Origin
Mason City, IA
Morning in Mason City on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
122.5 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mason City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Altoona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mason City, IA to Altoona, IA is 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 20m via I 35 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, taking you from the Midwest's familiar plains to another part of the same region. The route is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward drive with minimal detours. With a recommended one-day duration, you can expect a relatively quick journey, allowing ample time for your destination upon arrival.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.3 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 102.9 mi | 1h 51m |
| I 80 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| 19th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| 1st Avenue North | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Mallard Avenue | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| North Monroe Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South Eisenhower Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 102.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Altoona, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft
·
6 sec
·
2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft
·
16 sec
·
North Federal Avenue
3
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
4
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Monroe Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn right onto 19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
19th Street Southwest
6
Turn left onto South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
South Eisenhower Avenue
7
Continue on Mallard Avenue
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Mallard Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
9
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
·
this road
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
12
Merge onto I 35
103 mi
·
1 hr 50 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
14
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
2 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
15
Merge onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
I 80
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Exit 143
Toward Bondurant, Altoona
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
1st Avenue North
Use the left lane.
18
Enter roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
94 ft
·
1 sec
·
1st Avenue North
19
Continue on 1st Avenue North
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue North
20
Arrive at destination
1st Avenue South
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes, this is a perfect same-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any potential early rush hour and arrive in Altoona with plenty of afternoon time. The total fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is full before you depart Mason City. While there are no designated stops in the data, the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 100 miles, so plan for a brief rest break on I 35 if needed, perhaps around the halfway point.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.3 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.9 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 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.3 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mason 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 Mason City, IA
This is one driving day of about 122.5 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Mason City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 102.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.3 miles from Mason City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 102.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 121 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Federal Avenue
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North Monroe Avenue
Turn left onto North Monroe Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
114.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
120.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward Bondurant, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 143
Toward Bondurant, Altoona
6
121 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
1st Avenue North
Turn right onto 1st Avenue North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.15 one way
$38.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.03 | $42.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.57 | $47.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.05 | $54.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.86 | $5.88 |
| Efficient EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.72 | $4.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49 | 0 | $17.15 | $7.84 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Altoona, IA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
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
2h 20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with an impressive 88% of the journey on major interstates. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I 35, including a continuous stretch of 102.9 miles, which offers a consistent pace. The main roads guiding you include I 35, I 80, and a segment of the Avenue of the Saints. Expect a fairly uninterrupted flow, characteristic of long-haul interstate travel, as you cover the 122.5 miles between these two Iowa cities.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
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 122.5 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: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mason City, IA and Altoona, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Davenport.
Council Bluffs
114.1 mi in
|
~2h 8m
|
via I 35
Davenport
114.1 mi in
|
~2h 8m
|
via I 35
About the Cities
Starting in Mason City, IA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 122.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.9 miles on I 35. 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 Altoona, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 114.1 miles (I 35): 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 Altoona, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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