This 169.6-mile journey from Waveland to Jackson, Mississippi, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 2 hours and 52 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, this drive sticks to local roads for its entirety, meaning you won't encounter any interstate driving. The route involves frequent turns, making it a more engaged driving experience than a straightforward highway cruise. This trip is easily manageable within a day, allowing you to focus on the local character of the drive without the need for an overnight stop.
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
84.4 miles from Waveland, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
83.8 mi
1h 43m
I 59
40.4 mi
43m
MS 43
25 mi
36m
MS 53
15.6 mi
23m
South State Street
1.3 mi
2m
Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi
1m
McLaurin Street
0.5 mi
1m
I 20
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 83.8 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waveland, MS and Jackson, MS.
1
Start on Central Avenue
397 ft·17 sec·Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
0.1 mi·12 sec·Coleman Avenue
3
Continue on Saint Joseph Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Saint Joseph Street
4
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
82 ft·6 sec·Saint Anthony Street
5
Turn left onto McLaurin Street
0.5 mi·1 min·McLaurin Street
6
Turn left onto Nicholson Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Nicholson Avenue
7
Continue on MS 43; MS 603
25 mi·36 min·MS 43; MS 603
8
Continue on MS 53
16 mi·23 min·MS 53
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
10
Merge onto I 59
40 mi·43 min·I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: JacksonUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 49
1.2 mi·1 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi·6 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi·6 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 49
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi·4 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 49
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
1.0 mi·1 min·US 49
21
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
0.3 mi·25 sec·I 20; I 55; US 49
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 51 North
23
Turn straight onto US 51
1.3 mi·2 min·South State Street
24
Turn left onto East Pearl Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Pearl Street
25
Arrive at destination
East Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 52-minute duration and frequent turns, consider an early morning departure from Waveland to maximize your daylight hours in Jackson. With only one recommended stop and no long highway stretches, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local driving can sometimes consume fuel differently than highway speeds. A good tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with the main road names – Coleman Avenue, Saint Joseph Street, and Saint Anthony Street – as they will be key navigational points throughout your 169.6-mile trip.
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 84.4 miles from Waveland, MS, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.8 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 37 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.4 miles or 1h 50m 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 55m
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 Waveland, 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 Waveland, MS
This is one driving day of about 168.9 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Waveland, 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 US 49 for about 83.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 165 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Coleman Avenue
Turn left onto Coleman Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|Saint Anthony Street
Turn right onto Saint Anthony Street
Navigation decision point
5
42.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
5
165 mi into trip|~3h 28m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.51 one way
$51.02 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$28.00
$56.00
premium
$4.56
$30.32
$60.63
diesel
$5.61
$37.29
$74.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.7
0
$17.73
$8.11
Efficient EV
42.2
0
$14.78
$6.76
EV Truck/SUV
67.6
0
$23.65
$10.81
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 14, 2026
Origin
Waveland, MS
Morning
in Waveland on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jackson, MS
Morning
in Jackson on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph2% chanceLive 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
18 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
3h 34m 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 168.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the full 169.6 miles, as this route has a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and communities, with your journey primarily following Coleman Avenue, Saint Joseph Street, and Saint Anthony Street. Without long stretches of uninterrupted highway, you'll be constantly adjusting your course, offering a more hands-on driving experience. This type of route often provides a closer look at the areas you're passing through, with more frequent opportunities to observe local life.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.8 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and I 59. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Coleman Avenue.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 168.9 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: at 0.1 miles (Coleman Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Saint Anthony Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 168.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m 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 83.8 miles on US 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 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.
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 Jackson, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Coleman Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Saint Anthony Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Jackson, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
