Origin
West Gulfport, MS
Night in West Gulfport on Sunday
Local time
9:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
3h 54m
Distance
193 mi
311 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Gulfport, MS
大 董
Philadelphia, MS
Trev W. Adams
Traveling from West Gulfport to Philadelphia, MS, covers 193 miles of southeastern landscape in approximately 3 hours and 54 minutes. Because this is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget around $30 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly trek across the state. The route transitions from the coast toward the interior, utilizing a combination of the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, US 49, and MS 19. Whether you are heading north for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward drive offers a practical connection between these two Mississippi communities.
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
96.5 miles from West Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
This journey features a mixed-drive profile, with about 53% of your time spent on highways. You will experience a notable variety in road types, starting with the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, which provides your longest uninterrupted stretch at 88.4 miles. As you transition from these faster highway segments onto US 49 and eventually MS 19, the pace of the drive shifts to accommodate local travel patterns. You should be prepared for the contrast between high-speed highway cruising and the more deliberate rhythm of secondary state roads. It is an honest, utilitarian route that keeps you focused on the road ahead as the geography shifts.
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 early in the drive near Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 193 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 60.4 miles (US 98): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Merge onto US 98
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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 West Gulfport, MS and Philadelphia, MS, road signs point toward Laurel, Tuscaloosa, Mississippi 19: Philadelphia and Meridian Airport.
Laurel
Tuscaloosa
Mississippi 19: Philadelphia
Meridian Airport
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway | 88.4 mi | 1h 35m |
| US 49 | 60.1 mi | 1h 12m |
| MS 19 | 36.7 mi | 54m |
| US 98 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| I 59 | 2 mi | 2m |
| US 11 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Beacon Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Gulfport, MS and Philadelphia, MS.
Start on Arkansas Avenue
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Turn left 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 left onto MS 19
At end of road, turn left onto MS 16; MS 19
Turn left onto Front Street
Arrive at destination
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the nearly four-hour journey. Since the route is well within a single day’s reach, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving early helps you avoid potential traffic transitions. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when moving between the major highway stretches and the local segments of MS 19. Given the longest stretch is 88.4 miles, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained speeds before you merge onto the Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. This simple, one-stop strategy is the most effective way to maintain a comfortable pace until you reach your 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, 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 193 miles and 3h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96.5 mi from West Gulfport, MS · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 96.5 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 Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.4 miles.
The final approach into Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$29.50 one way
$59.01 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $32.36 | $64.72 |
| premium | $4.61 | $35.03 | $70.06 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.88 | $85.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.26 | $9.26 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.89 | $7.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.2 | 0 | $27.02 | $12.35 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in West Gulfport on Sunday
Local time
9:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
9:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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Return Trip
Philadelphia, MS to West Gulfport, MSPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from West Gulfport, MS or browse trips ending in Philadelphia, MS.
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