Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h
Distance
358.7 mi
577 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gulfport, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Walls, MS
Arturo Añez.
Gulfport to Walls is 358.7 miles and takes about 7 hours via I 55 and US 49, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Mississippi, taking you from the Southeast region up through the state. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a full day of driving, but it's entirely manageable within daylight hours.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
179.3 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 40m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 55 | 193.7 mi | 3h 29m |
| US 49 | 95.2 mi | 2h |
| 25th Avenue | 60.1 mi | 1h 14m |
| Goodman Road West | 8.5 mi | 13m |
| MS 161 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Railroad Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Railroad Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,533 veh/hr typical · worst 2,913
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Gulfport, MS and Walls, MS.
Start on US 49
Continue on US 49
Turn straight onto US 49
Continue on US 49; MS 42
Continue on US 49
Continue on US 49
Continue on US 49
Continue on US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto MS 302
Continue on MS 302
At end of road, turn left onto MS 161
Turn right onto 2nd Street
At end of road, turn right onto East Railroad Avenue
Continue on West Railroad Avenue
Turn right onto McLemore Drive
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider leaving Gulfport in the morning to arrive in Walls with ample time before evening. With only 2 planned stops and a longest stretch of 193.7 miles on I 55, you can strategically place your breaks. Aim to stop around the halfway point or when you feel ready to stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you approach the longer interstate segment, to avoid any unexpected delays. The estimated fuel cost is around $52, so factor that into your budget.
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.
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 79 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.3 miles or 3h 40m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Walls, MS than in the middle of the route.
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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gulfport, MS
This is one driving day of about 358.7 miles and 7h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
179 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 79 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 179.3 miles from Gulfport, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 55 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 193.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 153.7 and 358.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward Southaven, Horn Lake, Olive Branch
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Memphis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn right onto East Railroad Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$52.55 one way
$105.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $58.34 | $116.68 |
| premium | $4.49 | $63.35 | $126.70 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $79.07 | $158.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.6 | 1 | $37.66 | $17.22 |
| Efficient EV | 89.7 | 1 | $31.39 | $14.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.5 | 1 | $50.22 | $22.96 |
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Gulfport on Wednesday
Local time
1:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Walls on Wednesday
Local time
1:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 81% of the 358.7 miles on major roads like I 55 and US 49. You'll experience a significant stretch of 193.7 miles on I 55, which means consistent cruising for an extended period. The transition to surface streets like 25th Avenue will occur later in the drive, likely bringing more local traffic and a change in speed. Expect a good number of exits and entrances as you navigate the interstate sections.
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 358.7 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 153.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 154.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 349 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
554 ft
Total Descent
361 ft
Highest Point
376 ft
~281.8 mi in
Elevation Range
356 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gulfport, MS to Walls, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
Founded 1887
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi.
Top landmarks
Founded 2003
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h. Total distance: 358.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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