Traveling from Sumrall to Olive Branch covers 280.7 miles across the state of Mississippi, typically taking about 5 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused journey, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $43 for fuel to make the trek from the Southeast region toward your destination. Since 96% of the route consists of highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time cruising rather than navigating local traffic. It is a highly efficient path that connects these two points directly, making it a practical option for travelers who prefer a quick and reliable transit experience.
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
140.4 miles from Sumrall, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
186.4 mi
3h 21m
US 49
66.5 mi
1h 21m
Main Street
11.2 mi
16m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
MS 42
0.1 mi
<1m
Jackson Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Pennsylvania Avenue
<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 Sumrall, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on Jackson Street
407 ft·18 sec·Jackson Street
2
Continue on Pennsylvania Avenue
365 ft·18 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
3
Turn right onto Poplar Street
263 ft·16 sec·Poplar Street
4
Turn left onto MS 42
0.1 mi·17 sec·MS 42
5
Turn right onto MS 589
11 mi·16 min·Main Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 49
65 mi·1 hr 19 min·US 49
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
10
Merge onto I 55
186 mi·3 hr 21 min·I 55
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
13
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
15
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
16
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
17
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 24-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion on major corridors. You should plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the monotony of the long interstate stretches. Since you are spending $43 on fuel for this 280.7-mile journey, check your tank levels before merging onto the longest 186.4-mile stretch of I-55 to ensure you aren't caught searching for a station in a remote area. Because the route is compact enough for a single day, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace based on traffic conditions or personal fatigue. Keep a close watch on your odometer to gauge your progress between your departure in the Southeast and your arrival in Olive Branch.
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 140.4 miles from Sumrall, MS, or about 2h 47m 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 62 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.4 miles or 2h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
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 Sumrall, 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 Sumrall, MS
This is one driving day of about 280.7 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Sumrall, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 264.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Poplar Street
Turn right onto Poplar Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 42
Turn left onto MS 42
Navigation decision point
6
11.5 mi into trip|~17m in|US 49
At end of road, turn left onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
76.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
264.7 mi into trip|~5h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.39 one way
$84.78 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$46.54
$93.07
premium
$4.56
$50.38
$100.76
diesel
$5.61
$61.98
$123.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.2
1
$29.47
$13.47
Efficient EV
70.2
0
$24.56
$11.23
EV Truck/SUV
112.3
1
$39.30
$17.96
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Sumrall, MS
Night
in Sumrall on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Night
in Olive Branch on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°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
15 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
5h 24m 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.
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 77.4
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 213
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its efficiency, relying heavily on I-55 and US-49 to get you to your destination. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the interstate, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 186.4 miles on I-55. While the route begins with local navigation on Main Street, the transition to high-speed highways happens quickly. The experience is best characterized as a steady, highway-focused drive where the focus is on maintaining a consistent pace. Expect a functional transit experience that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours or technical road conditions.
96% 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: 186.4 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Poplar Street.
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 14 significant decision points across 280.7 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 0.1 miles (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MS 42): Navigation decision point; at 11.5 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Sumrall, MS to Olive Branch, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
76.4 mi in|~1h 37m|via US 49
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 280.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (MS 42): Navigation decision point; at 11.5 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Olive Branch, MS before the return drive.
