This 182-mile drive from Olive Branch, MS to Walnut Grove, MS is a straightforward, single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 47 minutes. With 77% of the journey on highways, it's a focused drive with an estimated fuel cost of $27. You'll primarily use I-55 and MS 35, making it a practical option for a quick getaway or a transit day. The route stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It's an efficient way to cover the distance, with one recommended stop, making it manageable for most travelers.
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
91 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
106.4 mi
1h 54m
Veterans Memorial Drive
31.4 mi
46m
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
Main Street
1 mi
1m
East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 106.4 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,060 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,325
Quietest
2 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Walnut Grove, 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
31 mi·46 min·Veterans Memorial Drive
13
Turn left onto Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
14
Turn left onto Chadwick Avenue
338 ft·6 sec·Chadwick Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Chadwick Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour, 47-minute duration, this trip works well as a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Start your journey in the morning to make the most of daylight, and plan for one stop to break up the 182 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 100 miles on I-55, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained highway driving. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into the longer stretch on I-55, as services can be spaced out.
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 91 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 1h 43m 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 40 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91 miles or 1h 43m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Walnut Grove, 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 182 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 12
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
$27.97 one way
$55.95 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$30.94
$61.88
premium
$4.65
$33.30
$66.59
diesel
$5.35
$38.33
$76.67
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: 63.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.6
0
$19.11
$8.74
Efficient EV
45.5
0
$15.93
$7.28
EV Truck/SUV
72.8
0
$25.48
$11.65
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 May 27, 2026
Origin
Olive Branch, MS
Afternoon
in Olive Branch on Wednesday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 5 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 27 at 2:28AM CDT until May 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 26 at 9:23PM CDT until May 30 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Walnut Grove, MS
Afternoon
in Walnut Grove on Wednesday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSE 0 to 5 mph64% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued May 27 at 2:28AM CDT until May 27 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 26 at 9:23PM CDT until May 30 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
72°F
Charleston, MS
91 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
3 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 47m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely highway-focused, with 77% of the mileage spent on faster roads like I-55. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 106.4 miles on I-55, which forms the backbone of this journey. While Veterans Memorial Drive and MS 35 offer some variation, the overall character is one of steady progress. Expect a smooth, direct drive with minimal complexities, ideal for covering ground efficiently. The road primarily offers a functional means of transit rather than a winding, scenic adventure.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 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 Veterans Memorial Drive. 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 47m drive. You will face about 12 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.
The longest stretch is about 106.4 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas 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 — Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Walnut Grove, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
