This 162.6-mile journey from Meridian to Gulf Park Estates, Mississippi, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 14 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily through local roads, with a 0% highway share, making for a more connected drive through the Southeast region. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $25, and with only one recommended stop, it's a straightforward excursion. This route offers a relaxed pace, allowing you to experience the local landscape without the rush of interstate travel. It’s a perfect option if you're looking for a direct, no-fuss drive within Mississippi.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.3 miles from Meridian, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
64.8 mi
1h 15m
MS 63
50.4 mi
57m
MS 57
28.1 mi
34m
I 10
10.9 mi
11m
Roebuck Drive
3.6 mi
5m
Old Spanish Trail
2.3 mi
4m
22nd Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
23rd Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meridian, MS and Gulf Park Estates, MS.
1
Start on 25th Avenue
272 ft·14 sec·25th Avenue
2
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·8th Street
3
Turn right onto 23rd Avenue
0.2 mi·27 sec·23rd Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
394 ft·10 sec·Front Street
5
Turn right onto 22nd Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·22nd Avenue
6
Continue on MS 145
3.6 mi·5 min·Roebuck Drive
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 45
7.1 mi·8 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 45
0.7 mi·46 sec·US 45
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 45
3.7 mi·4 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 45
5.4 mi·6 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 45
5.5 mi·6 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 45
2.7 mi·3 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 45
1.7 mi·1 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 45
3.9 mi·4 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 45
9.8 mi·11 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 45
2.0 mi·2 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 45
4.9 mi·5 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 45
17 mi·20 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 57
2.2 mi·2 min·MS 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on MS 57
23 mi·25 min·MS 57
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on MS 63
50 mi·57 min·MS 63
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
24
Merge onto I 10
11 mi·11 min·I 10
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward MS 57: Vancleave, Gautier, Ocean Springs
26
Keep slight left at fork
319 ft·9 sec
27
Turn left onto MS 57
3.4 mi·6 min·MS 57
Use the straight / left lanes.
28
Turn right onto Old Spanish Trail
2.3 mi·4 min·Old Spanish Trail
29
Turn left onto Beachview Drive
498 ft·15 sec·Beachview Drive
30
Turn right onto Palmetto Drive
346 ft·20 sec·Palmetto Drive
31
Turn left onto North 6th Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·North 6th Street
32
Arrive at destination
North 6th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 14-minute duration, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip, so you can depart Meridian at your leisure. With a fuel cost estimated at $25 and only one stop recommended, you can plan your breaks efficiently. Be prepared for a 'turn-heavy local drive' throughout; keeping your navigation system handy will be beneficial for managing the frequent turns. This flexibility means you can adjust your timing as needed, perhaps stopping for a quick break or enjoying a slower pace through the towns you pass. Remember to check your fuel levels before heading out, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways.
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 81.3 miles from Meridian, MS, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.3 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gulf Park Estates, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meridian, 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 Meridian, MS
This is one driving day of about 162.6 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Meridian, 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 US 45 for about 64.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 70.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|23rd Avenue
Turn right onto 23rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto Front Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.2 mi into trip|~9m in|US 45
Merge onto US 45
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
6
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|MS 57
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 57
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.56 one way
$49.11 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$26.96
$53.91
premium
$4.56
$29.18
$58.37
diesel
$5.61
$35.90
$71.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.8
0
$17.07
$7.80
Efficient EV
40.7
0
$14.23
$6.50
EV Truck/SUV
65
0
$22.76
$10.41
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Meridian, MS
Late night
in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Gulf Park Estates, MS
Late night
in Gulf Park Estates on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Waynesboro, MS
81 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 14m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for the entirety of this 162.6-mile trip, as it features no highway mileage. You'll be on roads like 8th Street, 23rd Avenue, and Front Street, which means frequent turns and a more engaged driving experience. Without any long stretches of uninterrupted driving, this route keeps you constantly interacting with the local environment. The profile suggests a journey that feels more like navigating through towns and communities rather than a high-speed transit. This character makes it ideal for those who prefer to see more of the area they're passing through.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.8 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and MS 63. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 162.6 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 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (23rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point.
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Meridian is a city in Mississippi. It was a titan of commerce of sorts during the Reconstruction era and up through the Great Depression, even after General Tecumseh Sherman had torched it, due to its being a hub to five major rail lines and manufacturing during its golden age. It is now a treasure trove for some of the architecture preserved from that period. Meridian is also noted for being the location of the US v. Cecil Price court case, where several Ku Klux Klan members were charged for the abduction and murder of three Civil Rights workers in 1964 in nearby Neshoba County, an event analogously portrayed in the film Mississippi Burning.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 162.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.8 miles on US 45. 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 Gulf Park Estates, 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 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (23rd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Front Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Gulf Park Estates, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
