Traveling from West Gulfport to Calhoun City spans 276.2 miles across the state of Mississippi, typically requiring about 6 hours and 2 minutes of drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate cruise, it is best suited as a dedicated day trip. You should budget approximately $42 for fuel to cover the journey. While you will utilize sections of I-59 North and the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, the route relies heavily on local roads that demand your full attention. Successfully completing this trip in one day is entirely manageable, provided you are prepared for a consistent pace behind the wheel.
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
138.1 miles from West Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
88.4 mi
1h 35m
US 49
60.1 mi
1h 12m
MS 15
38.3 mi
56m
MS 19
36.7 mi
54m
MS 9
34.6 mi
55m
Veterans Memorial Boulevard North
7.3 mi
10m
US 98
3.3 mi
4m
I 59
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
— 88.4 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Gulfport, MS and Calhoun City, MS.
1
Start on Arkansas Avenue
31 ft·6 sec·Arkansas Avenue
2
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
424 ft·14 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
3
Turn left onto US 49
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·US 49
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 49
2.4 mi·2 min·US 49
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
6
Merge onto US 98
2.5 mi·2 min·US 98
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 98
0.8 mi·1 min·US 98
Toward I 59 North, US 98 West: Columbia, LaurelUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 59; US 98
88 mi·1 hr 35 min·Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
2.0 mi·2 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 11
1.2 mi·1 min·US 11
12
Turn left onto MS 19
37 mi·54 min·MS 19
13
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
0.1 mi·15 sec·Beacon Street
14
Turn right onto MS 21
1.8 mi·2 min·Pecan Avenue
15
Turn straight onto County Road 561
1.3 mi·1 min·County Road 561
16
Turn right onto MS 15
22 mi·32 min·MS 15
17
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 15
3.4 mi·4 min·MS 15
18
Turn straight onto MS 15
13 mi·19 min·MS 15
19
Turn left onto MS 12
0.2 mi·19 sec·MS 12
20
Turn right onto MS 9
18 mi·30 min·MS 9
21
Continue on MS 9
7.3 mi·10 min·Veterans Memorial Boulevard North
22
Keep slight right at fork onto MS 9
17 mi·24 min·MS 9
23
Enter roundabout onto MS 8; MS 9
0.1 mi·11 sec·MS 8; MS 9
24
Arrive at destination
MS 8; MS 9
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour journey, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy, as this allows you to navigate the local, turn-heavy segments during daylight hours when visibility is optimal. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge, as the $42 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and the specific local stations you choose. Since this route lacks long, uninterrupted highway stretches, use your planned stop to mentally reset before tackling the second half of the drive. Flexibility is your primary advantage here, so adjust your pace if you encounter localized traffic on these smaller roads.
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 138.1 miles from West Gulfport, MS, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.4 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 61 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.1 miles or 2h 38m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Calhoun City, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Gulfport, 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 West Gulfport, MS
This is one driving day of about 276.2 miles and 6h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from West Gulfport, 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 Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway for about 88.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 276.1 — 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|Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Navigation decision point
7
62.9 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|US 98
Take the exit onto US 98 toward I 59 North, US 98 West: Columbia, Laurel
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 I 59 North, US 98 West: Columbia, Laurel
8
152.1 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|I 59
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59 toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscaloosa
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, Tuscalo...
7
154.1 mi into trip|~2h 56m in
Take the exit toward South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Philadelphia, Meridian Airport
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 South US 11, North Mississippi 19: Phila...
6
276.1 mi into trip|~6h 2m in|MS 8; MS 9
Enter roundabout onto MS 8; MS 9
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.71 one way
$83.43 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$45.79
$91.58
premium
$4.56
$49.57
$99.15
diesel
$5.61
$60.98
$121.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.9
1
$29.00
$13.26
Efficient EV
69.1
0
$24.17
$11.05
EV Truck/SUV
110.5
1
$38.67
$17.68
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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 17, 2026
Origin
West Gulfport, MS
Night
in West Gulfport on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Calhoun City, MS
Night
in Calhoun City on Saturday
Local time
11:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Meridian, MS
138 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
15 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 2m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a shift in pace as you transition from the coastal region toward the interior of the state. This path is defined by its turn-heavy local nature, meaning you will navigate frequent adjustments rather than settling into a monotonous interstate grind. With 0% of the route categorized as traditional highway share, the experience feels much more grounded and intimate than a standard freeway trek. You will be actively driving through a mix of local infrastructure, so stay alert as the road characteristics change from the departure point in West Gulfport to your destination in Calhoun City. It is a hands-on driving experience that requires focus through every turn.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.4 mi on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway and US 49. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 276.2 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 (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 62.9 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.1 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Gulfport, MS and Calhoun City, MS, road signs point toward Laurel, Tuscaloosa, Mississippi 19: Philadelphia and Meridian Airport.
Laurel
62.9 mi in|~1h 16m|via US 98
Tuscaloosa
152.1 mi in|~2h 53m|via I 59
Mississippi 19: Philadelphia
154.1 mi in|~2h 56m
Meridian Airport
154.1 mi in|~2h 56m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 2m. Total distance: 276.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.4 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. 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 Calhoun City, 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: near the start (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 62.9 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.1 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Calhoun City, MS before the return drive.
