I-10 Truck Parking: Mississippi Builds 62-Space Rest Area

What happened

I-10 truck parking is getting a boost on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Construction has started on a new Jackson County Welcome Center on I-10 in Mississippi. The new rest area will have 62 truck parking spaces and 5 bus spaces, TheTrucker.com reported on Sept. 25, 2026.

The project costs $35.2 million. The contractor is T.L. Wallace of Columbia. The old welcome center closed on July 31, 2026. The site will stay closed to the public for about 2 years. The work is expected to finish in summer 2028.

The Jackson County Welcome Center is one of the busiest safety rest areas in Mississippi. The new one will have a modern design and better access for people with disabilities. It will also get drainage and water system upgrades, better security with updated cameras, and one combined entrance for after-hours use.

"I'm excited to see construction move forward on a new, state-of-the-art welcome center on I-10 in Jackson County," said Charles Busby, Mississippi's Southern Transportation District commissioner.

What it means for owner-operators

If you haul between Texas and Florida, you know I-10. Houston, Beaumont, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Mobile. Finding a safe place to stop at night on that road is not always easy.

A rest area with 62 truck spaces and new security cameras is good news. A safe, lit, watched place to park helps you rest when your hours run out. It can also help keep your truck and cargo safer while you sleep. Thieves look for trucks parked in dark, empty spots.

There is one catch. The site is closed while it is being built, for about 2 years. So for now, that stop is not an option. Plan your breaks on that stretch of I-10 with that in mind.

What to do next

• Update your trip plan: the Jackson County Welcome Center on I-10 is closed until the work is done, expected summer 2028.
• Plan your stops before you leave. Know where you will park when your hours run out.
• Park in lit, busy areas when you can. Lock the cab and use a seal or lock on the trailer.
• Take photos of your seals and your load when you stop for the night.
• Make sure you know what your cargo coverage says about theft and parking. Our guide to trucking insurance coverage explained shows the main types in plain words.

Running I-10 and want to check your cargo coverage? Call TCZ Insurance Agency at 956-526-6727.