The drive from Olive Branch, MS to Ruleville, MS covers 117.8 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 61, Highway 49, US 49 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.9 miles on US 61.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.79 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
58.9 miles from Olive Branch, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 117.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 32m highway drive covering 117.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 61 and Highway 49. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.9 miles on US 61.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 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 51.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and Highway 49. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near MS 305 / Cockrum Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 117.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: 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 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
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
96.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|US 49W / Highway 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W / Highway 49
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 Ruleville, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tunica along the way.
Tunica
6.3 mi in|~11m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
51.9 mi
1h
Highway 49
14.6 mi
21m
US 49
13.9 mi
20m
I 69
10.6 mi
11m
I 269
9.6 mi
10m
East Street
6.4 mi
9m
Cockrum Road
6.2 mi
11m
MS 304
2.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 51.9 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Olive Branch, MS and Ruleville, 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
52 mi·1 hr·US 61
9
Take the exit onto US 49
14 mi·20 min·US 49
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
15 mi·21 min·Highway 49
11
Continue on US 49W
6.4 mi·9 min·East Street
12
Turn right onto MS 8
0.1 mi·14 sec·Quiver Street
13
Turn left onto North Ruby Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·North Ruby Avenue
14
Turn left onto West Floyce Street
123 ft·6 sec·West Floyce Street
15
Arrive at destination
West Floyce Street
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.9 miles from Olive Branch, MS, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.9 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.9 miles or 1h 11m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ruleville, 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 117.8 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 US 61 for about 51.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.9 mi from Olive Branch, MS
· 1h 11m into the drive
The midpoint is around 58.9 miles from Olive Branch, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ruleville, MS
The final approach into Ruleville, 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 Ruleville, 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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 97.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.79 one way
$35.58 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$19.53
$39.06
premium
$4.56
$21.14
$42.29
diesel
$5.61
$26.01
$52.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.3
0
$12.37
$5.65
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.31
$4.71
EV Truck/SUV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Olive Branch, MS
Morning
in Olive Branch on Friday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ruleville, MS
Morning
in Ruleville on Friday
Local time
7:00 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
22 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 32m 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 Ruleville, MS covers 117.8 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61, Highway 49, US 49. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.9 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 $17.79 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 117.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 Ruleville, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Tunica along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include 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.
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.
