Abstract: A system and method for determining a handoff target base station in a mobile communication system according to a direction of travel of a mobile station are provided. The mobile station measures strengths of pilot signals transmitted from base stations in proximity thereto and transmits information about the measured strengths to a base station controller (BSC). The BSC selects one of the base stations as the handoff target base station depending on the measured strength information and relative location of the mobile station with respect to each of the base stations. In an alternate embodiment, the mobile station selects the handoff target base station based on weights assigned to each base station according to a predicted direction of travel for the mobile station. The mobile station then selects one of the base stations as the handoff target base station depending upon the measured strengths and weights.