Quitman, MS to Olive Branch, MS is 251 miles and takes about 4h 49m via US 45 and I 22, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, connecting the Southeast region from start to finish. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a straightforward trip. It's designed for a single day of travel, making it a convenient option if you need to get between these two points efficiently.
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
125.5 miles from Quitman, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
88.2 mi
1h 41m
I 22
82.1 mi
1h 27m
US Highway 45 Alternate
53 mi
1h 3m
Martin Luther King Drive
18.1 mi
20m
Quitman Meridian Highway
3.9 mi
5m
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
3.3 mi
4m
Cockrum Road
1 mi
1m
South Archusa Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 88.2 mi, about 1h 41m
Traffic on I-22
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,155 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,377
Quietest
2 AM
~140 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 46 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 Quitman, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on MS 145
0.8 mi·1 min·South Archusa Avenue
2
Continue on MS 145
3.9 mi·5 min·Quitman Meridian Highway
3
Turn left onto US 45
2.7 mi·3 min·US 45
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on US 45
3.7 mi·4 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 45
1.3 mi·1 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 45
79 mi·1 hr 30 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, TupeloUse the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on US 45 ALT
18 mi·20 min·Martin Luther King Drive
9
Continue on US 45; MS 6
3.3 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
1.6 mi·2 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 78:west: Memphis
12
Merge onto I 22; US 78
82 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 22; US 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
274 ft·6 sec
15
Turn straight onto MS 305
1.0 mi·1 min·Cockrum Road
16
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
17
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
This is a comfortable one-day drive, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you can easily break up the 4h 49m drive as needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 88.2-mile stretch on US 45, and plan your refueling accordingly to stay within the estimated $37 budget.
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 125.5 miles from Quitman, MS, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.2 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 55 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.5 miles or 2h 27m 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 59m
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 Quitman, 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 Quitman, MS
This is one driving day of about 251 miles and 4h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Quitman, 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 US 45 for about 88.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
$10 to $20
Tupelo, Mississippi
Hours: 11 AM–9 PM
+16622604423
Grata Grille & Bar
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Final third
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$20 to $30
Tupelo, Mississippi
Hours: 6 AM–9:30 PM
+16622690096
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 249.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.8 mi into trip|~7m in|US 45
Turn left onto US 45
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / slight right lanes.
8
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupel...
6
165.8 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
167.6 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|I 22; US 78
Merge onto I 22; US 78
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
249.9 mi into trip|~4h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.84 one way
$69.69 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$38.98
$77.97
premium
$4.29
$42.38
$84.77
diesel
$4.80
$47.39
$94.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.3
0
$26.36
$12.05
Efficient EV
62.8
0
$21.96
$10.04
EV Truck/SUV
100.4
1
$35.14
$16.06
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Quitman, MS
Late night
in Quitman on Monday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
97°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Monday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 4:25AM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:20AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
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 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 49m 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.
Tupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 164.5
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 173.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 89% of your time on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 88.2 miles on US 45. The transition from primarily highway to other roads will happen as you approach your destination. Expect consistent cruising for the majority of the trip, with some merging or exit activity as you navigate different highway systems.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.2 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and I 22. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in near US 45.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 251 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (US 45): Lane positioning matters here; at 91.4 miles (US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165.8 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
584 ft215 ft
Total Climb
608 ft
Total Descent
454 ft
Highest Point
584 ft
~17.9 mi in
Elevation Range
369 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Quitman, MS to Olive Branch, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tupelo along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 49m. Total distance: 251 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.2 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Olive Branch, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles (US 45): Lane positioning matters here; at 91.4 miles (US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165.8 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Olive Branch, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
