Mason City to Coralville is 161 miles and takes about 3 hours and 13 minutes via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two Midwest communities. The route primarily uses surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape compared to interstate travel. With just one recommended stop and a drive under four hours, it's an accessible option for a single day of travel.
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
80.6 miles from Mason 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
132 mi
2h 29m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
8m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
2nd Street
3.8 mi
6m
4th Street Southeast
2.7 mi
4m
Thrush Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Washington Street
2.4 mi
3m
North Park Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 132 mi, about 2h 29m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,955 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,469
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Coralville, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northeast
24 ft·6 sec·2nd Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto North Federal Avenue
328 ft·19 sec·North Federal Avenue
3
Turn left onto 1st Street Northeast
0.5 mi·56 sec·1st Street Northeast
4
At end of road, turn left onto East State Street
0.6 mi·59 sec·East State Street
5
Turn slight right onto Maple Drive
0.4 mi·57 sec·Maple Drive
6
Turn left onto IA 122
2.7 mi·4 min·4th Street Southeast
7
Turn right onto CR S56
2.6 mi·3 min·Thrush Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
9
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
69 mi·1 hr 19 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
317 ft·7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
11
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
12
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi·8 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi·3 min·Washington Street
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
63 mi·1 hr 9 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 2Toward North LibertyUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto West Forevergreen Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Forevergreen Road
18
Turn left onto Jasper Avenue Northwest
131 ft·4 sec·Jasper Avenue Northwest
19
Turn right onto Forevergreen Road
456 ft·9 sec·Forevergreen Road
20
Turn left onto North Park Road
1.2 mi·2 min·North Park Road
21
Enter roundabout onto US 6
256 ft·4 sec·East Marengo Road
22
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·22 sec·East Marengo Road
23
Continue on US 6
3.8 mi·6 min·2nd Street
24
Turn left onto 12th Avenue
0.2 mi·34 sec·12th Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
12th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 13-minute drive time, departing Mason City in the morning allows ample time to reach Coralville before evening. Plan for a single stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, keep an eye on gas prices as you go. The majority of this route is on surface roads, so be prepared for varying speed limits and potential local traffic, especially as you approach your destination.
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 80.6 miles from Mason City, IA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132 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 35 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.6 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coralville, 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 161.3 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 132 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 0 and 155.7 — 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
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
92.3 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
7
155.1 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Take the exit toward North Liberty
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward North Liberty
5
155.7 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|Jasper Avenue Northwest
Turn left onto Jasper Avenue Northwest
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.91 one way
$53.81 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$29.24
$58.49
premium
$5.26
$33.40
$66.79
diesel
$6.18
$39.24
$78.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.4
0
$16.94
$7.74
Efficient EV
40.3
0
$14.11
$6.45
EV Truck/SUV
64.5
0
$22.58
$10.32
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Mason City, IA
Morning
in Mason City on Monday
Local time
9:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
SSW 8 to 17 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Coralville, IA
Morning
in Coralville on Monday
Local time
9:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
69°F
Waterloo, IA
81 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
3 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
3h 13m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route covers 161 miles with a highway share of only 8%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 132 miles on Avenue of the Saints, offering extended periods of rural cruising. Expect a gradual transition as you move from the Leo P Rooff Expressway and I 380 towards more localized surface streets closer to Coralville.
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: 132 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 16 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 161.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 85.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,132 ft682 ft
Total Climb
123 ft
Total Descent
573 ft
Highest Point
1,132 ft
Elevation Range
450 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 Coralville, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
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 3h 13m. Total distance: 161.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 Coralville, 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Federal Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 85.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Coralville, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
