Traveling from Olive Branch to Pearl River covers 188.6 miles through the heart of Mississippi. You can expect a total drive time of approximately 3 hours and 58 minutes, making this a straightforward journey that fits comfortably into a single day. With a fuel budget of about $29, this route is an efficient way to navigate the Southeast. While you could easily complete the trip in one go, planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the time behind the wheel. Because you remain within the same state, the cultural transition is subtle, allowing you to focus on a consistent, highway-focused 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
94.3 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
106.4 mi
1h 54m
MS 35
24.3 mi
36m
MS 14
17.9 mi
26m
I 269
9.2 mi
9m
Mars Hill Road
6.9 mi
12m
MS 16
6.5 mi
9m
Cockrum Road
6.2 mi
11m
MS 25
6 mi
6m
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 Pearl River, 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
18 mi·26 min·MS 14; MS 19
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·48 sec
15
Merge onto MS 25
6.0 mi·6 min·MS 25
16
Turn left onto Mars Hill Road
4.8 mi·8 min·Mars Hill Road
17
Continue on Mars Hill Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Mars Hill Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16
6.5 mi·9 min·MS 16
19
Turn left onto North Oswald Road
0.3 mi·1 min·North Oswald Road
20
Continue on Black Jack Road
0.1 mi·29 sec·Black Jack Road
21
Turn right onto High School Circle
59 ft·2 sec·High School Circle
22
Arrive at destination
High School Circle
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 188.6-mile journey, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours on I-55. Since the drive takes just under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility, but aiming for a mid-morning start helps you arrive well before dusk. Budgeting for your $29 fuel cost is simple, though it is wise to fill up before hitting the longer, more remote stretches of MS 35 or MS 14. Plan your single required stop for the halfway point to ensure you stay refreshed. Most importantly, keep a close eye on your GPS when shifting from the interstate to the state highway segments, as these transitions require more attention than the long, straight stretches.
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 94.3 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 1h 47m 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.3 miles or 1h 47m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearl River, 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 188.6 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 18
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
$28.48 one way
$56.97 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$31.27
$62.54
premium
$4.56
$33.85
$67.70
diesel
$5.61
$41.64
$83.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.6
0
$19.80
$9.05
Efficient EV
47.2
0
$16.50
$7.54
EV Truck/SUV
75.4
0
$26.40
$12.07
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 11, 2026
Origin
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
S 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pearl River, MS
Late night
in Pearl River on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
83°F
Winona, MS
94 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
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 71.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by a high highway share of 90%, favoring efficiency over technical maneuvering. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-55, MS 35, and MS 14, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being a 106.4-mile run on I-55. The personality of the drive leans toward a steady, consistent pace that favors interstate travel before transitioning onto state highways. Expect the road to feel fast and purposeful, as the infrastructure is designed for direct transit between the two points. Staying alert is key during the long interstate segments where the rhythm of the drive remains quite constant.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 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 35. 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 3h 58m drive. You will face about 18 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
540 ft251 ft
Total Climb
592 ft
Total Descent
453 ft
Highest Point
540 ft
~172.9 mi in
Elevation Range
289 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 188.6 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.
Yes — 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 Pearl River, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
