This 132.9-mile drive from Hiawatha to Mason City, Iowa, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 37 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Avenue of the Saints and I-380, with a small portion on 4th Street Southeast. With an estimated fuel cost of $20, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Midwest. The drive is characterized by its local road feel, making it a good option for those who prefer less interstate travel. Consider this a convenient option for a direct connection between these two Iowa cities.
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
66.4 miles from Hiawatha, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
115.2 mi
2h 9m
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
East State Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 115.2 mi, about 2h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hiawatha, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on Heefner Street
174 ft·9 sec·Heefner Street
2
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
395 ft·24 sec·9th Avenue
3
Turn left onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.3 mi·51 sec·Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: WaterlooUse the straight / left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
47 mi·50 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
5.6 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
7
Continue on US 218
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Washington Expressway
8
Continue on US 218
0.7 mi·51 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
9
Continue on US 218
1.3 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
10
Continue on US 218
1.4 mi·1 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
11
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
13
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
69 mi·1 hr 19 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CR S56: California Avenue
15
Turn right onto CR S56
2.4 mi·3 min·Thrush Avenue
16
Turn left onto IA 122
2.7 mi·4 min·4th Street Southeast
17
Turn slight right onto Maple Drive
0.4 mi·55 sec·Maple Drive
18
Turn left onto East State Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East State Street
19
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.5 mi·55 sec·1st Street Northeast
20
Turn right onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft·16 sec·North Federal Avenue
21
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft·1 sec·2nd Street Northeast
22
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 37-minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to break up the 132.9 miles. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Mason City and explore without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longer 115.2-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints, as services might be less frequent. The $20 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra for peace of mind.
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 66.4 miles from Hiawatha, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.2 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 29 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.4 miles or 1h 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 2h 6m
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 Hiawatha, 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 Hiawatha, IA
This is one driving day of about 132.9 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Hiawatha, 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 115.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 132.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|9th Avenue
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
6
47.3 mi into trip|~52m 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
56.8 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
132.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.78 one way
$41.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.81
$45.63
premium
$4.89
$25.58
$51.15
diesel
$5.61
$29.34
$58.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.9
0
$13.95
$6.38
Efficient EV
33.2
0
$11.63
$5.32
EV Truck/SUV
53.2
0
$18.61
$8.51
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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
Hiawatha, IA
Morning
in Hiawatha on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mason City, IA
Morning
in Mason City on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Waverly, IA
66 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 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
2h 37m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only a 7% share of highway miles. While there's a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 115.2 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, much of the journey involves navigating local roads. This means you'll likely experience more frequent turns and varied speed limits compared to a pure interstate experience. The road will change as you progress, shifting from more open highway sections to more localized driving as you approach your destination.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.2 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 132.9 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.3 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 37m. Total distance: 132.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.3 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
