Pearl, MS to Olive Branch, MS is 206.2 miles and takes about 3h 50m via I 55 and I 269, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, traversing the Southeast region. Given its primarily highway profile, expect a straightforward drive focused on covering distance efficiently. It's a good option if you need to get between these two points without much fuss and want to arrive within a few hours. Planning for a single-day trip is definitely feasible.
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
103.1 miles from Pearl, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
186.4 mi
3h 21m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
I 20
1.6 mi
1m
South Pearson Road
0.5 mi
<1m
Old Brandon Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Old Country Club Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 186.4 mi, about 3h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pearl, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on Old Country Club Road
79 ft·3 sec·Old Country Club Road
2
Turn right onto Pine Park Drive
76 ft·8 sec·Pine Park Drive
3
Turn left onto Old Brandon Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·Old Brandon Road
4
Turn left onto MS 468
0.5 mi·52 sec·South Pearson Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
6
Merge onto I 20
1.6 mi·1 min·I 20
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, GrenadaUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 55
186 mi·3 hr 21 min·I 55
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
11
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
13
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
14
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
15
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, single-day trip, departing in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Olive Branch without feeling rushed. Since the drive is under 4 hours, you likely won't need more than one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The longest continuous stretch is over 180 miles on I 55, so be mindful of your fuel level before starting that segment. Given the efficiency of the route, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but an earlier start allows for a more relaxed pace.
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 103.1 miles from Pearl, MS, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 186.4 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 45 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.1 miles or 1h 53m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Olive Branch, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pearl, 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 Pearl, MS
This is one driving day of about 206.2 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Pearl, 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 186.4 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 199.4 — 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|Pine Park Drive
Turn right onto Pine Park Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Old Brandon Road
Turn left onto Old Brandon Road
Navigation decision point
7
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 55 North: North Jackson, Grenada
5
190.2 mi into trip|~3h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
199.4 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewi...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.14 one way
$62.28 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$34.19
$68.37
premium
$4.56
$37.01
$74.02
diesel
$5.61
$45.53
$91.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.9
0
$21.65
$9.90
Efficient EV
51.6
0
$18.04
$8.25
EV Truck/SUV
82.5
1
$28.87
$13.20
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 20, 2026
Origin
Pearl, MS
Late night
in Pearl on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Winona, MS
103 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
8 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
3h 50m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
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 135.1
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 98% of the 206.2 miles on major roads like I 55 and I 269. You'll experience a long stretch of 186.4 miles on I 55 before transitioning to I 269 and MS 305. Expect consistent highway cruising with frequent exits in some sections as you travel north.
98% 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: 186.4 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Pine Park Drive.
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 206.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 (Pine Park Drive): Navigation decision point; near the start (Old Brandon Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, sitting on the east side of the Pearl River from the state capital, Jackson. The population was 26,000 in 2018.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 206.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 186.4 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 (Pine Park Drive): Navigation decision point; near the start (Old Brandon Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Olive Branch, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
