Gulfport to Hillsboro is 160.4 miles and takes about 3 hours 37 minutes via 25th Avenue and MS 35, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's manageable for a single day. You'll primarily be on well-established roads, making it a practical option if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated journey. Plan for this drive to be mostly on main roads, not requiring an overnight stay.
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
80.2 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
25th Avenue
60.1 mi
1h 14m
MS 35
52.7 mi
1h 18m
US 49
43.9 mi
56m
Old Jackson Road
1.7 mi
4m
MS 28
1.3 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Hillsboro-Ludlow Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
25th Avenue
— 60.1 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gulfport, MS and Hillsboro, 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
16 mi·19 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto MS 149
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
10
Turn right onto MS 35
10 mi·14 min·MS 35
11
Turn right onto MS 28; MS 35
1.3 mi·2 min·MS 28; MS 35
12
Turn left onto MS 35
43 mi·1 hr 3 min·MS 35
13
Turn left onto Old Jackson Road
1.7 mi·4 min·Old Jackson Road
14
Turn right onto Hillsboro-Ludlow Road
423 ft·18 sec·Hillsboro-Ludlow Road
15
Arrive at destination
Hillsboro-Ludlow Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 37 minute duration, leaving Gulfport in the morning allows ample time to reach Hillsboro well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $24, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility. Consider starting your drive before the midday heat if traveling during warmer months. The longest stretch of 60.1 miles on 25th Avenue means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment, as services might be less frequent during that portion of the drive.
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 80.2 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.1 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 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillsboro, 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 160.4 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 25th Avenue for about 60.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 62.6 and 160.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
62.6 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|US 49
Turn straight onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
104.1 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|MS 149 / South Main Street
Turn right onto MS 149 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
104.6 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|MS 35
Turn right onto MS 35
Navigation decision point
4
114.7 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|MS 28; MS 35
Turn right onto MS 28; MS 35
Navigation decision point
4
160.3 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|Hillsboro-Ludlow Road
Turn right onto Hillsboro-Ludlow Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.22 one way
$48.45 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.59
$53.18
premium
$4.56
$28.79
$57.58
diesel
$5.61
$35.41
$70.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
EV Truck/SUV
64.2
0
$22.46
$10.27
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 20, 2026
Origin
Gulfport, MS
Late night
in Gulfport on Tuesday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hillsboro, MS
Late night
in Hillsboro on Tuesday
Local time
3:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Sumrall, MS
80 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
1 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 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 61% of your travel time spent on these faster roads. You'll experience a mix of main roads, including 25th Avenue and MS 35, with a significant uninterrupted stretch of 60.1 miles on 25th Avenue. While not an interstate grind, expect a consistent pace for much of the journey. The road character is geared towards efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. It offers a practical progression from point A to point B.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.1 mi on 25th Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on 25th Avenue and MS 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 62.6 miles in near US 49.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 62.6 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here; at 104.1 miles (MS 149 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 104.6 miles (MS 35): Navigation decision point.
The longest stretch is about 60.1 miles on 25th Avenue. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 62.6 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here; at 104.1 miles (MS 149 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 104.6 miles (MS 35): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Hillsboro, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
