Bay Springs to Olive Branch is 236.3 miles and takes about 5 hours 7 minutes via I-55 and State Highway 35, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway journey that's well-suited for a single-day drive. If you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Mississippi locations, this route offers a direct path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118.1 miles from Bay Springs, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
106.5 mi
1h 54m
North State Highway 35
47 mi
1h 9m
State Highway 35
23.9 mi
35m
MS 35
22.4 mi
33m
Highway 18
11.4 mi
16m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
Sylvarena Avenue
3.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 106.5 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bay Springs, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on North 3rd Street
272 ft·14 sec·North 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto MS 18
500 ft·10 sec·5th Avenue
3
Continue on MS 18
11 mi·16 min·Highway 18
4
Continue on MS 18
3.8 mi·5 min·Sylvarena Avenue
5
Turn right onto MS 35
1.3 mi·2 min·Mimosa Drive
6
Continue on MS 35
24 mi·35 min·State Highway 35
7
Continue on MS 35
47 mi·1 hr 9 min·North State Highway 35
8
Turn left onto MS 731
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 731
9
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Jefferson Street
10
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Jackson Street
11
Continue on MS 35
22 mi·33 min·MS 35
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
13
Merge onto I 55
106 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 55
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
16
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
18
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
19
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
20
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
Starting early in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete this 236.3-mile drive. With a duration of just over 5 hours, you can comfortably make the trip in one day without feeling rushed. Plan for one main stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Given the 106.5-mile stretch on I-55, ensure your fuel tank is sufficiently full before embarking on that segment to avoid any unnecessary detours. This route is efficient, so flexibility in your departure time is an advantage.
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 118.1 miles from Bay Springs, MS, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.5 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 52 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.1 miles or 2h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Olive Branch, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bay Springs, 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 Bay Springs, MS
This is one driving day of about 236.3 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Bay Springs, 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 I 55 for about 106.5 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 229.5 — 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|MS 18 / 5th Avenue
Turn right onto MS 18 / 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
88.9 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|East Jefferson Street
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
220 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Tunica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
5
220.3 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
229.5 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.69 one way
$71.37 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$39.18
$78.35
premium
$4.56
$42.41
$84.83
diesel
$5.61
$52.17
$104.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.9
0
$24.81
$11.34
Efficient EV
59.1
0
$20.68
$9.45
EV Truck/SUV
94.5
1
$33.08
$15.12
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Bay Springs, MS
Night
in Bay Springs on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Night
in Olive Branch on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live 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
14 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
5h 7m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
National Monument
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled to Money, Mississippi, to visit relatives. He was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered after reportedly whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till-Mobley...
28 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 163
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 96% of the journey on major roads like I-55 and State Highway 35. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 106.5 miles on I-55, which means consistent speeds and less frequent turns. The character of the drive is largely about covering ground efficiently, rather than winding through picturesque backroads. Expect a steady pace for most of the 5 hours and 7 minutes it takes to complete the 236.3 miles.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and North State Highway 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MS 18 / 5th Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 7m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MS 18 / 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 88.9 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 220 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 236.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 106.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MS 18 / 5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 88.9 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 220 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Olive Branch, MS before the return drive.
