Traveling from Magee to Olive Branch covers 244.1 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 49 minutes to complete. Because this journey is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Plan for a fuel budget of about $37 to cover the distance between these two Mississippi locations. While the route stays within the Southeast, the drive is characterized by its turn-heavy local nature rather than a straight shot on major interstates. It is a straightforward trip for those who prefer navigating local roads over highway traffic. Ultimately, this trek is a functional day trip that gets you from the Pine Belt region up to the northern edge of the state efficiently.
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
121.7 miles from Magee, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
186.4 mi
3h 21m
US 49
36.2 mi
44m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
Sanatorium Road
3.1 mi
5m
Sanitorium Road
1.1 mi
1m
New Galilee Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 186.4 mi, about 3h 21m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,443 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~141 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Magee, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on 1st Avenue Northwest
149 ft·9 sec·1st Avenue Northwest
2
Turn right onto MS 149
3.1 mi·5 min·Sanatorium Road
3
Turn straight onto MS 149
1.1 mi·1 min·Sanitorium Road
4
Continue on MS 149
0.2 mi·22 sec·New Galilee Road
5
Turn right onto MS 149
122 ft·4 sec·MS 149
6
Turn left onto US 49
34 mi·42 min·US 49
7
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
10
Merge onto I 55
186 mi·3 hr 21 min·I 55
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
13
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
15
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
16
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
17
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a turn-heavy route without any major highway stretches, leave early in the morning to maximize daylight for navigating the local roads. You only have one planned stop on the itinerary, so take advantage of that break to stretch your legs and refuel before finishing the final leg of the trip. Given that the route consists entirely of local roads, keep a close watch on your GPS to ensure you don't miss any turns on Sanatorium Road or New Galilee Road. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as you aren't tied to a rigid interstate schedule. Use your $37 fuel budget wisely by topping off your tank in Magee before you head out to ensure you have plenty of range for the full duration.
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 121.7 miles from Magee, MS, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 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 54 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.7 miles or 2h 20m 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 Magee, 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 Magee, MS
This is one driving day of about 243.3 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Magee, 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 186.4 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 and 236.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 149 / Sanatorium Road
Turn right onto MS 149 / Sanatorium Road
Navigation decision point
4
4.4 mi into trip|~7m in|MS 149
Turn right onto MS 149
Navigation decision point
5
39 mi into trip|~49m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
227.3 mi into trip|~4h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
236.5 mi into trip|~4h 25m 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
$33.77 one way
$67.55 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$37.79
$75.58
premium
$4.29
$41.08
$82.17
diesel
$4.80
$45.94
$91.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73
0
$25.55
$11.68
Efficient EV
60.8
0
$21.29
$9.73
EV Truck/SUV
97.3
1
$34.06
$15.57
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Magee, MS
Late night
in Magee on Monday
Local time
1:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Monday
Local time
1:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
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
3 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
4h 37m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 41.9
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...
29 mi from route
~71 min detour
Free
near mile 176.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than your typical interstate cruise, as this route relies entirely on local roads like Sanatorium Road and New Galilee Road. With a highway share of 0%, you should prepare for a turn-heavy drive that requires your full attention behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by its local character, meaning you will navigate through various smaller connections rather than maintaining high speeds on a freeway. Because there are no long, monotonous interstate stretches, the drive stays engaging and demands active steering throughout the entire 244.1-mile journey. Be ready to adjust your speed frequently as you transition through the local segments of this Mississippi route.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 186.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 149 / Sanatorium Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 243.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 149 / Sanatorium Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (MS 149): Navigation decision point; at 39 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
432 ft222 ft
Total Climb
518 ft
Total Descent
566 ft
Highest Point
432 ft
Elevation Range
210 ft
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 Magee, MS to Olive Branch, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 243.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m 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 186.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Olive Branch, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 149 / Sanatorium Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.4 miles (MS 149): Navigation decision point; at 39 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Olive Branch, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
