Olive Branch, MS to Walnut Grove, MS is 97.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 8 minutes via US 61 and I-269, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive through Mississippi's Southeast region keeps you primarily on well-maintained highways. Expect an efficient journey with minimal fuss, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. If you're looking for a simple, direct route between these two points, this is a solid option to consider.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.8 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 97.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route offers a highway-focused drive with 83% of the journey on major roads like US 61, I-69, and I-269. You'll experience a significant stretch of 48.6 miles on US 61, providing a consistent pace. The drive is characterized by its efficiency, allowing for steady progress. While primarily highway, expect a smooth transition as you navigate between these key arteries, making for a predictable driving experience.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 61 is the longest continuous segment at about 48.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and I 69. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 305 / Cockrum Road.
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 11 significant decision points across 97.6 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: near the start (MS 305 / Cockrum Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 26.8 miles (MS 304): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|MS 305 / Cockrum Road
Turn left onto MS 305 / Cockrum Road
Navigation decision point
4
6.3 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward Tunica
Navigation decision point
Toward Tunica
4
26.8 mi into trip|~33m in|MS 304
Keep slight left at fork onto MS 304
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
29.6 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 61 South: Tunica
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 61 South: Tunica
4
79.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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 Olive Branch, MS to Walnut Grove, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tunica along the way.
Tunica
6.3 mi in|~11m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
48.6 mi
56m
I 69
10.6 mi
11m
I 269
9.6 mi
10m
Sherard Road
7.5 mi
13m
Cockrum Road
6.2 mi
11m
Mississippi Highway 1
5.9 mi
8m
MS 161
3.5 mi
6m
MS 304
2.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 48.6 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olive Branch, MS and Walnut Grove, MS.
1
Start on Goodman Road
260 ft·12 sec·Goodman Road
2
Turn left onto MS 305
6.2 mi·11 min·Cockrum Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Tunica
4
Merge onto I 269; MS 304
9.6 mi·10 min·I 269; MS 304
5
Continue on I 69; MS 304
11 mi·11 min·I 69; MS 304
6
Keep slight left at fork onto MS 304
2.8 mi·2 min·MS 304
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 61 South: Tunica
8
Merge onto US 61
49 mi·56 min·US 61
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
10
Keep slight right at fork
279 ft·6 sec
11
Turn straight onto MS 6
0.5 mi·39 sec·MS 6
12
Turn left onto MS 161
3.5 mi·6 min·MS 161
13
Turn right onto MS 322
7.5 mi·13 min·Sherard Road
14
Turn straight onto MS 1
5.9 mi·8 min·Mississippi Highway 1
15
Turn left onto Alligator - Rena Lara Road
0.9 mi·3 min·Alligator - Rena Lara Road
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 8 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow for any unexpected delays. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry excessively about refueling, but it’s always wise to top off before you leave Olive Branch. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 48.6 miles on US 61, so plan your stops accordingly, perhaps for a quick stretch before or after this segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.8 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.6 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.8 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Walnut Grove, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Olive Branch, 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 Olive Branch, MS
This is one driving day of about 97.6 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Olive Branch, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 61 for about 48.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.8 mi from Olive Branch, MS
· 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 48.8 miles from Olive Branch, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Walnut Grove, MS
The final approach into Walnut Grove, 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 Walnut Grove, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 80.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.74 one way
$29.48 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$16.18
$32.36
premium
$4.56
$17.52
$35.04
diesel
$5.61
$21.55
$43.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.54
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.66
$6.25
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Olive Branch, MS
Morning
in Olive Branch on Saturday
Local time
10:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Walnut Grove, MS
Morning
in Walnut Grove on Saturday
Local time
10:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°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
7 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
2h 8m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Olive Branch, MS to Walnut Grove, MS covers 97.6 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61, I 69, I 269. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.8 miles from Olive Branch, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 97.6 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: near the start (MS 305 / Cockrum Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 26.8 miles (MS 304): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Olive Branch, MS to Walnut Grove, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tunica along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
