Gulfport to Oxford is 316.4 miles and takes about 6h 15m via I 55 and US 49, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, moving from the Southeast region's coast to its northern interior. It's a straightforward drive that's easy to complete in a single day. If you're looking for a practical way to get from the Mississippi coast to the area north of Jackson, this route is a solid option.
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
158.2 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m 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 7
43.2 mi
50m
University Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
South Lamar Boulevard
0.1 mi
<1m
Courthouse Square
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 55
— 116.5 mi, about 2h 6m
Traffic on I-55
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 49 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,842 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~151 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.8×
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 Oxford, 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
36 mi·41 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
14
Enter roundabout onto MS 7
171 ft·2 sec·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
15
Continue on MS 7
6.8 mi·9 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward MS 314, MS 334
17
Enter roundabout onto MS 314
0.2 mi·21 sec·University Avenue
18
Continue on MS 314
0.7 mi·1 min·University Avenue
19
Turn right onto South Lamar Boulevard
0.1 mi·19 sec·South Lamar Boulevard
20
Turn right onto Courthouse Square
374 ft·16 sec·Courthouse Square
21
Turn left onto Courthouse Square
173 ft·12 sec·Courthouse Square
22
Continue on Courthouse Square
133 ft·5 sec·Courthouse Square
23
Arrive at destination
Courthouse Square
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 15m estimated drive time, leaving Gulfport in the morning is your best bet for completing this trip in one day. You'll have about 116.5 miles on I 55 before needing to consider your first extended break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $50, and plan to refuel before entering more rural stretches. The single stop suggested is likely sufficient for a short break, but you can always adjust based on your needs.
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 158.2 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 3h 17m 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 70 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.2 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oxford, 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 316.4 miles and 6h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 315.3 — 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
5
308.3 mi into trip|~6h 2m in|MS 7
Enter roundabout onto MS 7 toward MS 7 North: Oxford
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward MS 7 North: Oxford
5
315.1 mi into trip|~6h 12m in
Take the exit toward MS 314, MS 334
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward MS 314, MS 334
6
315.3 mi into trip|~6h 12m in|MS 314 / University Avenue
Enter roundabout onto MS 314 / University Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.63 one way
$97.26 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$53.79
$107.58
premium
$4.65
$57.89
$115.77
diesel
$5.35
$66.64
$133.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.9
1
$33.22
$15.19
Efficient EV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
EV Truck/SUV
126.6
1
$44.30
$20.25
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Gulfport, MS
Afternoon
in Gulfport on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Cloudy
W 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:37PM CDT until June 3 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:35PM CDT until June 1 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Oxford, MS
Afternoon
in Oxford on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:37PM CDT until June 3 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 31 at 7:35PM CDT until June 1 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
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
9 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 15m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 163.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 81% of this 316.4-mile trip on highways, with the longest continuous stretch covering 116.5 miles on I 55. The highway portion largely concludes around the 25th Avenue exit, after which you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the drive. Expect plenty of exits and potential for slower traffic as you approach urban areas.
81% 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?
7/10
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 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 316.4 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 308.3 miles (MS 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
508 ft20 ft
Total Climb
765 ft
Total Descent
277 ft
Highest Point
508 ft
~316.4 mi in
Elevation Range
488 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 Oxford, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Oxford is a historic, picturesque town in North Central Mississippi. With its scenic town square, acclaimed restaurants, unique boutiques, oak-shaded neighborhoods, and friendly people, Oxford is the model Southern town. Named after Oxford, England, in hopes of attracting a university, the town was selected as the home of the University of Mississippi in 1848, which dominates life here today.
Top landmarks
•Rowan Oak — William Faulkner's former home in Oxford, Mississippi
•Barnard Observatory — observatory at the University of Mississippi, USA
•Lyceum-The Circle Historic District — collection of historic buildings at the University of Mississippi in Oxford (USA...
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 15m. Total distance: 316.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 15m 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 11 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 Oxford, 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 11 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 308.3 miles (MS 7): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oxford, MS before the return drive.
