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Trip from Gulfport, MS to West Hattiesburg, MS

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

73.8 mi

119 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 26m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in Mississippi, USA

Gulfport, MS

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown West Hattiesburg, MS, MS

West Hattiesburg, MS

大 董

Trip Overview

The drive from Gulfport, MS to West Hattiesburg, MS covers 73.8 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 25th Avenue, Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, US 98 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.1 miles on 25th Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.81 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

36.9 miles from Gulfport, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
25th Avenue 60.1 mi 1h 14m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway 5.5 mi 5m
US 98 3.4 mi 5m
US 49 2.4 mi 2m
Hardy Street 1.4 mi 2m
Weathersby Road 0.2 mi <1m
North Lane 0.1 mi <1m
McKenzie Circle — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 25th Avenue — 60.1 mi, about 1h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gulfport, MS and West Hattiesburg, 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, Laurel Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 59; US 98

5.5 mi · 5 min · Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit onto US 98

0.2 mi · 16 sec · US 98
Toward US 98 West: Columbia, Hardy Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 58 sec
Toward Hardy Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn sharp left onto MS 198

1.4 mi · 2 min · Hardy Street
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn left onto Weathersby Road

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Weathersby Road
Use the left lane.
11

Turn right onto North Lane

0.1 mi · 23 sec · North Lane
12

Arrive at destination

McKenzie Circle

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 36.9 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.1 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 16 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 36.9 miles or 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Hattiesburg, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Gulfport, MS

This is one driving day of about 73.8 miles and 1h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Gulfport, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 25th Avenue for about 60.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Stone County, Mississippi, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wiggins, MS

37 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.

Pacing Suggestions

West Gulfport, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wiggins, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Gulfport, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 25th Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

+12283142100

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12283142100

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: 8:30 am–7 pm

+18776642738

Visit website

Pilot Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: 8 am–7 pm

Chevrolet Charging Station

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Halfway reset 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Wiggins, Mississippi

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+18003239935

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Mississippi Aquarium

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12282411300

Visit website

Mississippi Armed Forces Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+16013877248

Visit website

Updown Trampoline Park

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hours: 10 am–8 pm

+16019099060

Visit website

TrainTastic! Train Museum formerly: Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+12282845731

Visit website

Mississippi Aviation Heritage Museum

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16012992816

Visit website

Time Will Tell Escape Games

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hours: 1:30–8:30 pm

+16018136951

Visit website

Lynn Meadows Discovery Center

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour

Gulfport, Mississippi

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+12288976039

Visit website

Hattiesburg Zoo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+16015454576

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 62.9 and 72.1 — 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
7
71.6 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | US 98

Take the exit onto US 98 toward US 98 West: Columbia, Hardy Street

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 US 98 West: Columbia, Hardy Street
7
71.7 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Hardy Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Hardy Street
7
72.1 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | MS 198 / Hardy Street

Turn sharp left onto MS 198 / Hardy Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.81 one way

$21.62 round trip

$3.72/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.13 $12.00 $24.01
premium $4.49 $13.03 $26.07
diesel $5.60 $16.27 $32.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.1 0 $7.75 $3.54
Efficient EV 18.5 0 $6.46 $2.95
EV Truck/SUV 29.5 0 $10.33 $4.72

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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 Aug 28, 2026

Origin

Gulfport, MS

Late night in Gulfport on Tuesday

Local time

3:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

88°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 5 to 10 mph 52% chance Live forecast

Destination

West Hattiesburg, MS

Late night in West Hattiesburg on Tuesday

Local time

3:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

93°F

Sunny

NNE 5 mph 12% chance 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

5 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

1h 33m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

73.8 mi in 1h 33m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.1 mi on 25th Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 62.9 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 71.6 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

350 ft 20 ft

Total Climb

471 ft

Total Descent

234 ft

Highest Point

350 ft

~68.6 mi in

Elevation Range

330 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 West Hattiesburg, MS, road signs begin pointing toward Laurel along the way.

Laurel

65.3 mi in | ~1h 20m | via US 98

About the Cities

Starting in Gulfport, MS

Full guide →

Founded 1887

Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi.

Top landmarks

  • • United States Post Office and Customhouse — government building in Gulfport, Mississippi
  • • Gulfport Veterans Administration Medical Center Historic District — 48-acre (19-ha) compound located in Gulfport, Mississippi, United States
  • • Gulfport Army Air Field Hangar

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 60.1 miles on 25th Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 West Hattiesburg, MS before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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 71.6 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Hattiesburg, MS before heading back.

How this page is built

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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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