If you are planning a trip from Pearl River to West Gulfport, expect a straightforward 200.1-mile journey that typically takes about 4 hours and 6 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to move between these two Southeast locations without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $31 for fuel to complete the trek. By utilizing I-59, US-49, and Holland Avenue, you can maintain a steady pace across the state. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the travel time is manageable for most drivers. Since both points are within Mississippi, the transition between regions is seamless, making this a practical choice for a direct drive.
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
100.1 miles from Pearl River, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 59
88.7 mi
1h 36m
US 49
59.9 mi
1h 12m
Holland Avenue
36.6 mi
54m
MS 16
4.9 mi
7m
US 98
3.2 mi
4m
I 20
1.6 mi
1m
Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
Airport Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 59
— 88.7 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pearl River, MS and West Gulfport, MS.
1
Start on High School Circle
59 ft·7 sec·High School Circle
2
Turn left onto Black Jack Road
0.1 mi·27 sec·Black Jack Road
3
Continue on North Oswald Road
0.3 mi·1 min·North Oswald Road
4
Turn left onto MS 16
4.9 mi·7 min·MS 16
5
Turn left onto MS 15; MS 16; MS 21
0.8 mi·1 min·MS 15; MS 16; MS 21
6
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 16; MS 21
0.6 mi·58 sec·West Beacon Street
7
Continue on MS 16; MS 19; MS 21
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
8
Turn right onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·Holland Avenue
9
Turn right onto MS 19
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Boulevard
10
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·North Frontage Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 80
1.6 mi·1 min·I 20; I 59; US 80
13
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.
14
Take the exit onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·US 98
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, MobileUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Multi Purpose Center, HattiesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto US 49
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn straight onto US 49
2.0 mi·3 min·US 49
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
424 ft·14 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
20
Turn right onto Arkansas Avenue
31 ft·0 sec·Arkansas Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Arkansas Avenue
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is key, as this 4-hour and 6-minute drive is best tackled in a single push to keep your momentum steady. Since there is only one recommended stop included in the itinerary, try to time your break around the midpoint to keep your energy levels consistent. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $31 estimated cost can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and current gas prices. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave early in the morning to beat potential congestion or start later in the day. A specific tip for this route: since you spend the vast majority of your time on highways, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained speeds before you merge onto I-59.
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 100.1 miles from Pearl River, MS, or about 2h 8m 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 44 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
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 Pearl River, 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 Pearl River, MS
This is one driving day of about 200.1 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Pearl River, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.8 and 140.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
47.8 mi into trip|~1h 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
136.5 mi into trip|~2h 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
139.7 mi into trip|~2h 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
140 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
140.2 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|US 49
Turn right onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.22 one way
$60.44 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$33.17
$66.35
premium
$4.56
$35.92
$71.83
diesel
$5.61
$44.18
$88.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
1
$28.01
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Pearl River, MS
Late night
in Pearl River on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Gulfport, MS
Late night
in West Gulfport on Tuesday
Local time
4:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Ellisville, MS
100 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
22 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
4h 6m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 200.1-mile route is heavily highway-focused, with 80% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of the drive on I-59, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 88.7 miles. Expect a mix of fast-paced interstate travel before transitioning onto US-49 and eventually Holland Avenue as you approach the coast. The road personality shifts from high-speed transit to more localized traffic as you near West Gulfport. While the drive is efficient and functional, be prepared for a consistent flow of traffic that defines this highway-heavy path across the state.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.8 miles in near I 59.
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 15 significant decision points across 200.1 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 47.8 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136.5 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
574 ft48 ft
Total Climb
448 ft
Total Descent
923 ft
Highest Point
574 ft
~16.7 mi in
Elevation Range
526 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pearl River, MS and West Gulfport, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans, Mobile, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Multi Purpose Center and Hattiesburg.
New Orleans
47.8 mi in|~1h 12m|via I 59
Mobile
136.5 mi in|~2h 48m|via US 98
Gulfport
139.7 mi in|~2h 52m
Mississippi Gulf Coast
139.7 mi in|~2h 52m
Multi Purpose Center
140 mi in|~2h 53m
Hattiesburg
140 mi in|~2h 53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 200.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 47.8 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136.5 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at West Gulfport, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
