Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
166 mi
267 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
Photo: RDNE Stock project
Traveling from Gulf Hills to Meridian covers 166 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 14 minutes. This route serves as an efficient connection through the Southeast, making it a straightforward excursion that is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $25 for fuel to complete the journey. Because the drive is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight logistics, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare. It is a practical path for those looking to move between the coast and the inland regions of Mississippi without a complicated itinerary.
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
83 miles from Gulf Hills, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing local roads with major thoroughfares like the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, US 49, and the Biloxi-D'Iberville Scenic Expressway. With about 43% of your time spent on highways, the experience transitions from coastal access roads to more sustained stretches of pavement. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted segment of 88.4 miles on the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, which dictates the pace of your travel. Expect a varied driving experience that shifts as you move away from the Gulf region and head toward the heart of the state.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 166 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: at 5.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.8 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 110, MS 15, MS 67: Biloxi, Keesler Air Force Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward MS 15, MS 67: MS 15, MS 67
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
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
Between Gulf Hills, MS and Meridian, MS, road signs point toward Jackson and Laurel.
Jackson
Laurel
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway | 88.4 mi | 1h 35m |
| US 49 | 42.2 mi | 49m |
| Biloxi-D'Iberville Scenic Expressway | 20.4 mi | 23m |
| US 98 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| I 10 | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| I 59 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Washington Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 8th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gulf Hills, MS and Meridian, MS.
Start on West el Bonito Drive
Turn right onto Shore Drive
Continue on Shore Drive
Continue on Ridge Road
Turn left
Continue on Hugh Seymour Lane
Turn left onto MS 609
Turn left
Merge onto I 10
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto MS 15; MS 67
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 49
Continue on US 49
Take the exit
Merge onto US 98
Take the exit onto US 98
Merge onto I 59; US 98
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 11
Turn right onto 8th Street
Turn right onto 25th Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a one-day drive with only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during that long 88.4-mile stretch to ensure you aren't caught off guard between service points. Pacing your single stop midway through the drive is a smart way to break up the 3-hour and 14-minute travel time and stay alert. Because the route relies on a mix of highway and local roads, stay mindful of changing speed limits as you transition between the Biloxi-D'Iberville Scenic Expressway and US 49. Planning your stop near the transition point between these major arteries will help you maintain a consistent momentum throughout the day.
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 80 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83 miles or 1h 42m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, MS than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gulf Hills, 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 Gulf Hills, MS
This is one driving day of about 166 miles and 3h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83 mi from Gulf Hills, MS · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 83 miles from Gulf Hills, MS, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.4 miles.
The final approach into Meridian, MS usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Meridian, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.38 one way
$50.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $27.83 | $55.67 |
| premium | $4.61 | $30.13 | $60.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.88 | $73.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.43 | $7.97 |
| Efficient EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.52 | $6.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.24 | $10.62 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Gulf Hills on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Meridian on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
85°F
Magee, MS
83 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.
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