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Trip from Olive Branch, MS to Canton, MS

Drive Time

3h 20m

Distance

179.1 mi

288 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Canton, MS, MS

Photo: Ryszard Zaleski

Trip Overview

The drive from Olive Branch, MS to Canton, MS covers 179.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m 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, Cockrum Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 156.4 miles on I 55. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.38 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

89.6 miles from Olive Branch, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 3h 20m highway drive covering 179.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 55 and I 269. The longest continuous stretch is about 156.4 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 12 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 156.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

410 ft 181 ft

Total Climb

509 ft

Total Descent

664 ft

Highest Point

410 ft

~111.9 mi in

Elevation Range

229 ft

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 early in the drive near MS 305 / Cockrum Road.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 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
15.8 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward I 55 South: Jackson

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 55 South: Jackson
5
16.1 mi into trip | ~22m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 55 South: Jackson

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 55 South: Jackson
5
173.3 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in

Take the exit toward MS 16: North Canton, Yazoo City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward MS 16: North Canton, Yazoo City

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 55 156.4 mi 2h 47m
I 269 9.2 mi 9m
Cockrum Road 6.2 mi 11m
MS 16 4.1 mi 5m
North Liberty Street 1.4 mi 2m
West Peace Street 0.1 mi <1m
Goodman Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 55 — 156.4 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Olive Branch, MS and Canton, 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

9.2 mi · 9 min · I 269; MS 304
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 55 South: Jackson
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 55 South: Jackson
7

Merge onto I 55

156 mi · 2 hr 47 min · I 55
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward MS 16: North Canton, Yazoo City
9

Turn left onto MS 16

4.1 mi · 5 min · MS 16
10

At end of road, turn right onto US 51; MS 16

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Liberty Street
11

Turn right onto West Peace Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · West Peace Street
12

Arrive at destination

West Peace Street

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 89.6 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.4 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 89.6 miles or 1h 42m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canton, 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 179.1 miles and 3h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Olive Branch, 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 156.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.6 mi from Olive Branch, MS · 1h 42m into the drive

Downtown Collierville, TN, TN

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Collierville, TN

90 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

Collierville, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Collierville, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.6 miles from Olive Branch, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 156.4 miles.

Arriving in Canton, MS

The final approach into Canton, 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 Canton, 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

$27.38 one way

$54.76 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.26 $30.03 $60.06
premium $4.61 $32.51 $65.01
diesel $5.64 $39.79 $79.58

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.7 0 $18.81 $8.60
Efficient EV 44.8 0 $15.67 $7.16
EV Truck/SUV 71.6 0 $25.07 $11.46

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (67% 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 9 hours ago

Origin

Olive Branch, MS

Late night in Olive Branch on Sunday

Local time

3:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Sunny

S 5 mph 1% chance CDT NWS forecast

Destination

Canton, MS

Late night in Canton on Sunday

Local time

3:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live forecast

Along the Route

64°F

Collierville, TN

90 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

19 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

3h 20m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Olive Branch, MS to Canton, MS covers 179.1 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 55, I 269, Cockrum Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.6 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 $27.38 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 20m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 15.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Olive Branch, MS to Canton, MS does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 181 ft to 410 ft elevation with about 509 ft of total climbing.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Canton, MS to Olive Branch, MS

Plan the drive back the other way.

178.4 mi 3h 19m

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