Gulfport to Water Valley is 297.2 miles and takes about 5 hours 51 minutes via I-55 and US-49, with a fuel budget near $44 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 route that's mostly highway driving, making for a fairly straightforward trip. It's a solid option if you're looking for a single-day drive between these two points in Mississippi, with the main highways providing a direct path.
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
148.6 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m 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
23.4 mi
26m
South Main Street
1.4 mi
2m
Frostland Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
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 Water Valley, 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
23 mi·26 min·MS 7
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
14
Turn right onto MS 32, MS 315
0.6 mi·1 min·Frostland Drive
15
At end of road, turn left onto MS 315
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 51 minute duration, leaving Gulfport in the morning should allow you to reach Water Valley with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll cover 297.2 miles, and with 79% on highways, it's a relatively efficient drive. There's one designated stop on this route, but you might consider a brief break around the halfway point, especially during the 116.5-mile stretch on I-55. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $44, and plan your refueling stops accordingly.
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 148.6 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 3h 5m 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 65 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.6 miles or 3h 5m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Water Valley, 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 297.2 miles and 5h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 62.6 and 295.9 — 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.
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
4
271.8 mi into trip|~5h 21m in|MS 7
Take the exit onto MS 7 toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward MS 7 North: Coffeeville
5
295.9 mi into trip|~5h 49m in|MS 315 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto MS 315 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.68 one way
$91.36 round trip
$3.90/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$50.52
$101.05
premium
$4.65
$54.37
$108.75
diesel
$5.35
$62.60
$125.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.2
1
$31.21
$14.27
Efficient EV
74.3
0
$26.01
$11.89
EV Truck/SUV
118.9
1
$41.61
$19.02
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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 2, 2026
Origin
Gulfport, MS
Afternoon
in Gulfport on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 5 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 8:26AM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
Destination
Water Valley, MS
Afternoon
in Water Valley on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 5 to 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 8:26AM CDT until June 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS New Orleans LA
72°F
New Haven, MS
149 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
3 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 51m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with 79% of the 297.2 miles on major roads like I-55 and US-49. You'll experience a long stretch of 116.5 miles on I-55 before transitioning to other roads. Expect a good amount of highway cruising, with the density of exits likely increasing as you get closer to your destination.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 55 and US 49. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 62.6 miles in near US 49.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 297.2 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 62.6 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here; at 153.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 154.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
374 ft20 ft
Total Climb
664 ft
Total Descent
396 ft
Highest Point
374 ft
~233.5 mi in
Elevation Range
354 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 Water Valley, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Jackson along the way.
Jackson
153.7 mi in|~3h 11m|via US 49
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 51m. Total distance: 297.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 62.6 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here; at 153.7 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 154.4 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Water Valley, MS before the return drive.
