Gulfport to Bruce is 307 miles and takes about 6 hours and 16 minutes via Jackson and MS 7 North, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Mississippi, taking you from the Southeast region to the same region. Expect a drive that's primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel than interstate travel. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion if you're looking to get to your destination without extensive highway time.
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
153.7 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 55
116.5 mi
2h 6m
US 49
95.2 mi
2h
25th Avenue
60.1 mi
1h 14m
MS 330
17.2 mi
30m
MS 7
12.6 mi
14m
MS 32
3 mi
5m
Main Street
1.8 mi
3m
Depot Street
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 116.5 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,895 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~167 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 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 Bruce, 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
Turn straight onto US 49
10 mi·16 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 49; MS 42
5.4 mi·6 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 49
5.3 mi·6 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 49
0.2 mi·14 sec·US 49
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 49
4.2 mi·4 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 49
66 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 49
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 49
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Jackson
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.9 mi·1 min·US 49
12
Merge onto I 55
117 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 55
13
Take the exit onto MS 7
13 mi·14 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
14
Take the exit
245 ft·6 sec
15
Turn straight onto MS 330
0.3 mi·36 sec·Depot Street
16
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 330
0.5 mi·54 sec·Depot Street
17
Turn left onto MS 330
481 ft·11 sec·Oklahoma Street
18
Turn right onto MS 330
1.8 mi·3 min·Main Street
19
Turn right onto MS 330
17 mi·30 min·MS 330
20
Turn right onto MS 32
3.0 mi·5 min·MS 32
21
Turn left onto MS 9
418 ft·8 sec·MS 9
22
Turn right onto West Johnson Street
423 ft·18 sec·West Johnson Street
23
Arrive at destination
West Johnson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 16-minute estimated drive time, leaving Gulfport in the morning should allow you to reach Bruce with daylight to spare. Plan for your single recommended stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or in Jackson, to break up the drive. Since this is a surface road route with no highway share, be mindful of local speed limits and potential traffic in populated areas. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from larger towns, and consider topping off in Jackson before heading north on MS 7.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 153.7 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.5 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 68 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.7 miles or 3h 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 4h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bruce, 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 307.4 miles and 6h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 I 55 for about 116.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 153.7 and 285.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
153.7 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Jackson
4
154.4 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
271.8 mi into trip|~5h 21m in|MS 7
Take the exit onto MS 7 toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
4
284.8 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|MS 330 / Depot Street
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 330 / Depot Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
285.3 mi into trip|~5h 37m in|MS 330 / Oklahoma Street
Turn left onto MS 330 / Oklahoma Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.20 one way
$94.40 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$52.74
$105.48
premium
$4.75
$57.50
$115.00
diesel
$5.88
$71.21
$142.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.2
1
$32.28
$14.76
Efficient EV
76.9
0
$26.90
$12.30
EV Truck/SUV
123
1
$43.04
$19.67
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Gulfport, MS
Evening
in Gulfport on Sunday
Local time
6:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Clear
NE 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bruce, MS
Evening
in Bruce on Sunday
Local time
6:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
83°F
Sumrall, MS
154 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
14 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
6h 16m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 drive features 0% highway driving, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 307 miles. The route proceeds through Jackson before transitioning to MS 7 North and eventually Depot Street. Because there's no highway component, you'll likely notice more local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you navigate through towns and rural areas. The longest stretch without a significant break isn't specified, but the overall duration suggests a continuous, albeit varied, surface road experience.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.5 mi on I 55.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 153.7 miles in near US 49.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 307.4 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 153.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 154.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 271.8 miles (MS 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
439 ft20 ft
Total Climb
636 ft
Total Descent
377 ft
Highest Point
439 ft
~109.8 mi in
Elevation Range
419 ft
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 Gulfport, MS to Bruce, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 16m. Total distance: 307.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.5 miles on I 55. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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 Bruce, 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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 153.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 154.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 271.8 miles (MS 7): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bruce, MS before the return drive.
