Gulfport to Indianola is 252.2 miles and takes about 5 hours 14 minutes via US 49, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Mississippi, connecting the Southeast region from its coast to its interior. Expect a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on highways, but also some time on surface roads. It's a manageable one-day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B.
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
126.1 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
100.8 mi
2h 6m
25th Avenue
60.1 mi
1h 14m
US 49W
46 mi
55m
Medgar Evers Boulevard
39.5 mi
48m
I 20
4.3 mi
5m
2nd Street
1.2 mi
3m
Westside Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Lee Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 100.8 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,273 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,355
Quietest
2 AM
~278 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Indianola, 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 left at fork onto US 49
1.0 mi·1 min·US 49
12
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.6 mi·2 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
2.7 mi·3 min·I 20; US 49
Toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
14
Take the exit onto US 49
5.2 mi·6 min·US 49
Toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson, Yazoo City
15
Take the exit onto US 49
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 49
Toward US 49 North: Yazoo City
16
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·48 min·Medgar Evers Boulevard
17
Take the exit onto US 49W
46 mi·55 min·US 49W
Toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
18
Turn left onto 2nd Street
1.2 mi·3 min·2nd Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto Front Avenue
191 ft·10 sec·Front Avenue
20
Continue on Westside Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·Westside Avenue
21
Turn left onto Faison Avenue
97 ft·5 sec·Faison Avenue
22
Turn right onto Lee Street
464 ft·20 sec·Lee Street
23
Arrive at destination
Lee Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, aim to depart in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a manageable distance, you can be flexible with timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 100.8-mile stretch on US 49, as services might be less frequent. The $37 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra buffer. This is a route that can easily be completed in a single day, allowing you to reach Indianola without needing an overnight stop.
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 126.1 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.8 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 55 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.1 miles or 2h 37m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indianola, 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 252.2 miles and 5h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 US 49 for about 100.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 153.7 and 251.9 — 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
6
157.1 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo...
5
159.8 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|US 49
Take the exit onto US 49 toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson, Yazoo City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson,...
5
204.8 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|US 49W
Take the exit onto US 49W toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vic...
5
251.9 mi into trip|~5h 13m in|Front Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Front Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.26 one way
$78.52 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.28
$86.56
premium
$4.71
$46.78
$93.55
diesel
$6.18
$61.35
$122.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.48
$12.11
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.07
$10.09
EV Truck/SUV
100.9
1
$35.31
$16.14
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Gulfport, MS
Late night
in Gulfport on Monday
Local time
4:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Clear
NE 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Indianola, MS
Late night
in Indianola on Monday
Local time
4:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
85°F
Brandon, MS
126 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
5h 14m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 165.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 60% highway driving, so you'll spend a good chunk of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on US 49 measures 100.8 miles, offering a period of consistent cruising. After this, expect the profile to shift to a mix of highway and surface roads as you get closer to your destination. Be prepared for the transition from higher-speed highway travel to potentially more varied conditions on surface roads.
60% 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: 100.8 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 153.7 miles in near US 49.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 252.2 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 157.1 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.8 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
411 ft20 ft
Total Climb
518 ft
Total Descent
424 ft
Highest Point
411 ft
~126.1 mi in
Elevation Range
391 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 Indianola, MS, road signs point toward Jackson, Yazoo City and Vicksburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 14m. Total distance: 252.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.8 miles on US 49. 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 Indianola, 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 153.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 157.1 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 159.8 miles (US 49): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Indianola, MS before the return drive.
