Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 4m
Distance
324.2 mi
522 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
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
Friars Point, MS
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from West Gulfport, MS to Friars Point, MS covers 324.2 miles and takes about 7h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 49, US 49W, South Highway 61 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 158.4 miles on US 49. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.96 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
162.1 miles from West Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 21m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 49 | 158.4 mi | 3h 16m |
| US 49W | 46.7 mi | 56m |
| South Highway 61 | 43.9 mi | 54m |
| Medgar Evers Boulevard | 39.5 mi | 48m |
| North Sunflower Avenue | 13.5 mi | 23m |
| Stovall Road | 6.5 mi | 15m |
| I 20 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Friars Point Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Gulfport, MS and Friars Point, 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 left at fork onto US 49
Merge onto I 20; I 55; US 49
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Take the exit onto US 49
Merge onto US 49
Take the exit onto US 49W
Turn left onto US 82
Turn right onto MS 448
Turn left onto MS 448
Turn right onto US 61; US 278
Turn left onto MS 161
Turn left onto MS 322
Turn right onto West Lee Drive
Turn left onto Stovall Road
Turn right onto MS 1
Turn slight left onto Friars Point Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Street
Turn right onto Sheriff Ridge Avenue
Continue on Washington Street
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 71 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.1 miles or 3h 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 5h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friars Point, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Gulfport, MS
This is one driving day of about 324.2 miles and 7h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 162.1 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 158.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 202.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto US 49 toward Jackson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight right at fork onto I 20; US 49 toward I 20 West, US 49 North: Vicksburg, Yazoo City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 49 toward I 220 North, I 49 North: North Jackson, Yazoo City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 49W toward US 49W North, MS 3 South: Indianola, Vicksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$48.96 one way
$97.92 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.21 | $53.75 | $107.50 |
| premium | $4.56 | $58.19 | $116.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.58 | $143.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.3 | 1 | $34.04 | $15.56 |
| Efficient EV | 81.1 | 0 | $28.37 | $12.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.7 | 1 | $45.39 | $20.75 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in West Gulfport on Saturday
Local time
3:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Friars Point on Saturday
Local time
3:02 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Clear
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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
324.2 mi in 7h 4m, mostly highway — 158.4 mi of that is on US 49.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 49 and US 49W. 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.
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 22 significant decision points across 324.2 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: near the start (Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 151.3 miles (US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 154.6 miles (I 20; US 49): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Gulfport, MS and Friars Point, MS, road signs point toward Jackson, Yazoo City and Vicksburg.
Jackson
Yazoo City
Vicksburg
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 4m. Total distance: 324.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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