Burlington to Mason City is 238.3 miles and takes about 4h 40m via Avenue of the Saints and US 34, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, taking you through the Midwest region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, offering a more connected feel to the towns and landscape along the way. It’s a straightforward, single-day option if you're looking for a direct path within the state.
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
119.1 miles from Burlington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
193.4 mi
3h 40m
US 34
26.9 mi
32m
I 380
5.6 mi
7m
4th Street Southeast
2.7 mi
4m
Thrush Avenue
2.4 mi
3m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
2.1 mi
2m
West Washington Street
1.3 mi
1m
US 218
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 193.4 mi, about 3h 40m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.4 mi·49 sec·South Central Avenue
2
Continue on North Central Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Central Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
4
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
26 mi·30 min·US 34; IA 163
5
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.8 mi·1 min·US 34; IA 163
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
6
Merge onto US 34; US 218; IA 27; IA 163
1.8 mi·2 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27
123 mi·2 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
5.6 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
9
Continue on US 218
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Washington Expressway
10
Continue on US 218
0.7 mi·51 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
11
Continue on US 218
1.3 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
12
Continue on US 218
1.4 mi·1 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
15
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
69 mi·1 hr 19 min·Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CR S56: California Avenue
17
Turn right onto CR S56
2.4 mi·3 min·Thrush Avenue
18
Turn left onto IA 122
2.7 mi·4 min·4th Street Southeast
19
Turn slight right onto Maple Drive
0.4 mi·55 sec·Maple Drive
20
Turn left onto East State Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East State Street
21
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.5 mi·55 sec·1st Street Northeast
22
Turn right onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft·16 sec·North Federal Avenue
23
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft·1 sec·2nd Street Northeast
24
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
Trip Plan
For this 4h 40m drive, leaving Burlington in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Mason City. With only one recommended stop and a mostly surface road profile, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the $42 budget is an estimate and surface roads can sometimes be slower, impacting consumption. Since the longest stretch is 193.4 miles, consider filling up before you leave Burlington to ensure you have ample fuel for that segment.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 119.1 miles from Burlington, IA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 193.4 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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.1 miles or 2h 17m 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 46m
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 Burlington, 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 Burlington, IA
This is one driving day of about 238.3 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Burlington, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 193.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 238.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
5
27.1 mi into trip|~32m in|US 34; IA 163
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfiel...
6
152.7 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
162.2 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
5
238.3 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.19 one way
$70.38 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.85
$77.70
premium
$4.72
$44.24
$88.49
diesel
$4.80
$45.00
$89.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.5
0
$25.02
$11.44
Efficient EV
59.6
0
$20.85
$9.53
EV Truck/SUV
95.3
1
$33.36
$15.25
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Burlington, IA
Late night
in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph28% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Mason City, IA
Late night
in Mason City on Sunday
Local time
4:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
N 8 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 40m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, making up 85% of the 238.3 miles. You'll experience 193.4 miles on the Avenue of the Saints before transitioning to other roads. Expect a good amount of rural cruising and passing through smaller communities, with fewer high-speed highway sections to navigate. The limited highway share means you'll likely notice more frequent changes in speed limits and road conditions.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 193.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 238.3 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: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,132 ft605 ft
Total Climb
653 ft
Total Descent
127 ft
Highest Point
1,132 ft
~238.3 mi in
Elevation Range
527 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Burlington, IA to Mason City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Fairfield along the way.
Burlington is a city in Southeast Iowa. It is on the Mississippi River and has a population of about 27,000.
From the raising of the American flag here in 1805 by Zebulon Pike to becoming a post of the American Fur Company in 1829 and then Iowa Territory's first territorial capital in 1838, Burlington has been a place of considerable historical value. Intriguingly, it is the source for the name Hawkeye State (from the name of a newspaper honoring Chief Black Hawk) and the name Burlington Railroad.
Top landmarks
•Burlington station — train station in Burlington, Iowa, US
•Crapo Park — urban park in Burlington, Iowa, USA
•Christ Episcopal Church — church in Burlington, Iowa
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.
Top landmarks
•Dr. G.C. Stockman House — house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
•Park Inn Hotel — hotel in Mason City, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 238.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 193.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Mason City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 152.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Mason City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
