Mason City, IA to Ankeny, IA is 110.7 miles and takes about 2h 6m via I 35, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within the Midwest region of Iowa. You'll primarily be on major highways, making it an efficient way to travel between these two cities. If you're looking for a simple, no-fuss drive with minimal time commitment, this route fits the bill. Expect a generally easy journey with predictable travel times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
97.4 mi
1h 44m
Avenue of the Saints
3.5 mi
3m
19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
4m
East 1st Street
1.4 mi
3m
Mallard Avenue
1.4 mi
1m
North Monroe Avenue
1.3 mi
2m
South Eisenhower Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
1st Street Northwest
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 97.4 mi, about 1h 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mason City, IA and Ankeny, 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
97 mi·1 hr 44 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 92Toward 1st Street
14
Keep slight right at fork
301 ft·9 sec
15
Turn straight onto East 1st Street
1.4 mi·3 min·East 1st Street
16
Turn left onto Southwest Walnut Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Southwest Walnut Street
17
Turn left onto Southwest 3rd Street
48 ft·2 sec·Southwest 3rd Street
18
Arrive at destination
Southwest 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration, this is an ideal one-day trip, so you can leave whenever suits your schedule. Because the longest stretch on I 35 is nearly 100 miles, plan your fuel stops accordingly before you embark or know where the next services are located. While there are no designated stops in the data, you'll find plenty of opportunities for quick breaks along I 35 should you need them. The straightforward nature of this drive means you don't need to worry about complex navigation, but always keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during that long stretch.
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 55.3 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.4 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ankeny, 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 110.7 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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 97.4 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 0 and 109 — 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.
5
11.4 mi into trip|~17m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
108.8 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward 1st Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 92
Toward 1st Street
5
109 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.31 one way
$34.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.00
$38.00
premium
$4.89
$21.30
$42.61
diesel
$5.61
$24.44
$48.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.2
0
$11.62
$5.31
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
EV Truck/SUV
44.3
0
$15.50
$7.08
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Mason City, IA
Morning
in Mason City on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ankeny, IA
Morning
in Ankeny on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Gilbert, IA
55 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 6m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the route utilizing major interstates like I 35. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 97.4 miles on I 35, meaning fewer turns and a consistent pace. The Avenue of the Saints also plays a role, offering a similar high-speed experience. Expect a driving environment characterized by smooth pavement and relatively light traffic, typical of central Iowa's main arteries. The drive is designed for efficiency rather than winding scenic byways.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.4 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Federal Avenue.
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 110.7 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: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 6m. Total distance: 110.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m 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 97.4 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: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Monroe Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ankeny, IA before heading back.
