If you are planning a trip from Gulfport to Pearl, Mississippi, expect a journey covering 159.4 miles. You should budget about 2 hours and 43 minutes of driving time, making this a very manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. Your route will primarily follow Old Brandon Road, Pine Park Drive, and Old Country Club Road rather than major interstates. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, it is an affordable way to cross through the Southeast region. Since the entire trip takes place within Mississippi, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you transition from the coast toward the central part of the state.
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
78 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 49
94.2 mi
1h 58m
25th Avenue
60.1 mi
1h 14m
Old Brandon Road
0.9 mi
1m
US 80
0.8 mi
1m
Old Country Club Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Pine Park Drive
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 49
— 94.2 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gulfport, MS and Pearl, 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 21 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto US 80; MS 468
0.8 mi·1 min·US 80; MS 468
10
Turn right onto Old Brandon Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Old Brandon Road
11
Turn right onto Pine Park Drive
76 ft·7 sec·Pine Park Drive
12
Turn left onto Old Country Club Road
79 ft·2 sec·Old Country Club Road
13
Arrive at destination
Old Country Club Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 43 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time to avoid the worst local traffic. While one stop is recommended to break up the drive, the relatively short distance allows you to easily reach Pearl without significant fatigue. Keep in mind that because you are relying on local roads like Old Brandon Road and Pine Park Drive, navigation may require more frequent checks than a straight highway route. Budgeting $24 for fuel should safely cover your needs for the trip. For the best experience, try to time your departure to ensure you are not navigating the turn-heavy segments during peak local rush hours.
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 78 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.2 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 34 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78 miles or 1h 39m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearl, 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 156 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 94.2 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
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 62.6 and 156 — 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
155.1 mi into trip|~3h 13m in|Old Brandon Road
Turn right onto Old Brandon Road
Navigation decision point
3
156 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|Pine Park Drive
Turn right onto Pine Park Drive
Navigation decision point
4
156 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|Old Country Club Road
Turn left onto Old Country Club Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.56 one way
$47.12 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.86
$51.73
premium
$4.56
$28.00
$56.00
diesel
$5.61
$34.44
$68.89
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: 54.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.8
0
$16.38
$7.49
Efficient EV
39
0
$13.65
$6.24
EV Truck/SUV
62.4
0
$21.84
$9.98
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% 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
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pearl, MS
Late night
in Pearl on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live 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
27 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 16m 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?
Forget the monotony of a typical interstate grind; this journey is defined by a turn-heavy, local road profile. Because the highway share is 0%, you will spend your time navigating local streets rather than cruising at high speeds on a freeway. You should anticipate a more technical driving experience that requires your full attention at the wheel. The road's personality is strictly local, offering a stark contrast to the fast-paced nature of major highways. Prepare for a steady, hands-on drive that keeps you engaged with the surrounding landscape throughout the entire 159.4-mile stretch.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.2 mi on US 49.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and 25th Avenue. 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 16m drive. You will face about 4 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 155.1 miles (Old Brandon Road): Navigation decision point; at 156 miles (Pine Park Drive): Navigation decision point.
Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, sitting on the east side of the Pearl River from the state capital, Jackson. The population was 26,000 in 2018.
The longest stretch is about 94.2 miles on US 49. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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.
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 155.1 miles (Old Brandon Road): Navigation decision point; at 156 miles (Pine Park Drive): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Pearl, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
