Raleigh, MS to Olive Branch, MS is 221.2 miles and takes about 4h 45m via I 55 and MS 35, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving north through the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused drive with minimal detours. With a recommended one-day completion, this route is ideal for a quick transit between these two points. It's a practical option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without extensive planning.
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
110.6 miles from Raleigh, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
106.5 mi
1h 54m
MS 35
94.8 mi
2h 21m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
North Jackson Street
1.7 mi
3m
MS 731
1.4 mi
2m
East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Goodman Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 106.5 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Raleigh, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on Sylvarena Avenue
169 ft·7 sec·Sylvarena Avenue
2
At end of road, turn right onto MS 35
72 mi·1 hr 47 min·MS 35
3
Turn left onto MS 731
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 731
4
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Jefferson Street
5
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Jackson Street
6
Continue on MS 35
22 mi·33 min·MS 35
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
8
Merge onto I 55
106 mi·1 hr 54 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
Given the 4h 45m duration, you can comfortably complete this drive in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $33, this trip is budget-friendly. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 100 miles on I 55, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before entering this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can become less frequent on longer interstate 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 110.6 miles from Raleigh, MS, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.5 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 49 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.6 miles or 2h 40m 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 56m
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 Raleigh, 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 Raleigh, MS
This is one driving day of about 221.2 miles and 4h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Raleigh, 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 106.5 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 214.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 35
At end of road, turn right onto MS 35
Navigation decision point
4
73.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|East Jefferson Street
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
204.9 mi into trip|~4h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 69 South: Tunica
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
5
205.2 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
214.4 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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
$33.41 one way
$66.81 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$36.67
$73.34
premium
$4.56
$39.70
$79.41
diesel
$5.61
$48.84
$97.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.4
0
$23.23
$10.62
Efficient EV
55.3
0
$19.35
$8.85
EV Truck/SUV
88.5
1
$30.97
$14.16
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Raleigh, MS
Late night
in Raleigh on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Tuesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4h 45m 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.
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 152.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 98% of the journey on major roads like I 55, MS 35, and I 269. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including one significant segment of 106.5 miles primarily on I 55. The character of the drive is largely dictated by the interstate system, offering a predictable and direct path. While not overly varied, this highway dominance ensures a steady pace for most of the 221.2 miles.
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: 106.5 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 35.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 45m 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 35): Navigation decision point; at 73.8 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 204.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 221.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 106.5 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 35): Navigation decision point; at 73.8 miles (East Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 204.9 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 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Olive Branch, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
