The drive from Gulfport, MS to Jonestown, MS covers 352.5 miles and takes about 7h 2m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 45, Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, 25th Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.6 miles on US 45.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.24 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
176.2 miles from Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 2m. Total distance: 352.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Gulfport, MS to Jonestown, MS covers 352.5 miles and takes about 7h 2m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 45 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 65.3 miles in near US 98.
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 13 significant decision points across 352.5 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 65.3 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154.5 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
65.3 mi into trip|~1h 20m 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
154.5 mi into trip|~2h 58m 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...
6
163.5 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 45 North: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 45 North: Macon
8
228.8 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT / US Highway 45 Alternate toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupelo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, Tupel...
6
303.2 mi into trip|~5h 53m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Gulfport, MS and Jonestown, MS, road signs point toward Laurel, Tuscaloosa and Tupelo.
Laurel
65.3 mi in|~1h 20m|via US 98
Tuscaloosa
154.5 mi in|~2h 58m|via I 59
Tupelo
228.8 mi in|~4h 23m|via US 45 ALT
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
105.6 mi
2h 1m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
88.4 mi
1h 35m
25th Avenue
60.1 mi
1h 14m
US Highway 45 Alternate
53 mi
1h 3m
Martin Luther King Drive
18.1 mi
20m
I 59
9 mi
10m
County Road 514
4.9 mi
11m
Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
3.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 105.6 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gulfport, MS and Jonestown, MS.
1
Start on US 49
60 mi·1 hr 14 min·25th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on US 49
2.4 mi·2 min·US 49
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
4
Merge onto US 98
2.5 mi·2 min·US 98
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
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.
6
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.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 59
9.0 mi·10 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 45 North: MaconUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto US 45
65 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 45 ALT
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·US Highway 45 Alternate
Toward US 45 Alternate North: West Point, TupeloUse the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Continue on US 45 ALT
18 mi·20 min·Martin Luther King Drive
12
Continue on US 45; MS 6
3.3 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King, Junior Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
31 mi·35 min·US 45
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on US 45
9.9 mi·11 min·US 45
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn left onto County Road 514
4.9 mi·11 min·County Road 514
Use the left lane.
16
At end of road, turn right onto County Road 547
0.5 mi·1 min·County Road 547
17
Continue on County Road 547
0.9 mi·3 min·County Road 547
18
At end of road, turn right onto County Road 500
0.6 mi·1 min·County Road 500
19
Continue on County Road 500
1.8 mi·4 min·County Road 500
20
Turn left onto MS 2
293 ft·5 sec·Mississippi Highway 2
21
Arrive at destination
MS 2
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.2 miles from Gulfport, MS, or about 3h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.6 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 78 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.2 miles or 3h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jonestown, MS than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gulfport, MS
This is one driving day of about 352.5 miles and 7h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Gulfport, MS.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 45 for about 105.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 176.2 mi from Gulfport, MS
· 3h 23m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Tupelo National Battlefield
National Battlefield
In July, 1864, federal forces, including men from the United States Colored Troops, marched into Tupelo, Mississippi. Disorganized Confederate soldiers fought fiercely but could not overpower the fede...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 303.8
The Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail is five sections of hiking trail running roughly parallel to the 444-mile long Natchez Trace Parkway scenic motor road. The foot trails total more than 60 miles...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 303.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.24 one way
$106.47 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.21
$58.44
$116.88
premium
$4.56
$63.27
$126.54
diesel
$5.61
$77.83
$155.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.8
1
$37.01
$16.92
Efficient EV
88.1
1
$30.84
$14.10
EV Truck/SUV
141
1
$49.35
$22.56
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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 15, 2026
Origin
Gulfport, MS
Morning
in Gulfport on Saturday
Local time
10:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jonestown, MS
Morning
in Jonestown on Saturday
Local time
10:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
79°F
Meridian, MS
176 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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Gulfport, MS to Jonestown, MS covers 352.5 miles and takes about 7h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 45, Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, 25th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 176.2 miles from Gulfport, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $53.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 352.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 65.3 miles (US 98): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 154.5 miles (I 59): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Gulfport, MS and Jonestown, MS, road signs point toward Laurel, Tuscaloosa and Tupelo.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Tupelo National Battlefield and Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
