Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
200.5 mi
323 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Photo: Bingqian Li
The drive from West Gulfport, MS to Pearl River, MS covers 200.5 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway, US 49, MS 19 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 88.4 miles on Lance Corporal Roy M Wheat Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.65 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
100.2 miles from West Gulfport, MS
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
The drive from West Gulfport, MS to Pearl River, MS covers 200.5 miles and takes about 4h 7m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
936 ft
Total Descent
459 ft
Highest Point
570 ft
~183.8 mi in
Elevation Range
524 ft
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 14 significant decision points across 200.5 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: 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 Pearl River, 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 |
| MS 16 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| US 98 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| I 59 | 2 mi | 2m |
| Beacon Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| US 11 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between West Gulfport, MS and Pearl River, 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 straight onto MS 15; MS 21
Turn right onto MS 16
Turn right onto North Oswald Road
Continue on Black Jack Road
Turn right onto High School Circle
Arrive at 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 100.2 miles or 1h 57m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pearl River, 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 200.5 miles and 4h 7m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.2 mi from West Gulfport, MS · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 100.2 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 Pearl River, 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 Pearl River, MS.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.65 one way
$61.30 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.26 | $33.62 | $67.24 |
| premium | $4.61 | $36.39 | $72.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.54 | $89.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.2 | 0 | $21.05 | $9.62 |
| Efficient EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.54 | $8.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.2 | 1 | $28.07 | $12.83 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in West Gulfport on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Pearl River on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
85°F
Magee, MS
100 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
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.
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