Olive Branch, MS to Byram, MS is 213.3 miles and takes about 3h 58m via I 55, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, you can expect a predictable and efficient travel experience.
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
106.7 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
195.4 mi
3h 31m
I 269
9.2 mi
9m
Cockrum Road
6.2 mi
11m
South Siwell Road
0.8 mi
1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 195.4 mi, about 3h 31m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 126 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,520 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~156 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Olive Branch, MS and Byram, MS.
1
Start on Goodman Road
260 ft·12 sec·Goodman Road
2
Turn left onto MS 305
6.2 mi·11 min·Cockrum Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Tunica
4
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
9.2 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 55 South: Jackson
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 South: Jackson
7
Merge onto I 55
188 mi·3 hr 24 min·I 55
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55
7.0 mi·7 min·I 55
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward Byram
10
Turn left onto South Siwell Road
0.8 mi·1 min·South Siwell Road
11
Arrive at destination
South Siwell Road
Trip Plan
For this 3h 58m drive, consider leaving in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and potential impromptu stops. Since the longest stretch on I 55 is nearly 200 miles, plan for a fuel and rest break midway, perhaps around the Jackson area. The $31 fuel cost is an estimate, so keep an eye on gas prices. The route is short enough that you have flexibility in your departure time, but getting an early start will ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight remaining.
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 106.7 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 195.4 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 47 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.7 miles or 2h 1m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Byram, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Olive Branch, 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 Olive Branch, MS
This is one driving day of about 213.3 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Olive Branch, 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 195.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 205.2 — 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 305 / Cockrum Road
Turn left onto MS 305 / Cockrum Road
Navigation decision point
4
6.3 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward Tunica
Navigation decision point
Toward Tunica
4
15.8 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 55 South: Jackson
5
16.1 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 55 South: Jackson
6
205.2 mi into trip|~3h 48m in|I 55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 55 toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 55 South: McComb, New Orleans
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.20 one way
$66.41 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$36.61
$73.21
premium
$4.71
$39.56
$79.12
diesel
$6.18
$51.89
$103.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64
0
$22.40
$10.24
Efficient EV
53.3
0
$18.66
$8.53
EV Truck/SUV
85.3
1
$29.86
$13.65
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Olive Branch, MS
Morning
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
7:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Sunny
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Byram, MS
Morning
in Byram on Tuesday
Local time
7:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
82°F
Grenada, MS
107 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
1 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
3h 58m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 198.6
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 73.6
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, with a 96% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 55, including one continuous stretch of 195.4 miles. The final segment will transition from I 55 to surface roads like Cockrum Road as you approach Byram. Expect frequent exits and merges typical of a major interstate.
96% 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: 195.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 269. 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 305 / Cockrum Road.
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 213.3 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 305 / Cockrum Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 213.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 195.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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: near the start (MS 305 / Cockrum Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Byram, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
