Traveling from Oxford to Pearl covers 164.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 6 minutes. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major routes, specifically MS 7, I-55, and I-20. With a fuel budget estimated at $25, the journey is relatively economical for a trip across the heart of Mississippi. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar climate and landscape throughout the transit. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a predictable and efficient way to reach your destination.
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
82.4 miles from Oxford, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 7
144.2 mi
2h 39m
I 55
15.6 mi
18m
I 20
1.5 mi
1m
University Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
South Pearson Road
0.7 mi
1m
Old Brandon Road
0.2 mi
<1m
South Lamar Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Courthouse Square
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MS 7
— 144.2 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oxford, MS and Pearl, MS.
1
Start on Courthouse Square
148 ft·11 sec·Courthouse Square
2
Continue on Courthouse Square
92 ft·4 sec·Courthouse Square
3
Turn right
55 ft·2 sec
4
Turn right onto South Lamar Boulevard
0.1 mi·26 sec·South Lamar Boulevard
5
Turn left onto MS 314
0.7 mi·1 min·University Avenue
6
Enter roundabout
36 ft·0 sec
7
Continue
0.2 mi·19 sec
8
Merge onto MS 7
6.8 mi·9 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
16 mi·18 min·I 55
13
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East, US 49 South: Meridian, Hattiesburg
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward I 20 East: Flowood, Meridian
15
Merge onto I 20
1.5 mi·1 min·I 20
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward MS 468: Pearl
17
Turn left onto MS 468
0.7 mi·1 min·South Pearson Road
18
Turn straight
290 ft·12 sec
19
Turn slight right onto Old Brandon Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Old Brandon Road
20
Turn right onto Pine Park Drive
76 ft·7 sec·Pine Park Drive
21
Turn left onto Old Country Club Road
79 ft·2 sec·Old Country Club Road
22
Arrive at destination
Old Country Club Road
Trip Plan
To keep your 3-hour journey manageable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since you have 164.8 miles of highway ahead, leaving during off-peak hours can help you avoid potential congestion on the interstate segments near your arrival. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Oxford, as the $25 estimate assumes consistent highway speeds rather than idling in traffic. Because the drive is short enough to handle in one go, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. A smart tip for this specific route is to prioritize your rest break toward the middle of the drive, especially as you transition from MS 7 to the interstate system.
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 82.4 miles from Oxford, MS, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 144.2 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 34m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearl, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oxford, 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 Oxford, MS
This is one driving day of about 164.8 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Oxford, 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 144.2 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 161.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Lamar Boulevard
Turn right onto South Lamar Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 314 / University Avenue
Turn left onto MS 314 / University Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
7.9 mi into trip|~12m 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
5
160.8 mi into trip|~3h 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
161.7 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Flowood, Meridian
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 East: Flowood, Meridian
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.89 one way
$49.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$27.32
$54.64
premium
$4.56
$29.58
$59.16
diesel
$5.61
$36.39
$72.77
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: 57.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.30
$7.91
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.42
$6.59
EV Truck/SUV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.55
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Oxford, MS
Late night
in Oxford on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pearl, MS
Late night
in Pearl on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Grenada, MS
82 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
7 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 6m 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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 159.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive defined by speed and efficiency, as a full 98% of this route is comprised of highway travel. You will spend the bulk of your time on a significant 144.2-mile stretch along MS 7, which sets the pace for the majority of the trip. The transition from the state highway system onto the I-55 and I-20 corridors means you will be settling into a consistent rhythm for most of the 3-hour duration. While the road is not technically demanding, the reliance on high-speed thoroughfares creates a focused, functional experience behind the wheel. Prepare for a steady, uninterrupted drive that prioritizes arrival time over winding backroads.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 144.2 mi on MS 7.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 7 and I 55. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lamar Boulevard.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 164.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.1 miles (South Lamar Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MS 314 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (MS 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Oxford is a historic, picturesque town in North Central Mississippi. With its scenic town square, acclaimed restaurants, unique boutiques, oak-shaded neighborhoods, and friendly people, Oxford is the model Southern town. Named after Oxford, England, in hopes of attracting a university, the town was selected as the home of the University of Mississippi in 1848, which dominates life here today.
Top landmarks
•Rowan Oak — William Faulkner's former home in Oxford, Mississippi
•Barnard Observatory — observatory at the University of Mississippi, USA
•Lyceum-The Circle Historic District — collection of historic buildings at the University of Mississippi in Oxford (USA...
Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, sitting on the east side of the Pearl River from the state capital, Jackson. The population was 26,000 in 2018.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 164.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 144.2 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: at 0.1 miles (South Lamar Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MS 314 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (MS 7): 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 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Pearl, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
