Drive or Fly: Olive Branch, MS to Natchez, MS?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for MEM–AEX. At 310 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 52m

Distance

310.9 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

126 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 29m

30m in the air

Air Distance

252 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Olive Branch, MS → MEM 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AEX → Natchez, MS 104m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Olive Branch, MS MEM — Memphis International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Natchez, MS AEX — Alexandria International Airport 69 mi, ~104m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MEM and AEX. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 21m

5h 50m on rail

Total Cost

$49

CO2

14 kg

Route

City of New Orleans

Door-to-Door Timeline

Olive Branch, MS → Memphis 26m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 350m

Arrival 10m

Brookhaven Amtrak Station → Natchez, MS 85m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $49) $49

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Memphis 18 mi, ~26m drive

To Brookhaven Amtrak Station 57 mi, ~85m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 52m	4h 29m	8h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$185	$49
Carbon footprint	126 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

310.9 mi 5h 51m

via I 55, US 61, I 20; US 80

Shortest (+19 min)

299.1 mi 6h 11m

via US 61, I 69; MS 304, I 269; MS 304

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Olive Branch, MS to Natchez, MS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.