The drive from West Gulfport, MS to Aberdeen, MS covers 275.2 miles and takes about 5h 19m 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, US 49 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 108.7 miles on US 45.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.56 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
137.6 miles from West Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 275.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 19m highway drive covering 275.2 miles, with most of the trip on US 45 and Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 108.7 miles on US 45.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 108.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 62.9 miles in near US 98.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 275.2 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: 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; at 161 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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...
6
161 mi into trip|~3h 4m 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
6
226.4 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 North: Columbus, Aberdeen
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 45 North: Columbus, Aberdeen
6
244.2 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 82 East, US 45 North, MS 12 East: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 82 East, US 45 North, MS 12 East: Col...
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 Aberdeen, MS, road signs point toward Laurel and Tuscaloosa.
Laurel
62.9 mi in|~1h 16m|via US 98
Tuscaloosa
152.1 mi in|~2h 53m|via I 59
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 45
108.7 mi
2h 7m
Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway
88.4 mi
1h 35m
US 49
60.1 mi
1h 12m
I 59
9 mi
10m
US 98
3.3 mi
4m
MS 145
1.2 mi
2m
Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
<0.1 mi
<1m
Plymouth Bluff Access Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 108.7 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Gulfport, MS and Aberdeen, 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
9.0 mi·10 min·I 59
Toward I 59 North, I 20 East: Meridian, TuscaloosaUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 45 North: MaconUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 45
65 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 45
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
3.4 mi·4 min·US 45
Toward US 45 North: Columbus, Aberdeen
13
Continue on US 45
14 mi·16 min·US 45
14
Continue on Plymouth Bluff Access Road
312 ft·5 sec·Plymouth Bluff Access Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
3.9 mi·4 min
Toward US 82 East, US 45 North, MS 12 East: Columbus
16
Take the exit onto US 45
0.5 mi·55 sec·US 45
Toward US 45 North: AberdeenUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on US 45; MS 50
13 mi·16 min·US 45; MS 50
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 45
2.0 mi·2 min·US 45
19
Continue on US 45
1.9 mi·2 min·US 45
20
Continue on US 45
1.8 mi·2 min·US 45
21
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi·55 sec·US 45
22
Continue on US 45
2.2 mi·2 min·US 45
23
Continue on US 45
0.8 mi·52 sec·US 45
24
Continue on US 45
2.8 mi·3 min·US 45
25
Turn right onto MS 145
1.2 mi·2 min·MS 145
26
Turn left onto South Meridian Street
80 ft·2 sec·South Meridian Street
27
Arrive at destination
South Meridian Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 137.6 miles from West Gulfport, MS, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.7 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 137.6 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aberdeen, 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 275.2 miles and 5h 19m.
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 US 45 for about 108.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.6 mi from West Gulfport, MS
· 2h 38m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.6
1
$28.90
$13.21
Efficient EV
68.8
0
$24.08
$11.01
EV Truck/SUV
110.1
1
$38.53
$17.61
Gas CO2
96 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
Afternoon
in West Gulfport on Friday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Aberdeen, MS
Afternoon
in Aberdeen on Friday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
77°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
13 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
5h 19m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from West Gulfport, MS to Aberdeen, MS covers 275.2 miles and takes about 5h 19m 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, US 49. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.6 miles from West Gulfport, MS. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break 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 14 significant decision points across 275.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 161 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between West Gulfport, MS and Aberdeen, MS, road signs point toward Laurel and Tuscaloosa.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
