Durant, MS to Olive Branch, MS is 144.6 miles and takes about 2h 42m via I 55 and I 269, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's primarily a highway trip, making it a straightforward option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Given the relatively short duration and highway focus, it’s well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
72.3 miles from Durant, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
124.6 mi
2h 13m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
MS 12
2.6 mi
3m
North Jackson Street
0.7 mi
1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 124.6 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durant, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on US 51; MS 12
0.7 mi·1 min·North Jackson Street
2
Turn left onto MS 12
2.6 mi·3 min·MS 12
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
4
Merge onto I 55
125 mi·2 hr 13 min·I 55
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
7
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
9
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
10
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
11
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
This is a manageable 1-day drive, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Durant, MS in the morning should allow you to reach Olive Branch, MS with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a major exit is over 124 miles on I 55, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get on that section. With a fuel cost estimated at $22, it’s an economical trip. Since the drive is under 3 hours, you can easily make it in one go without needing an overnight stay.
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 72.3 miles from Durant, MS, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.6 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 32 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 19m 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 9m
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 Durant, 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 Durant, MS
This is one driving day of about 144.6 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Durant, 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 124.6 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 128.3 and 138.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
128.3 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Tunica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
5
128.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
4
129.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|I 269; MS 304
Merge onto I 269; MS 304 toward I 269 East: Nashville
Merge point - match speed before joining
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
137.9 mi into trip|~2h 30m 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...
4
138.2 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|MS 305
Turn left onto MS 305
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.84 one way
$43.68 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$23.97
$47.95
premium
$4.56
$25.95
$51.91
diesel
$5.61
$31.93
$63.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.18
$6.94
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.65
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.24
$9.25
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Durant, MS
Morning
in Durant on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Morning
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Batesville, MS
72 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
7 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 42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 74.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 98% of your time on the highway, which means you'll be on I 55 and I 269 for most of the 144.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch on I 55 covers 124.6 miles, giving you a good period of consistent cruising. You'll transition to MS 305 for the final part of the trip, indicating a shift from high-speed interstate to a more local road environment. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you navigate between these major arteries.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124.6 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 269. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 128.3 miles in.
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 42m 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: at 128.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 129.2 miles (I 269; MS 304): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 144.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 124.6 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 128.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 128.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 129.2 miles (I 269; MS 304): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — 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 Olive Branch, MS before heading back.
