Embarking on the drive from Shannon, MS, to Jackson, MS, covers 183.5 miles and is estimated to take about 2 hours and 59 minutes. This journey stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward trip entirely within Mississippi. With a projected fuel cost of around $28, it's an economical choice for a single-day adventure. The route is designed for one day, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively short but engaging drive. You'll primarily navigate local roads, so expect a more hands-on driving experience.
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
92.3 miles from Shannon, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
MS 25
136.8 mi
2h 38m
US Highway 45 Alternate
35.7 mi
43m
US 45 ALT
7.2 mi
8m
North State Street
2.4 mi
3m
Martin Luther King Drive
1.2 mi
1m
Broad Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Pearl Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Old Canton Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
MS 25
— 136.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shannon, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on Boyd Avenue
73 ft·5 sec·Boyd Avenue
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Broad Street
3
Turn left onto North Collins
124 ft·7 sec·North Collins
4
Turn right onto MS 145
433 ft·6 sec·Noah Curtis Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 45 Alternate South: West Point
6
Merge onto US 45 ALT
1.2 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Drive
7
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
8
Continue on US 45 ALT
2.2 mi·2 min·US 45 ALT
9
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.5 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
10
Continue on US 45 ALT
0.7 mi·49 sec·US 45 ALT
11
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
12
Continue on US 45 ALT
36 mi·43 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit onto MS 25
12 mi·13 min·MS 25
Toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Starkville
14
Take the exit onto MS 25
5.0 mi·6 min·MS 25
Toward MS 25 South: Louisville
15
Continue on MS 25
1.9 mi·2 min·MS 25
Use the left lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
25 mi·28 min·MS 25
17
Take the exit onto MS 25
93 mi·1 hr 47 min·MS 25
18
At end of road, turn left onto Old Canton Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Old Canton Road
19
Turn straight onto US 51
2.4 mi·3 min·North State Street
20
Turn right onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Pearl Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 59 minute duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day trip from Shannon to Jackson. You'll want to plan for one stop along the way to break up the 183.5 miles and perhaps refuel, especially since the fuel cost is estimated at $28. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Jackson and still have the afternoon free. Pay close attention to the main roads mentioned, including Broad Street, North Collins, and Noah Curtis Street, as these will be your primary guides through the local network.
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 92.3 miles from Shannon, MS, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.8 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 41 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.3 miles or 1h 51m 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 59m
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 Shannon, 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 Shannon, MS
This is one driving day of about 184.6 miles and 3h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Shannon, 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 25 for about 136.8 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 63.7 — 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|Broad Street
Turn right onto Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|MS 145 / Noah Curtis Street
Turn right onto MS 145 / Noah Curtis Street
Navigation decision point
5
45.1 mi into trip|~56m in|MS 25
Take the exit onto MS 25 toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Starkville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 West, MS 12 West, MS 25 South: Sta...
4
56.9 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|MS 25
Take the exit onto MS 25 toward MS 25 South: Louisville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 25 South: Louisville
4
63.7 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|MS 25
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 25
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.88 one way
$55.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$30.60
$61.21
premium
$4.56
$33.13
$66.27
diesel
$5.61
$40.76
$81.51
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: 64.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.4
0
$19.38
$8.86
Efficient EV
46.2
0
$16.15
$7.38
EV Truck/SUV
73.8
0
$25.84
$11.81
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 20, 2026
Origin
Shannon, MS
Late night
in Shannon on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, MS
Late night
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Philadelphia, MS
92 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
2 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 39m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 184.6
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with no highway sections to speak of. You'll be navigating through towns and local thoroughfares for the entire 183.5 miles, so keeping your eyes peeled for changes in speed limits and road conditions is key. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent navigation changes. Expect a driving experience that requires constant attention to your surroundings rather than settling into a long, straight highway cruise.
97% 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: 136.8 mi on MS 25.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on MS 25 and US Highway 45 Alternate. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Broad Street.
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 39m 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 (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MS 145 / Noah Curtis Street): Navigation decision point; at 45.1 miles (MS 25): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 136.8 miles on MS 25. 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 (Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (MS 145 / Noah Curtis Street): Navigation decision point; at 45.1 miles (MS 25): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument, Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
