This 229.3-mile drive from Gulfport to Brooksville, Mississippi, will take approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. The route primarily follows Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway and US 45, with a portion on 25th Avenue. With an estimated fuel cost of $35, it's an economical journey through the Southeast region of Mississippi. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience on the road, so plan for a full day of travel. It's a straightforward trip that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.6 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
88.4 mi
1h 35m
US 45
64.8 mi
1h 14m
25th Avenue
60.1 mi
1h 14m
I 59
9 mi
10m
US 98
3.3 mi
4m
US 49
2.4 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Old US 45
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
— 88.4 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-59
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~976 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,182
Quietest
2 AM
~88 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gulfport, MS and Brooksville, MS.
1
Start on US 49
60 mi·1 hr 14 min·25th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 49
2.4 mi·2 min·US 49
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
4
Merge onto US 98
2.5 mi·2 min·US 98
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto US 98
0.8 mi·1 min·US 98
Toward I 59 North, US 98 West: Columbia, LaurelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 59; US 98
88 mi·1 hr 35 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
9.0 mi·10 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 45 North: MaconUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 45
65 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left onto Old US 45
0.2 mi·27 sec·Old US 45
11
Turn left onto East Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East Main Street
12
Arrive at destination
East Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 25 minute duration, starting your trip in the morning from Gulfport will allow you to reach Brooksville with ample daylight. While it's a single-day drive, consider breaking it up with a brief stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs. With a fuel cost of around $35, ensure your tank is full before departing, as the longest stretch is over 88 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning between the primary highways like Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway and US 45, to ensure you don't have to search for a gas station.
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 114.6 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.4 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 50 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.6 miles or 2h 15m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooksville, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gulfport, 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 Gulfport, MS
This is one driving day of about 229.3 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Gulfport, 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 Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway for about 88.4 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 62.9 and 163.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
62.9 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|US 98
Merge onto US 98
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
65.3 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|US 98
Take the exit onto US 98 toward I 59 North, US 98 West: Columbia, Laurel
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 I 59 North, US 98 West: Columbia, Laurel
5
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|I 59; US 98 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 59; US 98 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
154.5 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
6
163.5 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 45 North: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 45 North: Macon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.24 one way
$70.49 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$38.98
$77.96
premium
$4.65
$41.95
$83.90
diesel
$5.35
$48.30
$96.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.8
0
$24.08
$11.01
Efficient EV
57.3
0
$20.06
$9.17
EV Truck/SUV
91.7
1
$32.10
$14.68
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 May 10, 2026
Origin
Gulfport, MS
Afternoon
in Gulfport on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued May 10 at 1:24AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued May 10 at 1:13AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Destination
Brooksville, MS
Afternoon
in Brooksville on Wednesday
Local time
2:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued May 10 at 1:24AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued May 10 at 1:13AM CDT until May 10 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
72°F
Taylorsville, MS
115 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
11 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
4h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll experience a mixed drive on this route, with about 35% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 88.4 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, offering a good period of consistent travel. As you progress, expect the road character to shift, moving from potentially more developed areas to the more open stretches as you head inland. This isn't a constant interstate grind, nor is it entirely winding country roads; it's a blend that keeps things interesting without being overly demanding.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.4 mi on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 62.9 miles in near US 98.
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 9 significant decision points across 229.3 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: at 62.9 miles (US 98): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.3 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (I 59; US 98 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
437 ft20 ft
Total Climb
752 ft
Total Descent
493 ft
Highest Point
437 ft
~163.8 mi in
Elevation Range
417 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gulfport, MS and Brooksville, MS, road signs point toward Laurel and Tuscaloosa.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 229.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.4 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Brooksville, 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. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 62.9 miles (US 98): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.3 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.1 miles (I 59; US 98 / Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Brooksville, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
