Gulfport, MS to Louisville, MS is 220.7 miles and takes about 4h 37m via Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway and MS 19, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mix of driving conditions on this route, which is designed for a single day of travel. It's a straightforward drive if you're looking for a direct way to get between these two points without much fuss.
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
110.3 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
88.4 mi
1h 35m
25th Avenue
60.1 mi
1h 14m
MS 19
36.7 mi
54m
MS 15
20.1 mi
30m
US 98
3.3 mi
4m
South Church Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
US 49
2.4 mi
2m
I 59
2 mi
2m
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 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~969 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,202
Quietest
1 AM
~89 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.9×
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 Louisville, 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
2.0 mi·2 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
10
Turn left onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·MS 19
11
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
0.1 mi·15 sec·Beacon Street
12
Turn right onto MS 21
1.8 mi·2 min·Pecan Avenue
13
Turn straight onto County Road 561
1.3 mi·1 min·County Road 561
14
Turn right onto MS 15
20 mi·30 min·MS 15
15
Turn right onto MS 15 Business
2.5 mi·4 min·South Church Avenue
16
Turn right onto MS 14
98 ft·1 sec·MS-14/West Main Street
17
Arrive at destination
MS 14
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 37m estimated duration, leaving Gulfport in the morning should get you to Louisville with plenty of daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $32, and it's always wise to top off before heading into longer stretches. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning's activities in Gulfport.
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 110.3 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 2h 10m 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 49 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.3 miles or 2h 10m 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 Louisville, 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 220.7 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 62.9 and 156.5 — 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...
7
156.5 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
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 South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.36 one way
$68.71 round trip
$3.95/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.88
$75.75
premium
$4.71
$40.93
$81.87
diesel
$6.18
$53.69
$107.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.2
0
$23.17
$10.59
Efficient EV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
EV Truck/SUV
88.3
1
$30.90
$14.12
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 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
Morning
in Gulfport on Monday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
NE 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Louisville, MS
Morning
in Louisville on Monday
Local time
8:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
E 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
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
4h 37m 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?
About 30% of this 220.7-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter an 88.4-mile stretch on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, which is the longest continuous segment. After that, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. The profile indicates a mixed highway and surface road experience, so be prepared for changes in speed limits and road conditions.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 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 13 significant decision points across 220.7 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
568 ft20 ft
Total Climb
658 ft
Total Descent
110 ft
Highest Point
568 ft
~220.7 mi in
Elevation Range
548 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 Louisville, MS, road signs point toward Laurel, Tuscaloosa, Mississippi 19: Philadelphia and Meridian Airport.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 220.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m 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 Louisville, 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 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Louisville, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
