This 105.8-mile drive from Okolona, MS to Olive Branch, MS is a straightforward, one-day trip that should take you about 1 hour and 39 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical option for a short excursion within Mississippi. The route primarily utilizes local roads, making it feel more like a community journey than a high-speed transit. Given its manageable length and duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll be traveling within the Southeast region for the entire journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.9 miles from Okolona, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 22
82.1 mi
1h 27m
Martin Luther King Drive
15.6 mi
18m
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
3.3 mi
4m
West Monroe Avenue
2.8 mi
5m
US 45
1.6 mi
2m
Cockrum Road
1 mi
1m
MS 41
0.3 mi
<1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 22
— 82.1 mi, about 1h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Okolona, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on MS 245
42 ft·6 sec·South Church Street
2
Turn left onto MS 41
2.8 mi·5 min·West Monroe Avenue
3
Continue on MS 41
0.3 mi·32 sec·MS 41
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward US 45 Alternate North: TupeloUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 45 ALT
16 mi·18 min·Martin Luther King Drive
6
Continue on US 45; MS 6
3.3 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
1.6 mi·2 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 78:west: Memphis
9
Merge onto I 22; US 78
82 mi·1 hr 27 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
For this relatively short 105.8-mile trip, flexibility is your best friend. You can depart at any time that suits you, but consider leaving in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Olive Branch. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief break if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep your fuel tank topped up, as the estimated $16 fuel cost is based on the full distance. A good tip for this route would be to familiarize yourself with the main roads, US 45 and Martin Luther King Drive, before you depart to better anticipate the numerous turns.
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 53.9 miles from Okolona, MS, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.1 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 3m 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 40m
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 Okolona, 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 Okolona, MS
This is one driving day of about 107.7 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Okolona, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 22 for about 82.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 106.6 — 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 41 / West Monroe Avenue
Turn left onto MS 41 / West Monroe Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 45 Alternate North: Tupelo
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 45 Alternate North: Tupelo
6
22.5 mi into trip|~29m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
24.3 mi into trip|~31m in|I 22; US 78
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
106.6 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.27 one way
$32.53 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$17.86
$35.71
premium
$4.56
$19.33
$38.66
diesel
$5.61
$23.78
$47.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.31
$5.17
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.31
EV Truck/SUV
43.1
0
$15.08
$6.89
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Okolona, MS
Morning
in Okolona on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Morning
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
7:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
New Albany, MS
54 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
5 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 2m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway miles to speak of. You'll be navigating primarily on West Monroe Avenue and US 45, transitioning onto Martin Luther King Drive as you approach your destination. The absence of highway segments means you'll be experiencing more local traffic and varied speed limits, so keep an eye on your surroundings. This type of road profile suggests a more engaging driving experience, where you'll be actively managing turns and intersections throughout the 1 hour and 39 minute journey.
78% 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: 82.1 mi on I 22.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 22 and Martin Luther King Drive. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 41 / West Monroe Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 107.7 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (MS 41 / West Monroe Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 107.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 82.1 miles on I 22. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (MS 41 / West Monroe Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Olive Branch, MS before heading back.
