Memphis to Jackson MS drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Memphis to Jackson MS drive are Oxford MS, the Batesville Mounds and Grenada Lake. The distance from Memphis to Jackson MS is 209 miles, with a 3h15m driving time.
Planning a Memphis to Jackson MS road trip itinerary
The Memphis to Jackson MS drive connects the home of Elvis in Tennessee to the capital of Mississippi.
Memphis, Tennessee, is a pilgrimage site for Elvis fans. The King’s Graceland mansion is one of the top tourist sites in the US. But the cultural heritage extends beyond music, as you’ll discover on an African-American history tour.
Try the Rock and Soul Museum, plus the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and the 19th century Woodruff-Fontaine House.
Ways of seeing the city include ghost walks, Downtown food tours and musical bus tours. There are also guided walks down music central, Beale Street, and city tours that take you inside the legendary Sun Studios.
Top Memphis accommodation options include the Peabody, famous for its marching ducks, and the Guesthouse at Graceland.
The capital of Mississippi has a collection of strong museums. The Mississippi Museum of Art has a great Southern art collection. The Old Capitol Museum and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum cover politics and history.
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is arguably Jackson’s highlight, though. It comes with a 100,000-gallon aquarium showing off the species that live on the Gulf Coast, and is within LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. That means plenty of nature trails to enjoy when the weather’s good.
Highly-reviewed Jackson MS accommodation includes the plush Westin and the more charming Old Capitol Inn.
Memphis to Jackson MS distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Memphis to Jackson MS is 209 miles. You can expect a driving time of around three hours and 15 minutes. The quickest route is down the I-55.
The best stops to add to a Memphis to Jackson MS road trip itinerary are Oxford MS, the Batesville Mounds and Grenada Lake.
Best stops between Memphis and Jackson MS: Oxford MS
A short detour east of the I-55, Oxford MS has a more refined air to it than many cities in Mississippi. It is a place of book shops, galleries, theatres and – of course – Ole Miss. The University of Mississippi plays a major part in creating Oxford’s vibe.
Individual highlights of the city include Rowan Oak, home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner, and the eclectic University Museum. The exhibitions inside flit from Ancient Greek antiques to scientific instruments.
Memphis TN to Jackson MS drive: Batesville Mounds
The Batesville Mounds are the remnants of the ancient Indigenous culture that once lived in the Mississippi River Valley. Only two of the original mounds still exist, and they’re now preserved in a park. Pottery and other artifacts belonging to the pre-Columbian people have been gathered at the site, and a few explanatory signs explain some of what archaeologists know.
Memphis to Jackson MS road trip attractions: Grenada Lake
Grenada Lake is a reservoir on the Yalobusha River. It was largely build for flood-control purposes, but has become popular for recreation purposes too. The largest freshwater lake in Mississippi brings plenty of fishing opportunities – it’s renowned for crappie.
The lakeside Hugh White State Park, meanwhile, offers camping, picnic areas and several playgrounds.
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