This 140.1-mile journey from Adel to Mason City, Iowa, will take you approximately 2 hours and 14 minutes of driving time. With a projected fuel cost of around $21, this drive is an economical option for a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and 0% highway share, suggesting a more engaging and potentially slower pace. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region for the entirety of this trip, offering a consistent feel of the heartland. This route is well-suited for a day trip, allowing ample time for departure and arrival without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.8 miles from Adel, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
104.4 mi
1h 52m
290th Street
11.9 mi
17m
I 80
11 mi
12m
US 18
3.6 mi
4m
19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
4m
Mallard Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
South Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
Greene Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 104.4 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Adel, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on US 169
16 ft·7 sec·Nile Kinnick Drive South
2
Turn left onto US 6
0.6 mi·1 min·Greene Street
3
Continue on US 6
12 mi·17 min·290th Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 eastUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 80; I 35
10 mi·11 min·I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35; I 80
0.7 mi·50 sec·I 35; I 80
7
Continue on I 80; I 35
0.6 mi·40 sec·I 80; I 35
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
10
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
3.6 mi·4 min·US 18; IA 27
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Airport
12
Turn left onto Mallard Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·Mallard Avenue
13
Continue on South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi·44 sec·South Eisenhower Avenue
14
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi·4 min·19th Street Southwest
15
Turn left onto South Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·South Monroe Avenue
16
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi·47 sec·1st Street Northwest
17
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft·16 sec·North Federal Avenue
18
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft·1 sec·2nd Street Northeast
19
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 14-minute duration, this route is easily manageable as a day trip. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination or to enjoy the drive without rush-hour traffic. Since there are no specified stops, plan for your own breaks as needed, perhaps in one of the towns you pass through along Greene Street or 290th Street. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you begin. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to your GPS or map as you transition between Greene Street and 290th Street, as this is where the local road navigation will become most crucial.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.8 miles from Adel, IA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 miles.
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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.8 miles or 1h 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 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mason City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Adel, IA 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 Adel, IA
This is one driving day of about 139.5 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Adel, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 104.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.6 and 139.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12.6 mi into trip|~18m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
5
12.9 mi into trip|~19m in|I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24.6 mi into trip|~32m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, De...
5
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
5
139.5 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.81 one way
$43.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.95
$47.89
premium
$4.89
$26.85
$53.69
diesel
$5.61
$30.80
$61.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.65
$6.70
Efficient EV
34.9
0
$12.21
$5.58
EV Truck/SUV
55.8
0
$19.53
$8.93
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Adel, IA
Late night
in Adel on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mason City, IA
Late night
in Mason City on Sunday
Local time
2:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a driving experience characterized by frequent turns and local road navigation, as this route has a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and no highway segments. You won't encounter any long stretches of high-speed interstate travel here; instead, expect to navigate through various local streets and county roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is not specified, but the profile suggests a constant need for attention to your route and turns. This drive will feel more like exploring the Iowa landscape at a more intimate pace, rather than covering ground quickly.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.4 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and 290th Street. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 139.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 12.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Adel, IA and Mason City, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Charles City.
Mason City is a city in Iowa, renowned for its collection of architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and other Prairie School architects, considered the most significant concentration of such architecture outside of Oak Park, Illinois.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 139.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mason City, IA before heading back.
