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Trip from Tupelo, MS to Gulf Hills, MS

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 1m

Distance

308 mi

496 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 48m ★
6 AM
6h 1m
8 AM
6h 27m
10 AM
6h 10m
12 PM
6h 8m
3 PM
6h 12m
5 PM
6h 26m
8 PM
5h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Tupelo, MS, MS

Tupelo, MS

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Gulf Hills, MS, MS

Gulf Hills, MS

Siarhei Nester

Trip Overview

The drive from Tupelo, MS to Gulf Hills, MS covers 308 miles and takes about 6h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 45, US Highway 45 Aiternate, US Highway 45 Alternate for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.4 miles on US 45. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.52 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

154 miles from Tupelo, MS

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 45 76.4 mi 1h 28m
US Highway 45 Aiternate 60.6 mi 1h 9m
US Highway 45 Alternate 54.7 mi 1h 6m
MS 63 50.4 mi 57m
MS 57 24.7 mi 28m
I 10 18.7 mi 20m
Martin Luther King Drive 8.7 mi 10m
US 45 ALT 7.2 mi 8m
Longest stretch: US 45 — 76.4 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tupelo, MS and Gulf Hills, MS.

1

Start on North Spring Street

68 ft · 5 sec · North Spring Street
2

Turn right onto Court Street

317 ft · 16 sec · Court Street
3

Turn right onto North Front Street

287 ft · 15 sec · North Front Street
4

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 55 sec
6

Merge onto US 45; MS 6

1.0 mi · 1 min · Martin Luther King Drive
7

Continue on US 45; MS 6

2.3 mi · 2 min · Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
8

Continue on US 45; US 278

7.7 mi · 8 min · Martin Luther King Drive
9

Continue on US 45 ALT

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 45 ALT
10

Continue on US 45 ALT

2.2 mi · 2 min · US 45 ALT
11

Continue on US 45 ALT

1.5 mi · 1 min · US 45 ALT
12

Continue on US 45 ALT

0.7 mi · 49 sec · US 45 ALT
13

Continue on US 45 ALT

1.4 mi · 1 min · US 45 ALT
14

Continue on US 45 ALT

55 mi · 1 hr 6 min · US Highway 45 Alternate
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on US 45

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min · US Highway 45 Aiternate
16

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

19 mi · 21 min · US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on US 45

0.7 mi · 46 sec · US 45
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on US 45

3.7 mi · 4 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
19

Continue on US 45

5.4 mi · 6 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on US 45

5.5 mi · 6 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
21

Continue on US 45

2.7 mi · 3 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
22

Continue on US 45

1.7 mi · 1 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
23

Continue on US 45

3.9 mi · 4 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
24

Continue on US 45

9.8 mi · 11 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
25

Continue on US 45

2.0 mi · 2 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
26

Continue on US 45

4.9 mi · 5 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
27

Continue on US 45

17 mi · 20 min · US 45
Use the straight lane.
28

Keep slight right at fork onto MS 57

2.2 mi · 2 min · MS 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Continue on MS 57

23 mi · 25 min · MS 57
Use the straight lane.
30

Continue on MS 63

50 mi · 57 min · MS 63
31

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 49 sec
32

Merge onto I 10

19 mi · 20 min · I 10
33

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward MS 609: Ocean Springs
34

Keep slight left at fork

361 ft · 9 sec
35

Turn left onto MS 609

1.9 mi · 3 min · Washington Avenue
36

Turn right onto Hugh Seymour Lane

0.2 mi · 57 sec · Hugh Seymour Lane
37

Turn right onto Ridge Road

0.2 mi · 55 sec · Ridge Road
38

Continue on Shore Drive

0.1 mi · 39 sec · Shore Drive
39

Turn left onto West el Bonito Drive

0.2 mi · 51 sec · West el Bonito Drive
40

Arrive at destination

West el Bonito Drive

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 154 miles from Tupelo, MS, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 68 miles or 1h 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 154 miles or 3h 1m 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 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gulf Hills, MS than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Tupelo, 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 Tupelo, MS

This is one driving day of about 308 miles and 6h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Tupelo, 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 76.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Mississippi, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waynesboro, MS

154 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Columbus, MS

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meridian, MS

Meal break

The midpoint is around 154 miles from Tupelo, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 45 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Mosaic Restaurant & Bar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 308

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+12288189885

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Tupelo River Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tupelo, Mississippi

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16623468800

Visit website

Strange Brew Coffeehouse Tupelo

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tupelo, Mississippi

0.6 mi

Lost + Found Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Tupelo, Mississippi

0.9 mi

Mosaic Restaurant & Bar

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 308

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+12288189885

Visit website

Haven Acres Restaurant

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour

Tupelo, Mississippi

Hours: Closed

+16625662090

Tupelo River Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10

Tupelo, Mississippi

Hours: 7 am–4 pm

+16623468800

Visit website

Strange Brew Coffeehouse Tupelo

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Tupelo, Mississippi

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+16623500215

Visit website

Lost + Found Coffee Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Tupelo, Mississippi

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+16622693675

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 308

Biloxi, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

EV Connect Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Tupelo, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour

Tupelo, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 308

Biloxi, Mississippi

+18889462847

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 308

Biloxi, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18009462946

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 286

Moss Point, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 286

Moss Point, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 308

Biloxi, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12285463100

Visit website

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Pascagoula River Rest Area Eastbound

0.2 mi from route

Pascagoula River Rest Area Westbound

0.2 mi from route

The Hill and Moor

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 66

Crawford, Mississippi

+16624985207

Visit website

Walter Anderson Museum of Art

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 308

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Hours: 11 am–5 pm

+12288723164

Visit website

Black Prairie Wildlife Area

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 66

Crawford, Mississippi

+16622728303

Biloxi Lighthouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 308

Biloxi, Mississippi

Hours: Open 24 hours

+12283743105

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 305.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Court Street

Turn right onto Court Street

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Main Street

Turn left onto East Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
134.5 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in | US 45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
210.9 mi into trip | ~4h 7m 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.
5
305.2 mi into trip | ~5h 54m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.52 one way

$93.03 round trip

$3.84/gal 25.4 MPG avg 108 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.21 $51.06 $102.13
premium $4.56 $55.28 $110.56
diesel $5.61 $68.00 $136.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 107.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 92.4 1 $32.34 $14.78
Efficient EV 77 0 $26.95 $12.32
EV Truck/SUV 123.2 1 $43.12 $19.71

Gas CO2

108 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 19, 2026

Origin

Tupelo, MS

Morning in Tupelo on Sunday

Local time

10:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Mostly Cloudy

N 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Gulf Hills, MS

Morning in Gulf Hills on Sunday

Local time

10:09 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

N 15 to 20 mph 70% chance Live forecast

80°F

Waynesboro, MS

154 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

10 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

6h 1m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

308 mi in 6h 1m, mostly highway — 76.4 mi of that is on US 45.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on US 45.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and US Highway 45 Aiternate. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Court Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 308 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: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 134.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 308 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on US 45. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 4 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 Gulf Hills, 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 4 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 134.5 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Gulf Hills, MS before the return drive.

How this page is built

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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