Origin
Carriere, MS
Afternoon in Carriere on Thursday
Local time
2:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carriere, MS to Olive Branch, MS
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 36m
Distance
346 mi
557 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 24m
★
6 AM
6h 36m
8 AM
7h 0m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 42m
3 PM
6h 46m
5 PM
6h 59m
8 PM
6h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carriere, MS
大 董
Olive Branch, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carriere, MS to Olive Branch, MS covers 346 miles and takes about 6h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, US 49, I 59 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 186.4 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.25 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
173 miles from Carriere, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 36m. Total distance: 346 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 36m highway drive covering 346 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and US 49. The longest continuous stretch is about 186.4 miles on I 55.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 55 is the longest continuous segment at about 186.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 2.7 miles in near I 59.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 346 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 2.7 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 59
Merge onto I 59
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
59.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
5
141.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
|
US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
5
330 mi into trip
|
~6h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
5
339.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 23m 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...
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 Carriere, MS to Olive Branch, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
141.7 mi in
|
~2h 48m
|
via US 49
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 186.4 mi | 3h 21m |
| US 49 | 83.7 mi | 1h 42m |
| I 59 | 56.7 mi | 1h |
| I 269 | 8.7 mi | 9m |
| MS 305 | 6.4 mi | 11m |
| West Union Road | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Railroad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Goodman 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 Carriere, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on Railroad Street
511 ft
·
20 sec
·
Railroad Street
2
Turn right onto West Union Road
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
West Union Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
4
Merge onto I 59
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Toward US 49 North, MS 42 West: Jackson
Use the slight right lane.
6
Continue on US 49
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
US 49
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
US 49
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
US 49
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 49
66 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
US 49
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 49
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 49
Toward Jackson
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 49
15
Merge onto I 55
186 mi
·
3 hr 21 min
·
I 55
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
18
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi
·
9 min
·
I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
20
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi
·
11 min
·
MS 305
21
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft
·
5 sec
·
Goodman Road
22
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 173 miles from Carriere, MS, or about 3h 23m 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 76 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 25m
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 Carriere, 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 Carriere, MS
This is one driving day of about 346 miles and 6h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Carriere, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 173 mi from Carriere, MS · 3h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
173 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 173 miles from Carriere, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 186.4 miles.
Arriving in Olive Branch, MS
The final approach into Olive Branch, MS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Olive Branch, MS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.25 one way
$104.51 round trip
$3.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $57.36 | $114.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $62.10 | $124.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $76.39 | $152.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.8 | 1 | $36.33 | $16.61 |
| Efficient EV | 86.5 | 0 | $30.28 | $13.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 138.4 | 1 | $48.44 | $22.14 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Afternoon in Olive Branch on Thursday
Local time
2:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 36m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carriere, MS to Olive Branch, MS covers 346 miles and takes about 6h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, US 49, I 59. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 173 miles from Carriere, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 346 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles (I 59): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Carriere, MS to Olive Branch, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
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