Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 42m
Distance
227 mi
365 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
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
Tchula, MS
Diana Reyes
This 227-mile journey from West Gulfport, Mississippi, to Tchula, Mississippi, will take you about 4 hours and 42 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 95% of the drive on major roads like US 49, I-55, and MS 17. You can expect a fuel cost of around $34 for this trip. Given the relatively short duration and highway nature, it’s a straightforward drive for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. This trip stays within the Southeast region, traversing the state of Mississippi.
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
113.5 miles from West Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 227 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Prepare for a largely highway-focused experience, covering 95% of the 227 miles on major routes. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on US 49, including a substantial 152.8-mile stretch without needing to turn off. The drive transitions from US 49 to I-55, and finally to MS 17, offering a mix of high-speed travel and slightly more localized highway conditions as you near your destination. Expect consistent progress on this predominantly road-centric path.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and I 55. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 227 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 49): Lane positioning matters here; at 151.3 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Turn left onto US 49
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward MS 17: Lexington, Pickens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Gulfport, MS and Tchula, MS, road signs point toward Jackson and Pickens.
Jackson
Pickens
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 49 | 152.8 mi | 3h 9m |
| I 55 | 49 mi | 54m |
| MS 17 | 12.9 mi | 19m |
| Carrollton Street | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| Yazoo Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Martin Luther King Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| MS 12 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Gulfport, MS and Tchula, 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 right at fork onto US 49
Merge onto I 55
Take the exit
Turn left onto MS 17
Continue on MS 17
Turn slight right onto MS 12; MS 17
Continue on MS 12; MS 17
Turn right onto MS 12; MS 17
Continue on US 49E
Turn slight left onto Main Street
Turn right onto Blake Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
For this 4-hour and 42-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from West Gulfport to maximize your daylight hours and avoid any potential afternoon traffic, especially on the interstate sections. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 152.8 miles, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to take breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $34, and it’s always wise to fill up before embarking on longer highway segments. As you transition onto MS 17 towards Tchula, be aware that the road character might change slightly from the faster interstates.
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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.5 miles or 2h 21m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tchula, 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 227 miles and 4h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.5 mi from West Gulfport, MS · 2h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 113.5 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 US 49 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 152.8 miles.
The final approach into Tchula, 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 Tchula, MS.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$34.28 one way
$68.56 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $37.63 | $75.27 |
| premium | $4.56 | $40.74 | $81.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.12 | $100.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.1 | 0 | $23.83 | $10.90 |
| Efficient EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.86 | $9.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.8 | 1 | $31.78 | $14.53 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 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
Morning in West Gulfport on Friday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Tchula on Friday
Local time
7:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°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
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.
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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