This 247.7-mile drive from Mason City, IA to Clarinda, IA will take you approximately 4 hours and 51 minutes, making it a feasible day trip. The route primarily utilizes major highways, with a 73% highway share, including stretches on I-35 and I-80. With an estimated fuel cost of $39, this trip offers an economical journey through the Midwest. You'll experience a straightforward drive focused on efficient travel between these two Iowa communities. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated way to cover the distance.
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
123.8 miles from Mason City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
117 mi
2h 7m
I 80
62.3 mi
1h 7m
630th Street
44.6 mi
1h
650th Street
6.5 mi
9m
Avenue of the Saints
3.5 mi
3m
19th Street Southwest
2.5 mi
4m
East 7th Street
2 mi
2m
Whitney Street
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 117 mi, about 2h 7m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 27 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,052 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,494
Quietest
2 AM
~151 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.6×
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 Mason City, IA and Clarinda, 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
14 mi·16 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, DavenportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
16
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi·9 min·650th Street
17
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
2.0 mi·2 min·East 7th Street
18
Turn left onto US 71
1.7 mi·2 min·Whitney Street
19
Continue on US 71
45 mi·1 hr·630th Street
20
Turn right onto US 71 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·210 Street
21
Continue on US 71 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
22
Turn right onto North 16th Street
193 ft·9 sec·North 16th Street
23
Turn left
36 ft·2 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 51-minute duration, this 247.7-mile trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Mason City in the morning will allow you to reach Clarinda with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll encounter one planned stop along the way, which is a good opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 117-mile stretch on I-35, as services can be spaced out. Budgeting around $39 for fuel covers the estimated cost for this highway-centric route.
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 123.8 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117 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 54 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.8 miles or 2h 19m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarinda, 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 247.7 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Mason 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 I 35 for about 117 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Atlantic, Iowa
Hours: 12 pm–2 am
+17122432426
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 128.4 — 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.
8
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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
7
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.58 one way
$73.16 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$40.38
$80.77
premium
$4.72
$45.99
$91.98
diesel
$4.80
$46.77
$93.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.3
0
$26.01
$11.89
Efficient EV
61.9
0
$21.67
$9.91
EV Truck/SUV
99.1
1
$34.68
$15.85
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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
Mason City, IA
Late night
in Mason City on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
NNW 8 mph30% 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
Clarinda, IA
Late night
in Clarinda on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph5% 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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 51m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 247.7-mile journey. With 73% of the route on highways, including significant portions of I-35 and I-80, you'll experience efficient travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 117 miles on I-35, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the primary roads are interstates, you will transition to local roads like 630th Street as you approach your destination, offering a slight change in scenery and speed. This drive is designed for covering ground.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and I 80. You will hit about 17 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 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 247.7 miles you will encounter 17 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,379 ft905 ft
Total Climb
575 ft
Total Descent
670 ft
Highest Point
1,379 ft
~176.9 mi in
Elevation Range
475 ft
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 Clarinda, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Audubon.
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 51m. Total distance: 247.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117 miles on I 35. 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 Clarinda, 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: 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarinda, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
