North Tunica, MS to Jackson, MS is 200.3 miles and takes about 3h 57m via I 55 and MS 4, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Given its short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward drive best suited for a single-day transit. You'll find most of your travel is on major interstates, making for a predictable and efficient trip.
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
100.2 miles from North Tunica, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
168.3 mi
3h 2m
MS 4
24 mi
42m
US 61
4.1 mi
4m
West Main Street
1 mi
1m
Old Highway 4
0.7 mi
1m
East Pearl Street
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Sears Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 168.3 mi, about 3h 2m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 53 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,578 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~143 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 North Tunica, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on Gay Street
138 ft·7 sec·Gay Street
2
Turn right onto Sears Avenue
478 ft·26 sec·Sears Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Prichard Road
470 ft·13 sec·Prichard Road
4
Take the ramp
194 ft·5 sec
5
Merge onto US 61
4.1 mi·4 min·US 61
6
Turn left onto MS 4
11 mi·20 min·MS 4
7
Turn left onto MS 4
12 mi·21 min·MS 4
8
Continue on Old Highway 4
0.7 mi·1 min·Old Highway 4
9
Continue on Main Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·Main Street
10
At end of road, turn slight right onto West Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·West Main Street
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
12
Merge onto I 55
168 mi·3 hr 2 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
To make the most of this 3h 57m drive, consider leaving in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With only 200.3 miles, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop around the halfway point is wise for rest and fuel. The primary road, I 55, is well-serviced, so fuel availability shouldn't be a major concern. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the longest stretch on I 55, as you'll want to ensure you have enough to reach your destination or a convenient exit.
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 100.2 miles from North Tunica, MS, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.3 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 44 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.2 miles or 2h 7m 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 16m
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 North Tunica, 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 North Tunica, MS
This is one driving day of about 200.3 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from North Tunica, 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 168.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 199.6 — 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|Sears Avenue
Turn right onto Sears Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Prichard Road
At end of road, turn left onto Prichard Road
Navigation decision point
4
4.4 mi into trip|~5m in|MS 4
Turn left onto MS 4
Navigation decision point
4
199.1 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Take the exit toward Convention Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Convention Center
4
199.6 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.81 one way
$55.61 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$31.11
$62.22
premium
$4.29
$33.82
$67.64
diesel
$4.80
$37.82
$75.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.1
0
$21.03
$9.61
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.53
$8.01
EV Truck/SUV
80.1
1
$28.04
$12.82
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
North Tunica, MS
Late night
in North Tunica on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
SW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:45PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Jackson, MS
Late night
in Jackson on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:45PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 8:15PM CDT until July 19 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
93°F
Batesville, MS
100 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 57m 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 200.3
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled to Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 69.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of the route on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 168.3 miles on I 55, indicating extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads, MS 4 and US 61, occurs later in the trip, offering a change of pace with more frequent intersections and potentially more local traffic. Expect a very focused highway experience for the majority of your travel.
98% 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: 168.3 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 4. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sears Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 57m drive. You will face about 11 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 (Sears Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Prichard Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (MS 4): Navigation decision point.
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
The longest stretch is about 168.3 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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: near the start (Sears Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Prichard Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (MS 4): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
