If you are planning to head from Richland to West Gulfport, you are looking at a straightforward 152.1-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 7 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will primarily follow US 49 and the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway to reach the coast. Budgeting around $23 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Since the entire route stays within Mississippi, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish without needing to worry about complex state-line logistics.
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
76.1 miles from Richland, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Highway 49 South
78.3 mi
1h 34m
US 49
61.4 mi
1h 14m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
7.7 mi
8m
US 98
3.2 mi
4m
Frontage Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Old Hwy 49 North
<0.1 mi
<1m
Arkansas Avenue
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 49 South
— 78.3 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richland, MS and West Gulfport, MS.
1
Start on this road
0.4 mi·2 min·this road
2
Continue on Frontage Road
0.2 mi·51 sec·Frontage Road
3
Turn left onto Old Hwy 49 North
241 ft·14 sec·Old Hwy 49 North
4
Turn left onto US 49
78 mi·1 hr 34 min·Highway 49 South
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 49; MS 42
0.4 mi·35 sec·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 49; MS 42
1.1 mi·1 min·US 49; MS 42
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·36 sec
Toward I 59 South: New Orleans, Gulf CoastUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 59
7.7 mi·8 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Toward Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight lane.
9
Take the exit onto US 98
3.2 mi·4 min·US 98
Toward US 98 East: Lucedale, MobileUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 49: Wiggins, Gulfport, Mississippi Gulf CoastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward Multi Purpose Center, HattiesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 49
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 49
2.0 mi·3 min·US 49
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
424 ft·14 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Arkansas Avenue
31 ft·0 sec·Arkansas Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Arkansas Avenue
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the three-hour duration. Because this is a high-speed, highway-heavy route, it is best to check traffic conditions before you depart Richland to avoid potential slowdowns on US 49. Since the fuel cost is relatively low at $23, you have the flexibility to fill up at your convenience without stressing over your budget. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep an eye on your mileage, as the 78.3-mile stretch on Highway 49 South is the heart of your trip and offers the fewest opportunities to pull off the road easily.
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 76.1 miles from Richland, MS, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.3 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.1 miles or 1h 34m 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 33m
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 Richland, 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 Richland, MS
This is one driving day of about 152.1 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Richland, 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 78.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 92 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~3m in|US 49 / Highway 49 South
Turn left onto US 49 / Highway 49 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
88.5 mi into trip|~1h 49m 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
91.7 mi into trip|~1h 53m 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
92 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
$22.97 one way
$45.94 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$25.22
$50.43
premium
$4.56
$27.30
$54.60
diesel
$5.61
$33.58
$67.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.6
0
$15.97
$7.30
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.31
$6.08
EV Truck/SUV
60.8
0
$21.29
$9.73
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Richland, MS
Night
in Richland on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Gulfport, MS
Night
in West Gulfport on Saturday
Local time
11:36 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
3h 7m 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.
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?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 94% of your time spent navigating major thoroughfares. You should be prepared for a consistent pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 78.3 miles on Highway 49 South. The road maintains a steady rhythm, allowing you to settle in as you transition from the inland region toward the Gulf Coast. While it lacks the stop-and-go nature of local city streets, the route requires focus on maintaining speed on these primary corridors. Expect a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes direct travel over winding backroads.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.3 mi on Highway 49 South.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 49 South and US 49. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 49 / Highway 49 South.
Driving Effort6/10
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 152.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.6 miles (US 49 / Highway 49 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.5 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
405 ft25 ft
Total Climb
438 ft
Total Descent
684 ft
Highest Point
405 ft
~38 mi in
Elevation Range
380 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richland, MS and West Gulfport, MS, road signs point toward Gulf Coast, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Mobile, Gulfport, Multi Purpose Center and Hattiesburg.
Gulf Coast
80.4 mi in|~1h 40m
Mississippi Gulf Coast
80.8 mi in|~1h 41m|via I 59
Mobile
88.5 mi in|~1h 49m|via US 98
Gulfport
91.7 mi in|~1h 53m
Multi Purpose Center
92 mi in|~1h 54m
Hattiesburg
92 mi in|~1h 54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 152.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 78.3 miles on Highway 49 South. 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 0.6 miles (US 49 / Highway 49 South): Lane positioning matters here; at 80.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 88.5 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at West Gulfport, MS, but most travelers stay overnight.
