 30
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
8
Merge onto MS 7
8.4 mi·11 min·MS 7
9
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
124 ft·1 sec·MS 7
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
10
Continue on MS 7
36 mi·41 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
11
Take the exit onto MS 7
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·MS 7
12
Continue on I 55
14 mi·16 min·I 55
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward Convention Center
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
15
Continue on East Pearl Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Pearl Street
16
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-four-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart early in the morning or mid-afternoon without feeling rushed. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the monotony of the long 145.7-mile stretch on MS 7. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial leg, as the transition between MS 30 and the interstate can impact your consumption rates. Because there is only one recommended stop built into the itinerary, choose your rest area strategically to ensure you stay refreshed before hitting the heavier traffic near Jackson. Taking advantage of this single-day timeline allows you to reach your destination with plenty of daylight to spare.
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 96.5 miles from New Albany, MS, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.7 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 42 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
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 New Albany, 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 New Albany, MS
This is one driving day of about 193.1 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from New Albany, 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 MS 7 for about 145.7 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 and 191.8 — 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 Railroad Avenue
Turn left onto North Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 178 / West Bankhead Street
Turn right onto MS 178 / West Bankhead Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|Highway 30 West
Turn left onto Highway 30 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
40.3 mi into trip|~1h in|MS 7
Enter roundabout onto MS 7 toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward MS 7 South: Water Valley
4
191.8 mi into trip|~3h 47m in
Take the exit toward Convention Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Convention Center
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.16 one way
$58.33 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$32.01
$64.03
premium
$4.56
$34.66
$69.32
diesel
$5.61
$42.63
$85.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.9
0
$20.28
$9.27
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.72
EV Truck/SUV
77.2
0
$27.03
$12.36
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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 17, 2026
Origin
New Albany, MS
Night
in New Albany on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, MS
Night
in Jackson on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
12 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 49m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 193.1
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its heavy reliance on major thoroughfares, with 99% of your travel occurring on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on MS 7, which hosts the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 145.7 miles. Transitioning from the regional highways onto I-55 marks a distinct shift in pace, moving you from potentially winding stretches into the predictable rhythm of interstate travel. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a consistent, highway-focused drive that favors speed and directness over technical maneuvers. By the time you reach the final leg of the trip, the road conditions reflect a high-capacity transit route designed to keep you moving steadily toward your destination.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.7 mi on MS 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 7 and MS 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Railroad Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 49m 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: near the start (North Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MS 178 / West Bankhead Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Highway 30 West): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
553 ft180 ft
Total Climb
752 ft
Total Descent
834 ft
Highest Point
553 ft
~32.2 mi in
Elevation Range
373 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 49m. Total distance: 193.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 145.7 miles on MS 7. 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: near the start (North Railroad Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MS 178 / West Bankhead Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Highway 30 West): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail and Tupelo National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
