Traveling from Petal to Madison covers a straightforward 102.9-mile journey across Mississippi. You can easily complete this drive in about 2 hours and 12 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $16 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way trek. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout the trip. Navigating primarily via US 49, I-55, and US 51, you will find this to be a highly efficient way to move between these two points. It is a practical, no-nonsense route for those looking to reach their destination quickly without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.5 miles from Petal, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
84.7 mi
1h 44m
I 55
8.3 mi
10m
US 51
4.2 mi
6m
Old Highway 42
2.8 mi
4m
East Central Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
US 11
0.8 mi
1m
I-55 North Frontage Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 84.7 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Petal, MS and Madison, MS.
1
Start on Morris Street
111 ft·9 sec·Morris Street
2
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·East Central Avenue
3
Turn slight left onto US 11
0.8 mi·1 min·US 11
4
Turn straight
348 ft·6 sec
5
Continue on Old Highway 42
2.8 mi·4 min·Old Highway 42
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·12 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn straight onto US 49
2.2 mi·3 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi·6 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi·6 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 49
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi·4 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 49
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
16
Merge onto I 55
8.3 mi·10 min·I 55
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward US 51 North: Ridgeland
18
Continue on I-55 North Frontage Road
0.5 mi·46 sec·I-55 North Frontage Road
19
Turn straight onto US 51
4.2 mi·6 min·US 51
20
Turn left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Main Street
21
Turn right onto Depot Drive
36 ft·1 sec·Depot Drive
22
Arrive at destination
Depot Drive
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour and 12-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aiming to leave outside of peak traffic hours will help you maintain a smoother pace as you transition onto the interstate sections. Since the entire 102.9-mile trip is manageable in a single stint, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest breaks unless you prefer them. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before starting, as the $16 estimated cost is based on steady highway driving conditions. A helpful tip for this specific route is to stay alert during the transition from US 49 to I-55, as traffic patterns can shift quickly near the major junctions.
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 51.5 miles from Petal, MS, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.7 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 23 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 1h 6m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Madison, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Petal, 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 Petal, MS
This is one driving day of about 102.9 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Petal, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 49 for about 84.7 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 102.9 — 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|East Central Avenue
Turn left onto East Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
4
88.4 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
97.6 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 51 North: Ridgeland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 51 North: Ridgeland
5
102.9 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|Depot Drive
Turn right onto Depot Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.54 one way
$31.08 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$17.06
$34.12
premium
$4.56
$18.47
$36.94
diesel
$5.61
$22.72
$45.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.9
0
$10.80
$4.94
Efficient EV
25.7
0
$9.00
$4.12
EV Truck/SUV
41.2
0
$14.41
$6.59
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Petal, MS
Late night
in Petal on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Madison, MS
Late night
in Madison on Sunday
Local time
2:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live 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
25 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
2h 12m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 98% of your time spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm on US 49, which accounts for the longest single stretch of your journey at 84.7 miles. Because the route relies so heavily on high-speed infrastructure, you can expect a consistent, fast-paced experience behind the wheel. The transition between US 49 and the I-55/US 51 corridors keeps the drive moving efficiently toward your destination. You won't find many technical turns here, just a reliable path that prioritizes speed and direct connectivity across the state.
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: 84.7 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and I 55. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 102.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 87.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 88.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
511 ft159 ft
Total Climb
459 ft
Total Descent
284 ft
Highest Point
511 ft
~51.5 mi in
Elevation Range
353 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 Petal, MS to Madison, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
87.7 mi in|~1h 50m|via US 49
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 102.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m 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 84.7 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 Madison, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Central Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 87.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 88.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Madison, MS before heading back.
