Embark on a 314-mile journey from Guntown, Mississippi, to West Gulfport, Mississippi, a drive that will take approximately 6 hours and 5 minutes to complete. This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 99% of the drive on major roads like I-59 and US-49. It's a manageable trip that can comfortably be accomplished in a single day, making it ideal for a quick getaway or a direct transit. Expect a fuel cost of around $48 for this trip. Traveling within the Southeast region, this drive offers a straightforward path through Mississippi.
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
157 miles from Guntown, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
88.7 mi
1h 36m
US Highway 45 Aiternate
60.6 mi
1h 9m
US 49
59.9 mi
1h 12m
US Highway 45 Alternate
54.7 mi
1h 6m
US 45
29.1 mi
34m
I 20
8.1 mi
9m
US 45 ALT
7.2 mi
8m
US 98
3.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 88.7 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Guntown, MS and West Gulfport, MS.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on North Main Street
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
4
Merge onto US 45
25 mi·29 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
6
Continue on US 45 ALT
2.2 mi·2 min·US 45 ALT
7
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.5 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
8
Continue on US 45 ALT
0.7 mi·49 sec·US 45 ALT
9
Continue on US 45 ALT
1.4 mi·1 min·US 45 ALT
10
Continue on US 45 ALT
55 mi·1 hr 6 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 45
61 mi·1 hr 9 min·US Highway 45 Aiternate
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
3.9 mi·4 min·US 45
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 59 South, I 20 West: Meridian
14
Merge onto I 20; I 59
6.3 mi·7 min·I 20; I 59
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 20; I 59; US 80
1.8 mi·2 min·I 20; I 59; US 80
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
89 mi·1 hr 36 min·I 59
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New OrleansUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·US 98
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, MobileUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Multi Purpose Center, HattiesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto US 49
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn straight onto US 49
2.0 mi·3 min·US 49
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
22
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
424 ft·14 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
23
Turn right onto Arkansas Avenue
31 ft·0 sec·Arkansas Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Arkansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, starting your drive from Guntown in the morning is recommended to arrive in West Gulfport with ample daylight. With only one major stop indicated and a high highway share, planning your fuel and rest stops strategically is key. The longest stretch without a significant break is nearly 89 miles on I-59, so ensure you're fueled up before entering that segment. This route's efficiency means you have flexibility; you can depart when it suits you best and make spontaneous stops if needed.
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 157 miles from Guntown, MS, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.7 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 69 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157 miles or 3h 6m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Gulfport, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Guntown, 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 Guntown, MS
This is one driving day of about 314 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Guntown, 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 59 for about 88.7 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 161.6 and 254 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
161.6 mi into trip|~3h 12m in|I 59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 59 South: Laurel, New Orleans
7
250.4 mi into trip|~4h 48m in|US 98
Take the exit onto US 98 toward US 98 East: Lucedale, Mobile
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 East: Lucedale, Mobile
7
253.5 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf Coast
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 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gu...
9
253.8 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Multi Purpose Center, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Multi Purpose Center, Hattiesburg
6
254 mi into trip|~4h 53m in|US 49
Turn right onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.42 one way
$94.84 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$52.06
$104.11
premium
$4.56
$56.36
$112.72
diesel
$5.61
$69.33
$138.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.2
1
$32.97
$15.07
Efficient EV
78.5
0
$27.47
$12.56
EV Truck/SUV
125.6
1
$43.96
$20.10
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Guntown, MS
Evening
in Guntown on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Gulfport, MS
Evening
in West Gulfport on Saturday
Local time
8:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Meridian, MS
157 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
12 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
6h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with nearly the entire 314 miles taking place on major roadways. You'll spend the bulk of your time on I-59 and US-49, experiencing a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 88.7 miles on I-59, so be prepared for extended periods of highway driving. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of US Highway 45 Alternate adds a slight variation to the road's personality before you merge back onto faster routes.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.7 mi on I 59.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and US Highway 45 Aiternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 161.6 miles in near I 59.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 314 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 161.6 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.4 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Guntown, MS and West Gulfport, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans, Mobile, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Multi Purpose Center and Hattiesburg.
New Orleans
161.6 mi in|~3h 12m|via I 59
Mobile
250.4 mi in|~4h 48m|via US 98
Gulfport
253.5 mi in|~4h 52m
Mississippi Gulf Coast
253.5 mi in|~4h 52m
Multi Purpose Center
253.8 mi in|~4h 52m
Hattiesburg
253.8 mi in|~4h 52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 314 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.7 miles on I 59. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Gulfport, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 161.6 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.4 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Gulfport, MS before the return drive.
