Overall8.7/10Easier to reach than about 85% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Jackson is a car city—most travelers use rental cars or rideshare to explore; local bus system (JTRAN) available but limited service on Sundays.
- Airport parking is affordable at $5 first hour / $19 per day in the garage with quick access to terminals.
- Union Station is an intermodal hub housing Amtrak, Greyhound buses, and JTRAN local buses all in one downtown location.
- City of New Orleans Amtrak route runs daily and is the main rail connection; trains depart evening/arrive morning on the 18–19-hour Chicago–New Orleans run.
- Ride-share (Uber/Lyft) and taxis are widely available from the airport—about 15 minutes to downtown.
- Major day-trip destinations (Vicksburg, Oxford, Natchez Trace) are all within 1–3 hours' drive; many are accessible via scenic routes.
Day Trips
Vicksburg National Military Park
- Highlights
- Civil War battlefield, 1,400+ monuments and markers, USS Cairo Museum
- Travel Time
- Under 1 hour
- Distance From Jackson
- 45 miles west
Natchez Trace Parkway
- Highlights
- Historic scenic parkway, ancient Native American sites, nature trails
- Travel Time
- Various segments
- Distance From Jackson
- Within 1 hour
Ross Barnett Reservoir
- Highlights
- Lake, picnic areas, nature observation
- Travel Time
- 20-30 minutes
- Distance From Jackson
- 14 miles northeast
Mississippi Petrified Forest
- Highlights
- Boardwalk trails, petrified trees, gem mining
- Travel Time
- 30-45 minutes
- Distance From Jackson
- Within 1 hour
Oxford
- Highlights
- William Faulkner's Rowan Oak, Oxford Square, literary heritage
- Travel Time
- 2.5 hours
- Distance From Jackson
- 2.5 hours north
Tupelo
- Highlights
- Elvis Presley's Birthplace and Museum, Tupelo Buffalo Park & Zoo
- Travel Time
- 3+ hours
- Distance From Jackson
- 3+ hours north
Gulf Coast (Gulfport/Biloxi)
- Highlights
- Beaches, Biloxi Lighthouse, Gulf of Mexico water activities
- Travel Time
- 2.5-3 hours
- Distance From Jackson
- Under 3 hours south
New Orleans
- Highlights
- French Quarter, museums, restaurants, cultural attractions
- Travel Time
- Under 3 hours by car
- Distance From Jackson
- 185 miles south
Rail Service
- Provider
- Amtrak
- Station Name
- Union Station
- Station Address
- 300 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39201
Routes
City of New Orleans
- Frequency
- Daily
Major Stops
- Chicago
- Memphis
- Jackson
- New Orleans
Station Amenities
- Enclosed waiting area
- Parking
- Accessible platform
- Wheelchair available
- Baggage handling
Distance From Downtown
- Unit
- blocks
- Value
- 4
Airport
- Name
- Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
- Location
- 100 International Drive, Jackson, MS 39208
Parking
- Garage Rate Per Day
- $19
- Garage Rate First Hour
- $5.00
Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Southwest Airlines
- United Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
Direct Destinations
- Atlanta
- Charlotte
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Houston
- Miami
- Orlando
- Nashville
- Washington DC
Distance From Downtown
- Unit
- miles
- Value
- 6
Ground Transportation Options
- Taxis
- Ride-share services (Uber, Lyft)
- Hotel courtesy vans
- Car rental companies on-site
Local Bus
- Routes
- 10
- Main Hub
- Union Station (Gallatin and Capitol Streets, Downtown Jackson)
- Provider
- JTRAN (Jackson Transit System)
- Total Bus Stops
- 406
Fares
- Base Fare
- $1.50
- Student With ID
- $1.00
- Children 6 To 14
- $0.75
- Seniors 60 Plus Or Disabled
- $0.50
Service Hours
- Sunday
- No service
- Weekday
- 5:15 AM - 7:45 PM
- Saturday
- 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Intercity Bus
- Coverage
- 2,400 destinations across North America
- Provider
- Greyhound Lines
- Station Address
- Union Station, 300 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39201
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Jackson
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.