Olive Branch to Decatur is 211.8 miles and takes about 4h 31m via I 55 and MS 14/15, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward trip that should be manageable for most drivers looking for a direct route. With 95% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time covering ground efficiently. Plan for a single day to complete this approximately 4.5-hour trip.
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
105.9 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
106.4 mi
1h 54m
MS 14
33.7 mi
50m
MS 15
27.3 mi
40m
MS 35
24.3 mi
36m
I 269
9.2 mi
9m
Cockrum Road
6.2 mi
11m
South Huntington Street
1.4 mi
2m
Veterans Memorial Drive
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 106.4 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olive Branch, MS and Decatur, 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
106 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 55
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
9
Turn left onto MS 35; MS 430
24 mi·36 min·MS 35; MS 430
10
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·East Jefferson Street
11
Turn right onto South Huntington Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South Huntington Street
12
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
1.1 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
13
Turn left onto MS 14; MS 19
34 mi·50 min·MS 14; MS 19
14
Turn right onto MS 19
0.2 mi·40 sec·MS 19
15
Continue on MS 15; MS 19
3.7 mi·5 min·MS 15; MS 19
16
Continue on MS 15; MS 21
24 mi·35 min·MS 15; MS 21
17
Turn right onto West Broad Street
474 ft·20 sec·West Broad Street
18
Arrive at destination
West Broad Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 31-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Olive Branch to avoid any potential mid-day traffic. The 211.8-mile trip is easily doable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your start time. Keep an eye on your fuel level, especially during the 106.4-mile stretch on I 55, as services can be spaced out. With only one recommended stop, you can choose a location that suits your needs for a quick break or meal. Your estimated fuel cost is around $32.
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 105.9 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.4 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 105.9 miles or 1h 59m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decatur, 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 211.8 miles and 4h 31m.
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 106.4 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 123.6 — 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 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
4
123.6 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|MS 35; MS 430
Turn left onto MS 35; MS 430
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.99 one way
$63.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$35.11
$70.23
premium
$4.56
$38.02
$76.03
diesel
$5.61
$46.76
$93.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.24
$10.17
Efficient EV
53
0
$18.53
$8.47
EV Truck/SUV
84.7
1
$29.65
$13.56
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 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 17, 2026
Origin
Olive Branch, MS
Night
in Olive Branch on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Decatur, MS
Night
in Decatur on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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 31m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 95% highway, meaning you'll be on major roads for the vast majority of the 211.8 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 106.4 miles on I 55. Expect to transition from the interstate onto MS 14 and then MS 15, which will feel like a shift from high-speed cruising to more rural, surface-road driving as you near Decatur. The dense exits on I 55 will be a noticeable feature before you transition.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 14. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 305 / Cockrum Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 31m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 211.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 106.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Decatur, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
