The drive from Jackson, MS to Olive Branch, MS covers 202.4 miles and takes about 3h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 55, I 269, MS 305 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 182 miles on I 55.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
101.2 miles from Jackson, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 202.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 47m highway drive covering 202.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and I 269. The longest continuous stretch is about 182 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 18 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 182 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and I 269. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Lamar Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 47m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lamar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.3 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Lamar Street
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|East Capitol Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|East Capitol Street
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|US 51 / North State Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 51 / North State Street
Navigation decision point
5
186.4 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 269 East: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
182 mi
3h 16m
I 269
8.7 mi
9m
MS 305
6.4 mi
11m
North State Street
2.3 mi
3m
Lakeland Drive
0.8 mi
1m
East Capitol Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Old Canton Road
0.2 mi
<1m
East Pearl Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 182 mi, about 3h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jackson, MS and Olive Branch, MS.
1
Start on East Pearl Street
452 ft·15 sec·East Pearl Street
2
Turn right onto South Lamar Street
378 ft·10 sec·South Lamar Street
3
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
7 ft·0 sec·East Capitol Street
4
Continue on East Capitol Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Capitol Street
5
Enter roundabout onto East Capitol Street
51 ft·1 sec·East Capitol Street
6
Continue on East Capitol Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·East Capitol Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 51
2.3 mi·3 min·North State Street
8
Turn slight right onto Old Canton Road
0.2 mi·16 sec·Old Canton Road
9
Turn right onto Lakeland Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Lakeland Drive
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
11
Merge onto I 55
182 mi·3 hr 16 min·I 55
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 69 South: Tunica
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
14
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
8.7 mi·9 min·I 269; MS 304
Toward I 269 East: Nashville
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward MS 305: Independence, Olive Branch, Lewisburg
16
Turn left onto MS 305
6.4 mi·11 min·MS 305
17
Turn right onto Goodman Road
260 ft·5 sec·Goodman Road
18
Arrive at destination
Goodman Road
Trip Plan
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 101.2 miles from Jackson, MS, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182 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 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 1h 52m 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 2m
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 Jackson, 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 Jackson, MS
This is one driving day of about 202.4 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Jackson, 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 182 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.2 mi from Jackson, MS
· 1h 52m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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 132.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.57 one way
$61.13 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.56
$67.11
premium
$4.56
$36.33
$72.66
diesel
$5.61
$44.69
$89.37
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: 70.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hernando, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Pilot Flying J Charging Station
Winona, Mississippi
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Southaven, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Grenada, Mississippi
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 3
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
EV Truck/SUV
81
1
$28.34
$12.95
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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Jackson, MS
Late night
in Jackson on Friday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
S 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Olive Branch, MS
Late night
in Olive Branch on Friday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 to 10 mph41% chanceLive forecast
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Jackson, MS to Olive Branch, MS covers 202.4 miles and takes about 3h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 269, MS 305. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.2 miles from Jackson, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.57 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 47m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Lamar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.3 miles (East Capitol Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Jackson, MS to Olive Branch, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
