Spanning 161.4 miles, this journey from Brandon to Batesville typically takes about 2 hours and 58 minutes. You will primarily navigate via I-20, I-55 North, and US 278 to reach your destination in the Southeast region. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting around $25 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. It is a straightforward trek that connects two distinct Mississippi locales, offering a reliable path for those looking to cross the state efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
80.7 miles from Brandon, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
147.9 mi
2h 40m
I-20
9.2 mi
10m
US 278
1.6 mi
2m
East Government Street
1.1 mi
1m
US 51
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 147.9 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brandon, MS and Batesville, MS.
1
Start on US 80
1.1 mi·1 min·East Government Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
3
Merge onto I 20
9.2 mi·10 min·I-20
4
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, GrenadaUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 55
148 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 55
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 278, MS 6: Batesville, Oxford
7
Keep slight left at fork
271 ft·8 sec
8
Merge onto US 278; MS 6
1.6 mi·2 min·US 278; MS 6
9
Turn right onto US 51; MS 35
49 ft·0 sec·US 51; MS 35
10
Arrive at destination
US 51; MS 35
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes just under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak traffic. Planning for one strategic stop will help you break up the drive and stay refreshed without adding significant time to your arrival. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the turn-heavy sections to ensure you don't need to hunt for a station in more rural stretches. Because the drive is relatively short, you can easily complete it in one go, but don't hesitate to pull over if you want to stretch your legs. A helpful tip is to check your GPS closely before transitioning from I-55 to US 278, as the local road navigation requires more precision than staying on the interstate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.7 miles from Brandon, MS, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.9 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 36 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.7 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Batesville, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brandon, 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 Brandon, MS
This is one driving day of about 161.4 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Brandon, 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 147.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 159.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 80 / East Government Street
Depart onto US 80 / East Government Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in|I 20 / I-20
Merge onto I 20 / I-20
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
10.7 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
5
159.5 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 278, MS 6: Batesville, Oxford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 278, MS 6: Batesville, Oxford
5
159.8 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.38 one way
$48.75 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.76
$53.52
premium
$4.56
$28.97
$57.94
diesel
$5.61
$35.64
$71.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.4
0
$16.95
$7.75
Efficient EV
40.4
0
$14.12
$6.46
EV Truck/SUV
64.6
0
$22.60
$10.33
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Brandon, MS
Night
in Brandon on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Batesville, MS
Night
in Batesville on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Canton, MS
81 mi in
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
8 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
2h 58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument
National Monument
Medgar and Myrlie Evers were partners in the civil rights struggle. The assassination of Medgar Evers in the carport of their home on June 12, 1963, was the first murder of a nationally significant le...
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 144.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While the route utilizes major thoroughfares like I-55, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto local segments. You should anticipate a mix of driving conditions that keeps the experience engaging throughout the 161.4-mile journey. Because this is not a high-speed highway-only drive, you will find yourself navigating various road types that require consistent focus behind the wheel. The profile is distinctly local, providing a different feel than a standard long-haul interstate trip.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.9 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I-20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 80 / East Government Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 80 / East Government Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 20 / I-20): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Brandon, MS to Batesville, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Grenada along the way.
Grenada
10.7 mi in|~13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 161.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 147.9 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 80 / East Government Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 20 / I-20): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 10.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Batesville, MS before heading back.
