Traveling from Iowa City to Mason City covers 165 miles of Midwestern landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 41 minutes behind the wheel. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $25 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Kimball Road and North Dubuque Street before transitioning onto I-380. Whether you are heading north for business or a quick getaway, the trip offers a straightforward path across the heart of Iowa.
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
82 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
139.4 mi
2h 37m
I 380
5.6 mi
7m
I 80
4.1 mi
4m
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
North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 139.4 mi, about 2h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Mason City, IA.
1
Start on South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·South Gilbert Street
2
Turn slight left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·22 sec·Kimball Road
3
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi·3 min·North Dubuque Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
4.1 mi·4 min·I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
5.6 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
10
Continue on US 218
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Washington Expressway
11
Continue on US 218
0.7 mi·51 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
12
Continue on US 218
1.3 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
13
Continue on US 218
1.4 mi·1 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
14
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
16
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
69 mi·1 hr 19 min·Avenue of the Saints
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward CR S56: California Avenue
18
Turn right onto CR S56
2.4 mi·3 min·Thrush Avenue
19
Turn left onto IA 122
2.7 mi·4 min·4th Street Southeast
20
Turn slight right onto Maple Drive
0.4 mi·55 sec·Maple Drive
21
Turn left onto East State Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East State Street
22
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.5 mi·55 sec·1st Street Northeast
23
Turn right onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft·16 sec·North Federal Avenue
24
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft·1 sec·2nd Street Northeast
25
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northeast
Trip Plan
Since the drive takes under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid peak traffic. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $25 budget in mind as you map out service stations along the local roads. Because you are navigating Kimball Road and other local thoroughfares, stay alert for frequent turning points that can interrupt your flow. Taking advantage of the shorter duration allows you to reach Mason City with plenty of time left in your day for scheduled activities or local exploration.
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 82 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.4 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 36 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 37m 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 39m
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 Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA
This is one driving day of about 163.9 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Iowa City, 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 139.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 163.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
6
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m 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
87.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
163.9 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|2nd Street Northeast
Turn right onto 2nd Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.62 one way
$51.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.13
$56.27
premium
$4.89
$31.54
$63.08
diesel
$5.61
$36.19
$72.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.2
0
$17.21
$7.87
Efficient EV
41
0
$14.34
$6.56
EV Truck/SUV
65.6
0
$22.95
$10.49
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 15, 2026
Origin
Iowa City, IA
Night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mason City, IA
Night
in Mason City on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
82 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
2 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
3h 17m 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 rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route maintains a zero-percent highway share. You will navigate through varied terrain, relying on local connectors like North Dubuque Street to bridge the gap between departure and arrival. Because the path is composed entirely of local roads, you should remain attentive to changing speed limits and intersection turns throughout the 165-mile trek. This isn't a route for cruise control; instead, it demands active engagement as you transition between local road segments.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 6.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 163.9 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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 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 3h 17m. Total distance: 163.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Mason City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
