Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for optimizing a data route in a mobile communication system. A method of setting an internet protocol (IP) session in a mobile communication system, by a Mobile Station (MS) includes querying and obtaining an IP address of a corresponding node corresponding to a predetermined application and an IP address of a corresponding gateway corresponding to the corresponding node. The method also includes accessing the corresponding gateway based on the IP address of the corresponding gateway. The method further includes receiving a corresponding gateway allocation IP address from the corresponding gateway and forming a tunnel between the MS and the corresponding gateway. The method includes setting an IP session between the MS and the corresponding node based on the IP address of the corresponding node and the corresponding gateway allocation IP address.