Origin
Philadelphia, MS
Late night in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
195.2 mi
314 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Philadelphia, MS
Wikimedia Commons
Gulfport, MS
Wikimedia Commons
This 195.2-mile journey from Philadelphia, Mississippi, to Gulfport, Mississippi, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 58 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing I-59 and US-49, with a portion on Holland Avenue, this route focuses heavily on highway travel. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $29, making it an economical choice. Given its straightforward nature and manageable duration, it's well-suited for a day trip, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, offering a consistent regional experience throughout your drive.
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
97.6 miles from Philadelphia, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 59 | 88.7 mi | 1h 36m |
| US 49 | 62.4 mi | 1h 17m |
| Holland Avenue | 36.6 mi | 54m |
| US 98 | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| I 20 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
| Airport Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Frontage Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, MS and Gulfport, MS.
Start on Front Street
Turn left onto MS 16; MS 19; MS 21
Turn right onto MS 19
Turn right onto MS 19
Turn right onto North Frontage Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20; I 59; US 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 59
Take the exit onto US 98
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto US 49
Turn straight onto US 49
Continue on US 49
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 1-day trip, consider an early morning departure from Philadelphia to maximize your time in Gulfport. With a driving duration under 4 hours, you won't need to split this drive, giving you the advantage of flexibility. The longest stretch without a major town is on I-59, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach that 88.7-mile stretch, and plan for a brief stop if needed. The estimated fuel cost of $29 suggests that filling up before you leave Philadelphia should be sufficient for the entire journey.
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.
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 43 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.6 miles or 2h 2m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gulfport, MS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, MS
This is one driving day of about 195.2 miles and 3h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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.
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 97.6 miles from Philadelphia, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 59 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 40.4 and 132.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
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
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
Turn right onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$29.48 one way
$58.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $32.36 | $64.72 |
| premium | $4.56 | $35.04 | $70.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.10 | $86.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.6 | 0 | $20.50 | $9.37 |
| Efficient EV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.08 | $7.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.1 | 0 | $27.33 | $12.49 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Gulfport on Tuesday
Local time
5:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
84°F
Ellisville, MS
98 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 80% of the route being on interstates and major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 88.7 miles along I-59, so be prepared for sustained driving on this section. While the majority of the trip involves higher speeds on well-maintained roads, the transition onto US-49 and Holland Avenue will introduce you to a more local driving feel. This mix means you'll experience both efficient highway cruising and potentially more varied road conditions as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 59 and US 49. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 40.4 miles in near I 59.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 195.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 40.4 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.1 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Philadelphia, MS and Gulfport, MS, road signs point toward New Orleans, Mobile, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Multi Purpose Center and Hattiesburg.
New Orleans
Mobile
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Multi Purpose Center
Hattiesburg
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 195.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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