Traveling from Leland to Gulfport covers 269 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 31 minutes of drive time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay, though you should budget roughly $41 for fuel. The route primarily utilizes Highway 49 South and US 49 to navigate through the heart of Mississippi. You will spend your entire journey within the Southeast region, transitioning from the Delta area toward the Gulf Coast. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that works best for travelers who prefer a direct path to their destination.
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
134.5 miles from Leland, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
80.3 mi
1h 37m
US 49
73.9 mi
1h 32m
North Martin Luther King Drive
46.2 mi
55m
Jerry Clower Boulevard
38.8 mi
47m
US 82
15.5 mi
18m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
7.7 mi
8m
US 98
3.2 mi
4m
I 20
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~2,710 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,827
Quietest
2 AM
~220 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 Leland, MS and Gulfport, MS.
1
Start on North Broad Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·North Broad Street
2
Turn left onto South Deer Creek Drive East
0.6 mi·1 min·South Deer Creek Drive East
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 82; US 278
15 mi·18 min·US 82; US 278
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto US 49W
46 mi·55 min·North Martin Luther King Drive
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49W
0.5 mi·53 sec·US 49W
Toward US 49 South: Jackson
6
Merge onto US 49
39 mi·47 min·Jerry Clower Boulevard
7
Take the exit onto US 49
4.9 mi·5 min·US 49
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
3.8 mi·5 min·US 49
9
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
1.1 mi·1 min·I 20; I 55; US 49
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
347 ft·4 sec·I 20; US 49
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
11
Take the exit onto US 49
0.6 mi·42 sec·US 49
Toward Hattiesburg
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 49
0.7 mi·1 min·US 49
Toward Richland, Hattiesburg
13
Merge onto US 49
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf CoastUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 59
7.7 mi·8 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·US 98
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, MobileUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Multi Purpose Center, HattiesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Turn right onto US 49
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn straight onto US 49
4.5 mi·7 min·US 49
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on US 49
215 ft·16 sec·25th Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
US 49
Trip Plan
To keep your 5-hour and 31-minute journey manageable, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since you are looking at a $41 fuel expense, check your tank before heading out to avoid unnecessary detours in unfamiliar areas. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and ensure you reach the Gulf Coast with plenty of daylight left. Given the heavy reliance on Highway 49, keep an eye on traffic patterns along that corridor, as it serves as a primary artery for the state. Flexibility is your greatest advantage here; since the drive is well within a single day's reach, you can easily adjust your pace to suit your personal comfort level.
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 134.5 miles from Leland, MS, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 59 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.5 miles or 2h 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 4h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gulfport, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Leland, 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 Leland, MS
This is one driving day of about 269 miles and 5h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Leland, 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 Highway 49 South for about 80.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 111.6 and 206.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 20; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Meridian, Hattiesburg
7
194.7 mi into trip|~3h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf Coast
7
202.9 mi into trip|~4h 8m 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
206 mi into trip|~4h 12m 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
206.3 mi into trip|~4h 13m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.34 one way
$74.68 round trip
$3.53/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.95
$41.78
$83.56
premium
$4.29
$45.42
$90.85
diesel
$4.80
$50.79
$101.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.7
0
$28.25
$12.91
Efficient EV
67.3
0
$23.54
$10.76
EV Truck/SUV
107.6
1
$37.66
$17.22
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Leland, MS
Late night
in Leland on Sunday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 0 to 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
Destination
Gulfport, MS
Late night
in Gulfport on Sunday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 11:57PM CDT until July 20 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Jackson MS
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:48PM CDT until July 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Memphis TN
96°F
Brandon, MS
135 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
4 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
5h 31m 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?
Expect a consistent, highway-focused experience that keeps you moving steadily toward the coast. With a 65% highway share, you will spend most of your time on major thoroughfares rather than slower local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is an 80.3-mile block on Highway 49 South, which requires you to stay alert during long periods of steady driving. As you transition onto North Martin Luther King Drive and other segments, the pace remains practical and predictable. It is not a technical route, but the sheer distance demands a focused approach behind the wheel.
65% 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: 80.3 mi on Highway 49 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 111.6 miles in near I 20; US 49.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 269 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 111.6 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.9 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
443 ft20 ft
Total Climb
538 ft
Total Descent
643 ft
Highest Point
443 ft
~156.9 mi in
Elevation Range
423 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Leland, MS and Gulfport, MS, road signs point toward Meridian, Hattiesburg, Richland, Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast and Mobile - among others.
Meridian
111.6 mi in|~2h 17m|via I 20; US 49
Hattiesburg
111.6 mi in|~2h 17m|via I 20; US 49
Richland
112.2 mi in|~2h 18m|via US 49
Gulf Coast
194.7 mi in|~3h 59m
Mississippi Gulf Coast
195.1 mi in|~4h|via I 59
Mobile
202.9 mi in|~4h 8m|via US 98
Multi Purpose Center
206.3 mi in|~4h 13m
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 31m. Total distance: 269 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.3 miles on Highway 49 South. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 111.6 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 202.9 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gulfport, MS before the return drive.
