Traveling from Houston to Olive Branch, Mississippi, covers a direct 102.3-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 9 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day drive without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via MS 15, MS 30, and I-22 as you head north within the Southeast region. Expect to spend roughly $16 on fuel for the one-way trek. Since this route is highly efficient, it is an excellent choice for travelers who prefer to reach their destination quickly without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.2 miles from Houston, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
55 mi
58m
MS 15
37.9 mi
56m
MS 30
4.7 mi
5m
North Jackson Street
2.1 mi
3m
County Road 515 North
1.2 mi
2m
Cockrum Road
1 mi
1m
East Hamilton Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 55 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Houston, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on East Hamilton Street
297 ft·15 sec·East Hamilton Street
2
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
2.1 mi·3 min·North Jackson Street
3
Continue on County Road 515 North
1.2 mi·2 min·County Road 515 North
4
At end of road, turn right onto MS 15
20 mi·29 min·MS 15
5
Turn left onto MS 15
10 mi·16 min·MS 15
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on MS 15
0.1 mi·13 sec·MS 15
7
Continue on MS 15
7.5 mi·10 min·MS 15
8
Take the ramp onto MS 30
4.7 mi·5 min·MS 30
Toward I-22 West, US 78 West: MemphisUse the left lane.
9
Continue on I 22; US 78
55 mi·58 min·I 22; US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
11
Keep slight right at fork
274 ft·6 sec
12
Turn straight onto MS 305
1.0 mi·1 min·Cockrum Road
13
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
14
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
Since the duration is just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete this drive in one go without needing scheduled stops, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise given the $16 estimated cost. Because the route relies heavily on I-22, try to avoid peak commuting hours if you want to ensure the smoothest possible transit. With zero formal stops required by the route plan, take advantage of the direct path to reach your destination efficiently. Prioritize checking local traffic reports before you leave to ensure the 55-mile stretch on I-22 remains clear.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.2 miles from Houston, MS, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 23 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.2 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
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 Houston, 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 Houston, MS
This is one driving day of about 102.3 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Houston, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 55 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 102.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.3 mi into trip|~6m in|MS 15
At end of road, turn right onto MS 15
Navigation decision point
5
23.3 mi into trip|~35m in|MS 15
Turn left onto MS 15
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
41.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|MS 30
Take the ramp onto MS 30 toward I-22 West, US 78 West: Memphis
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I-22 West, US 78 West: Memphis
5
101.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
102.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|Goodman Road
Turn right onto Goodman Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.45 one way
$30.90 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.96
$33.92
premium
$4.56
$18.36
$36.72
diesel
$5.61
$22.59
$45.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.7
0
$10.74
$4.91
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
EV Truck/SUV
40.9
0
$14.32
$6.55
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Houston, MS
Late night
in Houston on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Sunday
Local time
2:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
New Albany, MS
51 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
11 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
2h 9m 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.
Tupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 24.7
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 35.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You will experience a mix of state highways and interstate driving, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 55 miles on I-22. The transition from local MS routes onto the interstate provides a shift in pace, allowing for consistent speeds as you move toward Olive Branch. While the experience is functional and fast, you should remain prepared for the steady flow of highway traffic that defines this corridor.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and MS 15. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near MS 15.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 9m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (MS 15): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (MS 15): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles (MS 30): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Houston is a sprawling port city in Southeastern Texas. An oil boom and continuing international immigration has brought explosive growth to the city, and it is now the fifth largest metropolitan area in the United States and the most diverse large city since 2021. While at first glance, the city appears to be a 9-5 central business district surrounded by a sea of suburbs and strip malls, there are many hidden gems to be discovered.
The longest stretch is about 55 miles on I 22. 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: at 3.3 miles (MS 15): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (MS 15): Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles (MS 30): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. 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.
