Decatur, MS to Olive Branch, MS is 211.2 miles and takes about 4h 31m via I 55 and MS 19, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting the Southeast region from one end to the other. With nearly all of your travel on major highways, expect a straightforward drive. It's a well-suited option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover this distance without much fuss.
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
105.6 miles from Decatur, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
106.5 mi
1h 54m
MS 19
35 mi
52m
Highway 15
24 mi
35m
MS 35
22.4 mi
33m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
MS 15
3.3 mi
4m
North Jackson Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 106.5 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on West Broad Street
474 ft·26 sec·West Broad Street
2
Turn left onto MS 15
24 mi·35 min·Highway 15
3
Keep slight left at fork onto MS 15
3.3 mi·4 min·MS 15
4
Turn right onto MS 19
0.2 mi·38 sec·MS 19
5
Continue on MS 19
34 mi·50 min·MS 19
6
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
1.1 mi·1 min·MS 19; MS 35
7
Turn left onto MS 731
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 731
8
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Jefferson Street
9
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Jackson Street
10
Continue on MS 35
22 mi·33 min·MS 35
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
12
Merge onto I 55
106 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 55
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
15
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
17
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
18
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
19
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 31m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is ideal to make the most of daylight. You'll only have one stop to plan for, so consider making it around the halfway point for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 106.5-mile stretch on I 55, as services can be more spaced out on interstates. The $32 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility; aim to avoid peak rush hour traffic when entering the Olive Branch area.
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 105.6 miles from Decatur, MS, or about 2h 31m 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 46 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.6 miles or 2h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
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 Decatur, 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 Decatur, MS
This is one driving day of about 211.2 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Decatur, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 204.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 15 / Highway 15
Turn left onto MS 15 / Highway 15
Navigation decision point
4
24.1 mi into trip|~36m in|MS 15
Keep slight left at fork onto MS 15
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|MS 19; MS 35
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
Navigation decision point
5
195.2 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
204.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m 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
$31.90 one way
$63.79 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$35.01
$70.03
premium
$4.56
$37.91
$75.82
diesel
$5.61
$46.63
$93.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.4
0
$22.18
$10.14
Efficient EV
52.8
0
$18.48
$8.45
EV Truck/SUV
84.5
1
$29.57
$13.52
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 20, 2026
Origin
Decatur, MS
Late night
in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
16 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 31m 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 138.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway driving, with 98% of the 211.2 miles on major roads like I 55. You'll experience a long stretch of 106.5 miles on I 55, so plan for consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive as you approach your destination. Expect a steady flow of traffic typical of interstate travel.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 19. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near MS 15 / Highway 15.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 211.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (MS 15 / Highway 15): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (MS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.3 miles (MS 19; MS 35): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 211.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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: at 0.1 miles (MS 15 / Highway 15): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (MS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.3 miles (MS 19; MS 35): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Olive Branch, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
