This straightforward drive from Cleary to Gulfport, Mississippi, covers 151.5 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes. It's an ideal one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. The majority of this journey, 92%, is on highways, making for efficient travel. You can expect fuel costs to be around $23 for this route. Since both your origin and destination are in the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your drive. This route is a practical choice for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
75.7 miles from Cleary, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
72 mi
1h 25m
US 49
63.9 mi
1h 19m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
7.7 mi
8m
US 98
3.2 mi
4m
West Main Street
1.7 mi
4m
Florence Byram Road
1.7 mi
2m
MS 469
0.4 mi
<1m
25th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 72 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cleary, MS and Gulfport, MS.
1
Start on Cleary Road
33 ft·8 sec·Cleary Road
2
Turn left onto Florence Byram Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Florence Byram Road
3
Continue on West Main Street
1.7 mi·4 min·West Main Street
4
Continue on MS 469
0.4 mi·41 sec·MS 469
5
Turn right onto US 49
72 mi·1 hr 25 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf CoastUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 59
7.7 mi·8 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·US 98
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, MobileUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Multi Purpose Center, HattiesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto US 49
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 49
4.5 mi·7 min·US 49
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 49
215 ft·16 sec·25th Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
US 49
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, departing in the morning from Cleary will get you to Gulfport with plenty of daylight. The drive is efficient enough that you can be flexible with your stops, though planning one rest break for a 151.5-mile trip is a good idea. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach the 72-mile stretch on Highway 49 South; ensuring you have enough before this longer segment can prevent unnecessary detours. The estimated fuel cost of $23 makes budgeting straightforward for this direct route.
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 75.7 miles from Cleary, MS, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.7 miles or 1h 34m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gulfport, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cleary, 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 Cleary, MS
This is one driving day of about 151.5 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Cleary, 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 Highway 49 South for about 72 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 77.3 and 88.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
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 I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
6
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Mississippi Gulf Coast
7
85.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|US 98
Take the exit onto US 98 toward US 98 East: Lucedale, Mobile
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, Mobile
7
88.6 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gu...
9
88.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Multi Purpose Center, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Multi Purpose Center, Hattiesburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.88 one way
$45.76 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.12
$50.23
premium
$4.56
$27.19
$54.38
diesel
$5.61
$33.45
$66.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.91
$7.27
Efficient EV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
EV Truck/SUV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Cleary, MS
Morning
in Cleary on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gulfport, MS
Morning
in Gulfport on Tuesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°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
16 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
3h 8m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is primarily spent on US 49 South, also known as Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. With 92% of the trip on main roads, expect a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 72 miles on Highway 49 South. This means you'll have extended periods of highway driving before potentially encountering any changes in scenery or road type. The character of the road is predominantly about covering distance efficiently, rather than winding through diverse landscapes.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72 mi on Highway 49 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and US 49. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 77.3 miles in.
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 151.5 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 77.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.6 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.4 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cleary, MS and Gulfport, MS, road signs point toward Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mobile, Multi Purpose Center and Hattiesburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 151.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 72 miles on Highway 49 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gulfport, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 77.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.6 miles (I 59 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.4 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Gulfport, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
