Pearl, MS to Ripley, MS is 218 miles and takes about 4h 24m via I 55 and MS 7, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Mississippi, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is a solid option for a quick trip between these two points without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
109 miles from Pearl, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
116.5 mi
2h 6m
MS 7
44.8 mi
53m
Mississippi Highway 30
29.9 mi
43m
MS 15
11.4 mi
16m
Mississippi Highway 15
8.8 mi
13m
MS 30
2.4 mi
3m
I 20
1.6 mi
1m
South Pearson Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 116.5 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,895 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~167 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Pearl, MS and Ripley, MS.
1
Start on Old Country Club Road
79 ft·3 sec·Old Country Club Road
2
Turn right onto Pine Park Drive
76 ft·8 sec·Pine Park Drive
3
Turn left onto Old Brandon Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·Old Brandon Road
4
Turn left onto MS 468
0.5 mi·52 sec·South Pearson Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
6
Merge onto I 20
1.6 mi·1 min·I 20
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, GrenadaUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 55
117 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 55
9
Take the exit onto MS 7
36 mi·41 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
10
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
171 ft·2 sec·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
11
Continue on MS 7
8.4 mi·11 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward MS 30: New Albany
13
Turn right onto MS 30
30 mi·43 min·Mississippi Highway 30
14
Take the ramp onto MS 30
2.2 mi·2 min·MS 30
Toward Tupelo
15
Take the exit onto MS 30
0.2 mi·29 sec·MS 30
Toward MS 15, MS 30 East: Pontotoc, Ripley
16
Keep slight left at fork
147 ft·6 sec
17
Turn left onto MS 15; MS 30
8.8 mi·13 min·Mississippi Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn straight onto MS 15
11 mi·16 min·MS 15
19
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
20
Turn left onto West Walnut Street
457 ft·20 sec·West Walnut Street
21
Arrive at destination
West Walnut Street
Trip Plan
Leaving Pearl, MS in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Ripley, MS. Since this is a manageable 4-hour drive, you can easily complete it in one day. There's only one recommended stop, and with the majority of the route on I 55, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before you get too far into the less developed sections. The longest stretch without a major break is over 100 miles, so keep that in mind for refueling.
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 109 miles from Pearl, MS, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.5 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 48 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109 miles or 2h 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ripley, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pearl, 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 Pearl, MS
This is one driving day of about 218 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Pearl, 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 116.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First break
3.1 mi from route
~8 min detour
$1 to $10
Canton, Mississippi
Hours: 7 AM–4:30 PM
+16018590600
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.6 and 197.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
5
156.4 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|MS 7
Enter roundabout onto MS 7 toward MS 7 North: Oxford
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
5
197.1 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|MS 30
Take the exit onto MS 30 toward MS 15, MS 30 East: Pontotoc, Ripley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 15, MS 30 East: Pontotoc, Ripley
5
197.3 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
197.3 mi into trip|~3h 52m in|MS 15; MS 30 / Mississippi Highway 15
Turn left onto MS 15; MS 30 / Mississippi Highway 15
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.37 one way
$66.74 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.31
$36.96
$73.91
premium
$4.65
$39.90
$79.80
diesel
$6.28
$53.86
$107.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.4
0
$22.89
$10.46
Efficient EV
54.5
0
$19.08
$8.72
EV Truck/SUV
87.2
1
$30.52
$13.95
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 22, 2026
Origin
Pearl, MS
Morning
in Pearl on Friday
Local time
6:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
NNE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 21 at 12:35PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Destination
Ripley, MS
Morning
in Ripley on Friday
Local time
6:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
NNE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 21 at 12:35PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
47°F
Oxford, MS
109 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
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
4h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 195.5
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 195.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 99% of it spent on major roads like I 55 and MS 7. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on I 55, covering 116.5 miles. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring very late in the drive. Expect a consistent highway feel for the vast majority of your travel time.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 7. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in.
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 218 miles you will encounter 15 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 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.4 miles (MS 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 197.1 miles (MS 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
567 ft211 ft
Total Climb
958 ft
Total Descent
748 ft
Highest Point
567 ft
~171.3 mi in
Elevation Range
356 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pearl, MS to Ripley, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tupelo along the way.
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 4h 24m. Total distance: 218 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas 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: at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 156.4 miles (MS 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 197.1 miles (MS 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Ripley, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
