Union, MS to Olive Branch, MS is 202.7 miles and takes about 4h 18m via I 55 and MS 35, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, connecting the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single day of travel. You'll find it's a route that prioritizes efficiency, getting you between these two points without much fuss.
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
101.3 miles from Union, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
106.5 mi
1h 54m
MS 19
35 mi
52m
MS 35
22.4 mi
33m
MS 15
17.8 mi
26m
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
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 106.5 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,078 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,395
Quietest
2 AM
~98 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Union, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on MS 489
37 ft·6 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on MS 489
0.2 mi·27 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto MS 492
0.9 mi·1 min·Jackson Road
4
Turn left onto MS 15
14 mi·21 min·MS 15
5
Keep slight left at fork onto MS 15
3.3 mi·4 min·MS 15
6
Turn right onto MS 19
0.2 mi·38 sec·MS 19
7
Continue on MS 19
34 mi·50 min·MS 19
8
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
1.1 mi·1 min·MS 19; MS 35
9
Turn left onto MS 731
1.4 mi·2 min·MS 731
10
Turn left onto East Jefferson Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Jefferson Street
11
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
1.7 mi·3 min·North Jackson Street
12
Continue on MS 35
22 mi·33 min·MS 35
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
14
Merge onto I 55
106 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 55
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
17
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
19
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
20
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
21
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning from Union, MS will comfortably get you to Olive Branch, MS before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. The longest stretch without a significant break is over 100 miles on I 55, so plan accordingly for fuel and rest before you hit that point. The $29 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices before you depart.
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 101.3 miles from Union, MS, or about 2h 24m 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 45 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.3 miles or 2h 24m 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 33m
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 Union, 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 Union, MS
This is one driving day of about 202.7 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Union, 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 195.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|MS 15
Turn left onto MS 15
Navigation decision point
4
15.6 mi into trip|~23m in|MS 15
Keep slight left at fork onto MS 15
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
52.8 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|MS 19; MS 35
Turn right onto MS 19; MS 35
Navigation decision point
5
186.7 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
195.9 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
$31.20 one way
$62.39 round trip
$3.91/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.37
$34.89
$69.78
premium
$4.76
$37.99
$75.99
diesel
$5.89
$46.98
$93.96
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: 70.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.8
0
$21.28
$9.73
Efficient EV
50.7
0
$17.74
$8.11
EV Truck/SUV
81.1
1
$28.38
$12.97
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Union, MS
Morning
in Union on Sunday
Local time
8:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Morning
in Olive Branch on Sunday
Local time
8:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
NNE 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 7:37AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued October 17 at 7:32AM CDT until October 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
48°F
Winona, MS
101 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
15 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
4h 18m 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 132.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of the 202.7 miles on major roads like I 55. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 106.5 miles on I 55 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a lot of consistent cruising with frequent exits along the interstate sections.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and MS 19. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near MS 15.
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 202.7 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 1.1 miles (MS 15): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles (MS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.8 miles (MS 19; MS 35): Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 202.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m 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 106.5 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: at 1.1 miles (MS 15): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles (MS 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.8 miles (MS 19; MS 35): Navigation decision point.
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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Olive Branch, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
