Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 28m
Distance
253.4 mi
408 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Gulfport, MS
N Qurash
Itta Bena, MS
大 董
The drive from West Gulfport, MS to Itta Bena, MS covers 253.4 miles and takes about 5h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 49, Medgar Evers Boulevard, Lyndale Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 158.4 miles on US 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.12 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
126.7 miles from West Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 49 | 158.4 mi | 3h 16m |
| Medgar Evers Boulevard | 39.5 mi | 48m |
| Lyndale Drive | 24.9 mi | 43m |
| US 49W | 24 mi | 29m |
| I 20 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Martin Luther King Drive | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Basket Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~3,273 veh/hr typical · worst 5,355
Quietest
2 AM
~278 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between West Gulfport, MS and Itta Bena, MS.
Start on Arkansas Avenue
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left onto US 49
Continue on US 49
Turn straight onto US 49
Continue on US 49; MS 42
Continue on US 49
Continue on US 49
Continue on US 49
Continue on US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Merge onto US 49
Take the exit onto US 49W
Turn right onto MS 7
Turn left onto MS 7
Continue on MS 7
Continue on MS 7
Continue on MS 7
At end of road, turn right onto MS 7
Turn slight left onto MS 7
Arrive at destination
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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.7 miles or 2h 37m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Itta Bena, MS than in the middle of the route.
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 253.4 miles and 5h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 126.7 miles from West Gulfport, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 49 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 158.4 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 0 and 202.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 49 toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson, Yazoo City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 49W toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$37.12 one way
$74.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.13 | $41.21 | $82.42 |
| premium | $4.49 | $44.75 | $89.51 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $55.86 | $111.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76 | 0 | $26.61 | $12.16 |
| Efficient EV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.17 | $10.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.4 | 1 | $35.48 | $16.22 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 West Gulfport on Friday
Local time
4:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Itta Bena on Friday
Local time
4:29 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
72°F
Brandon, MS
127 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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
253.4 mi in 5h 28m, mostly highway — 158.4 mi of that is on US 49.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and Medgar Evers Boulevard. 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.
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 14 significant decision points across 253.4 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 151.3 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 154.6 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
809 ft
Total Descent
703 ft
Highest Point
479 ft
~108.6 mi in
Elevation Range
454 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Gulfport, MS and Itta Bena, MS, road signs point toward Jackson, Yazoo City and Vicksburg.
Jackson
Yazoo City
Vicksburg
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 253.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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