Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 28m
Distance
184.5 mi
297 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Olive Branch, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Richton, MS
大 董
This 184.5-mile drive from Olive Branch to Richton, Mississippi, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with 96% of the route being on interstates. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $28. Given its relatively short duration and focus on highway travel, this route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. You'll remain within the Southeast region for the entirety of your travel.
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
92.3 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 161.7 mi | 2h 53m |
| I 269 | 9.2 mi | 9m |
| Cockrum Road | 6.2 mi | 11m |
| MS 22 | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| Goodman Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Olive Branch, MS and Richton, MS.
Start on Goodman Road
Turn left onto MS 305
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit
Turn right onto MS 22
Arrive at destination
With a drive time under four hours, this route offers great flexibility for a day trip. You can depart whenever is most convenient for you, knowing you'll arrive in Richton with plenty of daylight left. Plan for one main stop, perhaps during the longest stretch on I-55, to refuel and stretch your legs. The $28 fuel cost is a reasonable budget to consider. Since the drive is not excessively long, you won't need to split it overnight, but be mindful of the highway-heavy nature and ensure you're comfortable with extended periods of interstate driving.
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.
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 92.3 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richton, MS than in the middle of the route.
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 184.5 miles and 3h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 92.3 miles from Olive Branch, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 161.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 178.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto MS 305 / Cockrum Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward Tunica
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 55 South: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward MS 22: Canton, Flora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$27.86 one way
$55.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $30.59 | $61.18 |
| premium | $4.56 | $33.12 | $66.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.74 | $81.47 |
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: 64.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.37 | $8.86 |
| Efficient EV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.14 | $7.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.8 | 0 | $25.83 | $11.81 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Olive Branch on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Night in Richton on Saturday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
77°F
Batesville, MS
92 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with a substantial 96% of the journey on interstates. This means you'll experience long stretches of efficient travel, including a continuous 161.7-mile segment on I-55. While the route is primarily built for speed and directness, the initial and final portions might involve navigating local roads like Cockrum Road before merging onto larger arteries. The character of the drive is largely about covering distance efficiently on well-maintained highways.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 269. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 305 / Cockrum Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 28m drive. You will face about 8 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.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 184.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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